Theme for this year’s Late Late Toy Show revealed

In a year that has seen children and adults across the land seek refuge in books and films, what better theme for this year’s Late Late Toy Show than The Wonderful World of Roald Dahl?

The secret is out, and this Friday night presenter Ryan Tubridy will prune his whiskers, brush that tail and lead the charge as the enigmatic Fantastic Mr Fox in a spectacular opening number featuring favourites from the world of Dahl including Matilda, Willy Wonka’s Oompa Loompas, and a nod James and the Giant Peach.

The opening number, some of which was filmed at The Library of the Royal Irish Academy against the beautiful and fitting backdrop of endless shelves of books, will then be bouncing over to Ryan and dancers live in studio this Friday night to kick off the biggest night of the Irish television year.

Favourites from the worlds of Roald Dahl including Veruca Salt, grasshoppers, The Twits, Miss Trunchbull, Charlie and Grandpa Joe, as well as Mrs Fox, the little foxes, and Badger from Fantastic Mr Fox, will join Ryan for the opening spectacular.

The song they will be performing will remain a surprise until the show airs on Friday night!

Ryan Tubridy said: “This has been a year like no other, and therefore requires an opening like no other. The Wonderful World of Roald Dahl is one that understands children in a way that no one else ever has.

“He knew that there could be a sadness to the world at times, but that there’s also great love and mischief and fun to be found.

“All of those factors have been combined to bring what we hope is a joyful, beautiful, and wonderful opening like no other to this year’s Late Late Toy Show.

“This is the dream theme for a bookish person like me, I’ve been talking about my love of reading since I was a little boy.

“I love Fantastic Mr Fox and I’m rather enjoying being a fox for this opening because it’s so different from what has gone before.

“What we have in store really captures The Wonderful World of Roald Dahl… everybody is welcome, it’s going to be a night of nights in a year of years.”

Traditionally, sick children from LauraLynn, The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, CHI at Temple Street and CHI at Crumlin would be invited to come and visit The Late Late Toy Show set for what was always a magical afternoon in RTÉ.

This year, as Covid restrictions have prevented this from happening, some children from Crumlin, Temple Street, Jack & Jill and LauraLynn have been asked to take part in a special performance on the show, filmed remotely, so that they can still play a very special role in the evening.

Toys have kindly been sent in from toy retailers all around the country, and the toys demoed by children on The Late Late Toy Show will be donated to charities across the country in time for Christmas.

The Late Late Toy Show airs tomorrow, Friday, November 27th at 9.35pm on RTÉ One.