Patrick Kielty confirmed to return as Late Late Show host

Patrick Kielty has been confirmed to return as the host of The Late Late Show, securing a new three-year contract with RTÉ. This agreement will see him lead the program for its 65th season, with the potential for up to 30 episodes each season.

Speculation had been rife about Kielty's future on the show following the expiration of his previous contract approximately nine weeks ago. His return, however, puts an end to those rumors, with RTÉ officially announcing the new deal on Tuesday.

Kielty, a comedian and TV presenter from Co. Down, took over the hosting duties from Ryan Tubridy in 2023. Reflecting on his tenure, Kielty stated, “Hosting The Late Late Show is one of the greatest gigs in the world and the past three years have been a joy and a privilege. The heart of the show will always be our amazing audience and I can’t wait to be part of their Friday nights again from this September.”

He becomes the fourth permanent presenter in the show's history, following in the esteemed footsteps of Ryan Tubridy, Pat Kenny, and Gay Byrne. The 2025/26 season of The Late Late Show reportedly averaged 385,000 viewers per episode, according to RTÉ. The broadcaster has yet to announce the specific return date for the show in September.

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Hosting The Late Late Show is one of the greatest gigs in the world and the past three years have been a joy and a privilege. The heart of the show will always be our amazing audience and I can’t wait to be part of their Friday nights again from this September.