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Late Late presenter Patrick Kielty hosted his first Toy Show this year |
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Patrick Kielty’s Late Late Toy Show debut received 550,000 streams on RTÉ Player from a record-breaking 147 countries, including first-time streams from Rwanda, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
RTÉ’s Elf-themed Late Late Toy Show raised €3.6 million for the Toy Show Appeal, as well as becoming RTÉ Player’s most-watched programme of the year, and breaking records on the streaming service in regards to international reach. The programme received lots of engagement online, with #LateLateToyShow generating 262 million video views and 2.2 million interactions on RTÉ’s social accounts, including Tiktok and Twitter.
Average TV viewing for Friday night's show is now over 17 million, including catch-up viewing on Saturday and Sunday. Last week, audiences from 147 countries worldwide streamed the programme which this year featured over 170 performers from around the country.
“I’m still coming back down to earth from an amazing night last Friday,” said Host Patrick Kielty. “I want to express huge thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s Late Late Toy Show so special. To all of you who watched, to the brilliant kids who brought their magic and put a giant smile on all of our faces. And, to every last one of you who gave so generously to our Toy Show Appeal – you have made a massive difference to so many children’s lives – thank you! Being part of it is something I will never forget – a forever night!”
The record-breaking 147 countries that tuned in included first-time streams from Cameroon, British Virgin Islands, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Almost a quarter of live streams on Friday night were from outside Ireland making the show the most-watched programme on RTÉ Player for 2023 with figures continuing to grow. There was a 97% increase on UK RTÉ Player streams, up from 33k in 2022 to 65k in 2023, with streams more than doubling in Northern Ireland.
The Late Late Toy Show 2023 highlights on The Late Late Show YouTube channel garnered over half a million views and counting.
Speaking on the funds raised from the Toy Show Appeal since Friday night, Denise Charlton, Chief Executive, Community Foundation Ireland said: “The extraordinary generosity of Toy Show viewers will ensure the magic continues long after the Christmas decorations come down. Hundreds of thousands of children will have their lives transformed. There will be more essential supports including food, clothing, therapy as well as health and wellbeing services. In addition, play and creativity will become more accessible to all. The Foundation will work with leading child advocates and our partners in RTÉ to begin the process of distributing the Toy Show fund to every county. For now, our message to viewers is Thank You!”
The Late Late Toy Show with Irish Sign Language (ISL) was also available live on Friday night on RTÉ Player and RTÉ News, with over 13,000 streams to date and growing. Patrick Kielty's opening performance inspired by Elf was on RTÉ One and his meeting with ISL elf Amelia were the most-watched moments from the show. Other highlights included Sheamie’s toy demonstration, a surprise appearance from Matilda star Alisha Weir, a surprise visit from rugby players Bundee Aki & Peter O'Mahony.
"We are delighted that Patrick's first Late Late Toy show has connected so well with the audience,” said Alan Tyler, Head of Entertainment, Comedy and Music. “It is a testament to the hard work of the whole team who put together a truly unique and special show which brought the nation together, and, we hope, delivered a little Christmas magic to homes right across Ireland and across the world. All of us on the show owe a huge thank you to the audience whose generosity in donating to the Toy Show Appeal is both remarkable and humbling. It will make a real difference to children's lives throughout the year.”
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