Patrick Kielty: Transforming Irish Television While Facing Personal Transitions

A New Era in Irish Broadcasting

Patrick Kielty made history in May 2023 when he was confirmed as the new host of RTÉ’s The Late Late Show, becoming the program’s fourth permanent presenter. His appointment came with a three-year contract worth €250,000 per season, plus a one-off payment of €20,000 for pre-production and rehearsals.

Under his leadership, the show has achieved remarkable success, with the Home Alone themed Late Late Toy Show breaking viewing records with over 1.6 million viewers. His debut episode in September 2023 drew an impressive audience of 830,000 viewers, with an additional 158,000 streams on the RTÉ Player.

Professional Achievements and Personal Changes

In 2025, Kielty continues to maintain a busy schedule, hosting his award-winning BBC radio show on BBC 5Live every Saturday morning while also performing his sell-out stand-up tour, Borderline. However, July 2025 brought significant personal changes as Kielty and British TV presenter Cat Deeley announced their separation after more than a decade of marriage. The couple, who wed in September 2012 in Rome, have two children together.

Impact and Legacy

According to Jim Jennings, RTÉ’s director of content, Kielty has brought “an exciting new dynamic to the show” as “one of Ireland’s finest comedians.” The network had very definite ideas for the show’s development and has been actively shaping the series since its launch. Notable changes under Kielty’s leadership include reducing the running time from two hours to 90 minutes, while maintaining the traditional two-hour slot for the Toy Show. The number of episodes per season was also adjusted from 36 to 30.

Looking Forward

Despite recent turbulent times at RTÉ, the national broadcaster hopes that this new era of The Late Late Show will help refocus public attention on its output. Kielty aims to both honor the show’s legacy and make his own mark on the next chapter of its history.