What's happening to the Late Late as Graham Norton's line-up trumps it yet again

The Graham Norton Show’s line-up has once again trounced The Late Late Show, leaving many asking the question: What is happening to the beloved RTÉ chat show?

Now in its 61st year, The Late Late Show was taken over by Co Down man Patrick Kielty in September.

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Ahead of tonight’s show – and having recently arrived at the season’s mid-point – we’ve taken a look back at the portfolio of guests who have occupied the Donnybrook studio during Patrick’s reign to date.

Host Patrick Kielty pictured with Hector Ó hEochagáin, Laurita Blewitt and Tommy Tiernan on the 61st series return of The Late Late Show, 15th September 2023. Pic: Andres Poveda

Patrick kicked off his Late Late Show reign with a panel that included RTÉ stars Tommy Tiernan and Hector Ó hEochagáin and their podcast co-host Laurita Blewitt. Most recently, he hosted Irish stars Laura Whitmore, Domhnall Gleeson, and Aisling Bea for the show’s annual Valentine’s Day special – which viewers agreed fell short of expectation.

Although a number of notable names such as Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jamie Dornan, Paul Mescal, and Andrew Scott have cropped up over the course of the season, the general criteria guests seem to require is to be Irish or employed by RTÉ.

Patrick Kielty, Laura Whitmore, Aisling Bea and Domhnall Gleeson on The Late Late Show’s Valentine’s Day special. Pic: The Late Late Show / Twitter

Last week, viewers were less than intrigued hearing about Aisling and Domhnall’s on-screen chemistry and how Laura’s shoes were too big for her, and thus decided to flick from RTÉ to the BBC to catch Sir Ian McKellen and One Day actress Ambika Mod on The Graham Norton Show – and this week could very well have the same outcome.

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Patrick Kielty, Laura Whitmore, Aisling Bea and Domhnall Gleeson on The Late Late Show

Everyone had the same complaint about the Late Late Show’s Valentine’s special

The guest list for tonight’s Late Late Show has yet to be confirmed in its entirety; however, Michelle O’Neill, the new First Minister of Northern Ireland, has been revealed as Patrick’s first guest.

Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O’Neill in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings at Stormont, before a sitting of the Northern Ireland Assembly where where she is expected to be named Northern Ireland’s first nationalist first minister. Pic: PA Images

In comparison, Graham will host a star-studded line-up that includes Jodie Foster, The Crown’s Olivia Colman, Wanda Sykes, Lorraine Kelly, and Dune stars Austin Butler and Josh Brolin.

Similarly next week, Graham will host another line-up of huge names including Dua Lipa, Justin Timberlake, Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet.

What’s happening to the Late Late as Graham Norton’s line-up trumps it yet again

Between the RTÉ payments scandal and the SAG-AFTRA strike, which only recently came to an end, we’re not quite sure what’s gone wrong for The Late Late Show’s 61st season.

Perhaps because Graham Norton’s show is recorded so far in advance it has a better choice of guest stars? Whatever is happening, hopefully, things will turn around for the Late Late Show soon.