Tears and Christmas cheers in Kielty's Toy Show debut

Songs, seasonal cheer and a special guest appearance by Elfis Pressley marked Patrick Kielty's debut as the host of the Late Late Toy Show.

Kielty took over running of world's longest-running chat show, The Late Late Show, in September - and with it the responsibility of marshalling its annual Christmas spectacular.

The Toy Show invites children into the studio to test the year's hottest toys, with entertaining and, occasionally, enjoyably chaotic results.

It's one of the country's most-watched television programmes and tends to mark the start of the Christmas season for those watching in Ireland and, often, around the world.

Earlier this week, Kielty described the gig as "a dream come true" and asked people to "say a prayer for all on board as I try to hold it together".

But did the County Down-born presenter manage to keep the Toy Show train on the tracks? Here's a look at some of the show's highlights.

The Late Late Toy Show was being broadcast just as people in Ireland were reeling from serious events in Dublin the previous 36 hours - a knife attack outside a school that injured several people and a subsequent riot across the centre of the capital.

So the question was - would Kielty address that darkness on a night usually given over exclusively to Christmas cheer?

The answer was yes and it came just moments after the opening number of Santa Claus is Coming To Town, as Kielty - in full elf outfit - addressed the audience in his opening remarks.

"Given the events of the last 24 hours it's important to remember what this time of year is all about and that is holding your kids tight this Christmas," Kielty said, visibly getting a little emotional.

"We are thinking of every family who needs an extra hug tonight."

Razzle dazzle is a key part of the toy show experience and this year was no different.

A Barbie movie medley, rapping by young Sophia from Cork and a large ensemble doing Naughty from Matilda the Musical were some of the musical highlights from the show.

The latter number featured 10-year-old Tessa Evans, from Maghera, County Londonderry, who told Derry Now earlier this week she was "really, really, really, really excited" to be part of the show.

She said she told jokes to the audition panel, and clearly it worked as the girl was part of an ensemble that brought the toy show house down.

Plus we couldn't forget Elfis Pressley, who helped Head Elf Kielty keep the show on the road.

It wouldn't be the Toy Show without one or two breakout stars - this year's audience was quick to fall for Sheamie with viewers praising him across social media.

The seven-year-old from Kilfenora, County Clare, spoke of his excitement of being up "in the big schmoke".

"Before we start chatting quick now Patrick, do you mind if I say something quick to you?" he asked.

"I bet you didn't know you had something in common with an auld seven-year-old from the country... it's both our first Toy Show Patrick," he said to loud laughter from Kielty and the audience.

As per Toy Show tradition, Sheamie was asked to test some Lego, assisted by his uncle, who "had to take a Lego day off work".

"I had to take Monday off myself for school," Sheamie added.

"Sheamie give me a shout in a few years, I think me and you could have a fair auld night out with a couple of pints," Kielty laughed.

Another increasingly big part of the Toy Show is unexpected cameos and heart-warming twists.

Friday's edition featured some famous faces making dreams come too for some toy testers and performers.

The Matilda ensemble got a delightful shock when they were unexpectedly joined by Dublin-born Alisha Weir, the star of last year's film who herself starred in the 2017 edition of the toy show.

Later one sports-mad Stevie was joined by Irish rugby stars Bundee Aki and Peter O'Mahony when he was told he and his family would be given tickets to see Ireland play Italy in next year's Six Nations.

But probably the most heartwarming surprise came for eight-year-old Sophie from County Tipperary.

Kielty told the audience that she auditioned for the show and told them her dream was see the show in person, but it was a tall ask given "she was in hospital a lot this year".

Cue the Late Late Show camera walking in on Sophie on her family during a viewing party at a theatre in Dublin. Cue Kielty telling Sophie a bus was waiting outside to take her and her family to the show right away. And cue the waterworks.

The early notices on the Northern Ireland-born presenter were positive, with Ed Power from the Irish Times writing that the show is "Kielty's most daunting challenge since taking over" as he had to compete with the "live-wire style" of his predecessor Ryan Tubridy.

"This, for better or worse, is still a thoroughly Tubridy-esque evening. But it is less over the top - a quieter Christmas for a presenter slowly, yet steadily, putting his own stamp on the Late Late."

RTÉ journalist Alan Corr said Kielty pulled off a "bit of a Christmas cracker" on Friday night.

"Crammed with little characters and the host’s own measured mania, it was just what Santa and Buddy ordered.

"Extra hugs all round and a high-five for the new Toy Man in town," he wrote.

There was also praise on social media.

“Solid toy show tonight, Patrick Kielty absolutely smashed it,” comedian Michael Fry wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

One person on X said it was the “best thing I’ve watched on TV in a very long time. The children were a shining light in such dark times.”