15 of our favourite Toy Show moments EVER! – RTE.ie

November 22, 2021 Kim Martel

We’re counting down to Friday’s Late Late Toy Show with our favourite moments from down the decades. See if you agree!

For many families across Ireland, the Toy Show is the signal that Christmas has well and truly arrived, and it never fails to deliver plenty of fun and heartwarming moments.

Before it’s time to huddle around the TV once more, take a little trip down memory lane with these clips…

15. Tubs meets a future John Galliano (2010)

With his stylish glasses and trilby hat, Douglas definitely stood out from the other children on the Toy Show in 2010. “You’re certainly nailing the Christmas look, I have to say,” he told Tubridy, much to the audience’s delight. It was clear that Douglas was a child with big dreams, hoping to work as a designer at Paris Fashion Week. We had to agree with Tubs when he said we’ll probably be seeing Douglas again in the future.

We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences[embedded content]

14. John Joe the horologist (2009)

The adorable John Joe Brennan won the nation’s hearts with his tweed jacket, glasses and incredibly articulate literary critiques in 2009. He told Tubridy that he wanted to be a horologist, before inspecting the host’s watch and telling him “It’s a very good mark, I suppose. Next to Rolex.” What a little legend.

13. Boyzone come back for more (1994)

You may remember Boyzone’s first hilarious appearance on The Late Late Show in 1993, during which Gay Byrne relentlessly criticised the group’s lack of talent before they performed the most embarrassing dance ever to grace Irish screens. They clearly weren’t put off by Gaybo’s harsh comments, though, as they returned to prove they really are talented – at ‘Scalextric’.

12. Junior Culchie of the Year (2009)

When flame-haired Mark McSharry from Co. Cavan rolled on stage in his fine toy tractor, with a plastic sack on over his trousers, we knew we were in for a treat. “I’m the Junior Culchie of Ireland!” he proudly declared, explaining that he had won the title through a competition in school.

And the sack? A nifty device to stop your knees getting wet when you’re walking through rushes. “I’m some eejit, amn’t I, not to know that?” Tubridy asked. “Kind of, yes,” confirmed Mark. Classic.

11. Nanny Pat’s cameo (2019)
A gem from November 2019 – Leitrim’s eight-year-old Tom Cullen and his Nanny Pat. Tom told Ryan about Nanny Pat’s dinners, her knitting and, of course, the chats. He even revealed that he had a personalised jigsaw of her! So what better a Toy Show treat than to bring Nanny Pat on to the show as a surprise guest? We all wanted a hug from her too!

We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

10. Sophia’s supreme show of strength (2019)
Wow. Dublin youngster Sophia Maher gave the Toy Show its most important moment in 2019 with an anti-bullying message that spoke to, and for, a better Ireland. “Don’t let the bullies stop the things… from doing the things you want to do,” said Sophia. “And life would just suck if everybody was the same.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the studio, or at home.

9. Pat and Oisín (2000)
They say never work with children or animals, and Oisín the dog really proved that point when he appeared on the Toy Show 20 years ago. Brought onstage to prove that canine intelligence is superior to artificial intelligence, Oisín seemed more interested in investigating a toy polar bear than giving the paw. Hey, it was his big night!

8. Zig & Zag and Dustin soak Gay (1991)
Leave it to them! Amid shouts of “You in the Pound Shop jumper!” from Dustin, Gay welcomed his troika of toy testers to the show in 1991. Oddly enough, chaos ensued. Zig & Zag showed “Mr Byrne, Your Majesty” a number of dolls, before ungraciously drenching their host with The Super Soaker 50! A sodden Gay then turned to the audience and said: “It was probably the most amusing thing on the show, wasn’t it?” They agreed. His revenge was sweet – and soaking!

7. Any craic? Níl (2012)
What is it about little lads on tractors on the Toy Show? Alex Meehan dazzled in the style stakes in his farmer’s cap, bright blue Ray Bans and Christmas jumper, but it was the awkward comedy created by his interaction with the host that really stole the show. Shy Alex burst into a spiel as Gaeilge but seemed to panic when Tubs tried to continue the conversation, giving him a one-word answer and pedalling swiftly away.

6. Domhnall Meets his favourite footballer (2013)
When football-mad Domhnall Ó Confhaol from Connemara appeared on the Toy Show in 2013, his hero Robbie Keane was recovering from an operation on his Achilles tendon. Ryan asked Domhnall what he would say to the Irish captain if he could speak to him. “I’d hope he’d be better quick, because I think we really need him for the 2016 Euros…he’s like the main man for us,” said Domhnall. Cue Robbie hobbling onstage with crutches in tow, leaving the cherub-cheeked eight-year-old completely speechless. Bless.

5. Imelda May’s Late Late debut (1986)
“We start with a charming group from The Liberties in Dublin,” said Gay on the Toy Show 34 years ago [gulp]. “They are winners of the Young Entertainers Competition three years in succession.” Among them was star of the future Imelda May (on the right below, holding the lantern), who showed her ability to hold a tune with a cover of Boney M’s Mary’s Boy Child. Twenty-three years later, Imelda May would be back as a solo artist in her own right. As the song says, it started on the Late Late Show!

4. Toby attempts to ignore Girls Aloud (2003)
Wicklow native Toby Kane won the Junior Stars in their Eyes competition at the Wicklow Regatta Festival in 2003, and wanted to further demonstrate his singing skills on the Toy Show, performing Girl’s Aloud’s cover of Jump. However, he seemed a bit perturbed when the group sneaked onstage, looking like he might burst into tears and shaking his head when Pat Kenny asked if he wanted to chat to them. Poor Toby!

3. Ed Sheeran surprises his biggest fan (2014)
It’s always great when kids get to meet their heroes, but it’s always better on the Toy Show! Aimee Keogh got the shock of a lifetime on the Toy Show when, in the middle of performing a karaoke version of an Ed Sheeran song, the man himself crept up behind her to join in. Aimee screamed, then looked like she was going to cry with joy, exclaiming “I’m hysterical, oh my God.” What a cutie.

2. Home is the hero (2017)
Brother and sister Adam and Kayla Burke got the best surprise of all when they were reunited with their dad, who was based in Mali with the Defence Forces. We just couldn’t deal, and neither could Tubs.

We need your consent to load this Facebook contentWe use Facebook to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

1. Adam King rules our hearts
When Cork native Adam King, then aged six, held up a virtual hug sign during the 2020 show, it captured hearts around a nation after a long and difficult year. Adam, who has brittle bones, inspired viewers with his plans to work in NASA; his confidence and love of life are already out of this world.

And there was a suitably stellar surprise: John Doyle, “the nicest hospital porter in Ireland”, beamed in from Temple Street to salute his young friend. “Adam has such an infectious smile that even the darkest planet out there would light up,” said John. Talk about a rocket straight to your heart!

Watch this year’s The Late Late Toy Show on Friday, November 26 at 9.35pm, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.