Late Late Show Skips Good Friday as RTÉ Confirms Easter Schedule Shake-Up
The Late Late Show will not air this Good Friday as RTÉ confirms its Easter schedule shake-up, with the world's longest-running live talk show taking a break while host Patrick Kielty weighs his future on the programme amid reports of personal and professional pressures.
In the show's usual Friday night slot at 9:35 PM on RTÉ One, the national broadcaster will instead air the 2024 musical biographical film Bob Marley: One Love. It is the second time in 2026 that the Late Late has been absent from the schedule, having also been replaced by a Six Nations rugby match between Ireland and Wales in early March.
Background
The Late Late Show is an institution in Irish broadcasting, having aired since 1962 and holding the record as the world's longest-running live talk show — a distinction that places it in a unique position in the history of global television. The programme has been a platform for some of the most significant cultural, political, and social conversations in Irish public life over more than six decades, from the social revolutions of the 1960s and 1970s to the debates that have shaped modern Ireland.
Patrick Kielty, the Dundrum-born comedian and television presenter, took over as host in September 2023, bringing a fresh energy to the programme and drawing strong ratings in his first two seasons. He is currently in his third year as presenter, and his tenure has been marked by a willingness to tackle serious subjects alongside the show's traditional mix of celebrity interviews and entertainment. The show maintains high viewership for RTÉ, averaging around 650,000 viewers per episode — a remarkable figure in the streaming era.
Key Developments
Reports in March 2026 indicated that Kielty's long-term future as host is uncertain. Insiders suggested he is weighing up his options due to the personal toll of his reported split from TV presenter Cat Deeley and the challenges of commuting between London and Dublin while co-parenting his children. Sources close to Kielty described him as exhausted by the demands of the show and his personal life.
Kielty himself has spoken candidly about the transient nature of the role, stating: "Nothing is forever, and I've always said I'm a lighthouse keeper. The show is bigger than the host and there were hosts before me and there will be hosts after me. None of these things are set in stone." RTÉ has made no official announcement regarding any permanent changes to the Late Late Show or its hosting arrangements.
The Easter schedule shake-up comes at a time of broader change at RTÉ, with the national broadcaster navigating financial pressures and a period of significant public scrutiny following controversies in recent years. The broadcaster has been working to rebuild public trust and demonstrate value for money to Irish licence fee payers.
Why It Matters
The Late Late Show remains one of the most watched programmes on Irish television and a significant cultural touchstone that transcends its status as a mere entertainment programme. For generations of Irish viewers, the show has been a weekly ritual — a shared national conversation that has reflected and shaped Irish society. Any uncertainty about its future, or the future of its host, generates considerable public interest and media coverage. The show's absence over Easter is a minor scheduling matter, but the broader questions about Kielty's tenure and RTÉ's direction are of genuine public interest at a time when the broadcaster is under pressure to justify its public funding model.
The Good Friday scheduling decision also reflects a long-standing tradition in Irish broadcasting of treating the day with a degree of solemnity — a tradition that has evolved significantly as Irish society has become more secular, but which still influences programming decisions at RTÉ.
Local Impact
For viewers in Northern Ireland, the Late Late Show occupies a particular place in the cultural landscape. Patrick Kielty's roots in County Down give him a natural connection to audiences on both sides of the border, and his tenure as host has been followed with particular interest in Northern Ireland. The show's absence over Easter is a reminder of the shared cultural traditions that connect communities across the island of Ireland, regardless of political divisions. RTÉ's programming decisions are watched closely in Northern Ireland, where the broadcaster's output is widely consumed alongside BBC Northern Ireland and other UK channels.
What's Next
The Late Late Show is expected to return to its regular Friday night slot after Easter. RTÉ has not confirmed any changes to the hosting arrangements for the 2026-27 season, and Kielty has given no indication of an imminent departure. Viewers can follow developments via RTÉ Entertainment and Evoke.ie.
