PK@rte.ie (again). The All New (Patrick Kielty) Late Late Show Thread

RoTelly · 29-05-2026 11:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124507927#Comment_124507927

This is the problem as I have said before RTÉ don't really have anyone. PK didn't develop in RTÉ or even in Ireland because where would he go?

Of all the Irish TV presenters or Radio Presenters who is there to take over?

Miriam is the easy choice, she's presented the show before and for 10 years she present her own Summer chat show.

Tommy Teirnan is their only other choice.

Where is the summer time chat show, surely RTÉ could afford a chat show and give some one new the opportunity to present.

odyssey06 · 10-06-2026 11:59AM

Patrick Kielty watch - or rather listen. He does the voiceover narration for BBC Norn Ireland series Pitch Invasion, about the history of soccer leagues in North America. Currently airing on BBC.

RoTelly · 10-06-2026 04:05PM

So some averages from Medialive over the years.

	PK	PK	PK	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	PAT	PAT	PAT
	S3	S2	S1	S14	S13	S12	S11	S10	S9	S8	S7	S6	S5	S4	S3	S2	S1	S10	S9	S8
Average	315	329	360	336	396	427	469	402	439	469	493	499	522	551	588	694	697	630	595	584
	-14	-30	23	-59	-31	-42	66	-36	-30	-24	-6	-23	-29	-37	-106	-3	68	35	10

S11 is the misery season (Covid and a number of deaths in 2019, helping boost RT).

On average RT lost 21K each season, that season 11 and his first season when he raised it by 68K, only to lose 106K by his 3rd season.

You might consider changing tastes but largely you would not see such a slump after a 3rd season, while Pat was maintain his audience in his last 3 seasons.

There isn't much hope for the new PK, a small increase in season one, obliterated by 31K drop last season and 14K drop this season.

As for NYE and The Toy Show

NYE fluctuates greatly, RT hosted only one in 2008 (not a TLLS special, he took over the following year).

Toy show is stagnate 2009 and 2006 figure mixed with the averages of the main show.

Figures are for RTÉ ONE and Adults (15+) only.

	PK	PK	PK	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	RT	PAT	PAT	PAT
	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006
NYE	390	351	444	454	482	503	419	393	429	311	345	454		524	613			468
Toy	908	836	891	851	955	968	811	844	803	990	904	907	936	907	1012	1066		924	908
																		RT NYE

RoTelly · 10-06-2026 04:07PM

And while I was at it I took time to look back at the pretender of 2003 as Eamon Dunphy fought the law and the law won.

VMTV would love an audience this size now, not sure why they discontinued it audeince numbers wheren't that bad even back then

	2003
	Dunphy	Kenny
Sep	231	557
Oct	189	474
Nov	189	606
Dec	171	543
Ave	195	545

RoTelly · 18-06-2026 10:33AM

Willie O'Reilly is in the papers again at how time is running out with announcing the new presenter or the retention of PK. In reality RTÉ should only sign a yearly contract seems to be a great way of keeping people interested.

I believe he is suggesting a rotating presenter. I suppose if your top 10 presenters rotate the role between them no one will ever get to the pay of the DG.

But at the same time the Indo is reporting that PK will present Up For The Match next month. If this is the case PK will back on TLLS in September.

Migdal_Or · 22-06-2026 12:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124559921#Comment_124559921

That's interesting because I'm hearing that the LLS is going to be scrapped, and RTE bosses want a new chat show in that slot hosted by The 2 Johnnies. PK wanted to shake up the LLS by bringing back the kind of robust discussions we used to see under Gay Byrne, but there's absolutely no appetite for that within RTE.

Shakyfan · 22-06-2026 01:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124570639#Comment_124570639

And where exactly are you hearing that?

Migdal_Or · 22-06-2026 04:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124570888#Comment_124570888

The 2 Johnnies rumour has been floating around media circles for a while now. The RTE bosses love the pair. Sites like Goss.ie and Rsplive.ie have run stories about it lately also I see.

As for PK and his desire to bring back robust discussions, that's widely known, and it has been the case for a while now. I can see his point. It's the same old fluffy tripe over and over. I wouldn't fancy hosting another season with the same old faces. There is no appetite in RTE for robust discussion, even when it comes to politics.

RoTelly · 22-06-2026 04:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124571321#Comment_124571321

I think you can forget about goss and rspv sites, tbh I think the media are feed some details that bares nothing to reality by people wanting to degenerate TLLS now that the seat is filled by the new guy.

Unlikely RTÉ would go for a new show, TLLS regardless is a major part of their schedule, much like a soap you'd be very brave to cancel the show.

icdg · 22-06-2026 05:41PM

It is still too valuable a brand to be scrapped (with the fear that someone else could pick it up). That was one of the big reasons why RTE kept it going when Gay Byrne retired in the first place - well known I think that Pat Kenny simply wanted to do Kenny Live on a Friday.

I also don’t think the two Johnnies are suitable for the time slot - their audience is out doing other stuff on a Friday (they would be better off with a longer run of their Thursday show, tbh).

If it does not come back with Kielty, I suspect it will come back with someone else in due course - though they are running out of time to pin down someone for September (if they haven’t already, that is).

elperello · 23-06-2026 03:40PM

Patrick Kielty’s TV company pays out dividends of €218,950 – The Irish Times https://share.google/rWAQhghiClWMyZjNN

The finances are in good shape but no news of a new contract.

RoTelly · 23-06-2026 05:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124571548#Comment_124571548

There really is no fear, who would pick it up, VMTV is coasting along, they've only once gone with a prime time weekend chat show, see audience figures in my previous posts. Simple VMTV could drop TSOCS and go with a late night chat show.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124573742#Comment_124573742

But makes great paper columns and a bit of hype, I am surprise they haven't a offical announced up for the match, which will be "Not Up for the Match"

elperello · 23-06-2026 05:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124573953#Comment_124573953

But makes great paper columns and a bit of hype

Well it is show business after all...🙂

RoTelly · 23-06-2026 07:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574017#Comment_124574017

Indeed ….

https://extra.ie/2026/06/23/news/irish-news/teresa-mannion-next-move

She is about as likely to be the first female presenter of TLLS!

jippo nolan · 24-06-2026 12:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574294#Comment_124574294

I hope she’ll weather that storm 🥴

RoTelly · 24-06-2026 11:48AM

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/daithi-will-be-in-his-element-rtes-up-for-the-match-line-up-revealed-but-des-cahill-wont-be-part-of-show/a/157654904.html

PK not up for the match but … down at home !

Daithi O Se, Jacqui Hurley and Louise Cantillion will be on hand for the show! Des is gone, he gets nothing.

So where is poor PK and TLLS!

icdg · 24-06-2026 05:51PM

Reading the original Indo article (paywalled) any speculation regarding involvement of Kielty in Up for the Match seemed to be based on an indie he was formerly involved in (but hasn’t been for 15 years) landing the commission for it.

In other words, a case of 2+2=20.

RoTelly · 24-06-2026 07:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124576928#Comment_124576928

Not necessarily as Stephen Stewart (owner of Green Inc) was brought into direct some of the initial episode's of PK's TLLS.

It also suggests that Up For the Match will cost 600K across both episodes, seems on the high side to me.

PK@rte.ie (again). The All New (Patrick Kielty) Late Late Show Thread

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