Patrick Kielty has described hosting RTÉ's The Late Late Show as 'truly the honour of a lifetime' in an emotional debut. The comedian, who became the fourth permanent presenter of the world's longest-running live chat show, welled up in studio 4 as he mentioned his family watching from County Down and beyond.
The County Down man said the show would have an all-Ireland flavour as a by-product of his Northern Ireland upbringing. Kielty, who started out at a Belfast comedy club, has presented Love Island, This Morning and BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz. He is married to presenter Cat Deeley.
Among the guests on his first show were former Irish President Mary McAleese, Republic of Ireland footballer James McClean and comedian Tommy Tiernan. Kielty said he was now 'a lot more comfortable in my skin' about tackling serious matters on the island, adding: 'There are a lot of different identities on this island and it's about reflecting all of those.'
Kielty takes over amid a major crisis at RTÉ sparked by a pay scandal involving previous host Ryan Tubridy. He joked about the controversy, saying: 'Based on the latest figures for TV licence payments we're expecting an audience of up to 27 people tuning in tonight.' He also quipped about the new set: 'No expense spared, or, if you're the host, no expenses spared.'
The 52-year-old previously hosted Patrick Kielty Almost Live on BBC One Northern Ireland. Asked what he learned, he said: 'It taught me to not believe you're in control of everything – and anything can happen.'
