Kielty Faces Montrose Curse on Late Late Show

’s Late Late Show relied more on the RTÉ ‘canteen’ this year than he has in his previous two seasons at the helm, an Irish Mail on Sunday analysis reveals.

Almost a quarter of guests who have appeared on the Late Late Show with Kielty since he took over presenting duties in 2023 have direct ties to RTÉ or were promoting its content.

The MoS analysis shows Kielty has welcomed a total of 349 guests during his three seasons in the hotseat – of which 82 were in the pay of the national broadcaster, or 23.5 per cent of the total.

But in fact this was much lower in his first two seasons, with the ratio being 21.3% in his first season and 20.5% in his second – before it increased substantially to 28.1%. this year.

The show hosted its lowest number of promotional guests in Kielty’s first season, with 20 of 94 guest slots made up of RTÉ promotional material or employees of the national broadcaster.

The percentage dipped the next year but the actual number rose slightly to 26 of 127 guests in his second season.

But in the final season of Kielty’s current contract the numbers spiked sharply with a total of 36 of 128 guest slots since September 2025 promoting RTÉ. This represents a 35 per cent jump from the average of 20.8 per cent over the first two seasons.

The findings come as speculation mounts that the Co. Down comedian – who has yet to indicate if he will renew his contract – presented his final show on Friday night, which featured Westlife, 1980s icon Boy George and comedian Garron Noone.

But in the final season of Kielty’s current contract the numbers spiked sharply with a total of 36 of 128 guest slots since September 2025 promoting RTÉ. This represents a 35 per cent jump from the average of 20.8 per cent over the first two seasons.

When he was confirmed as Ryan Tubridy’s replacement three years ago, Kielty promised to bring a change of tone to the world’s second longest running chat show, reducing the runtime and promising to ‘give people the show they want’.

This was taken to signal more A-list international guests and less of a reliance on guests drawn from the RTÉ ‘canteen’.

Kielty has managed to draw in some big domestic and international names such as Margot Robbie, Cillian Murphy, Jessie Buckley, Bon Jovi and US Late Show host Stephen Colbert.

But he has also had to rely heavily at times on repeat guests with RTÉ connections, Kielty’s RTÉ colleague and fellow talk show host Tommy Tiernan has appeared three times and been given the opportunity to promote his own projects. 

Two years ago, he appeared alongside his co-hosts, Laurita Blewitt and Hector Ó hEochagáin, to discuss their podcast.

Last year he was invited back to talk about his podcast and also his US comedy tour. Just last month the comedian reappeared alongside Mick Flannery to promote their new musical.

Dancing with the Stars has also featured large under Kielty’s reign.

There have been no fewer than ten promotional items for the programme in the past three years.

Contestants Kayleigh Trappe and Karen Byrne have both featured twice on the show and there have also been segments with other contestants and winners in an attempt to promote the show.

Eurovision 2024 contestant, Bambie Thug, also appeared three times – twice in her run up to the song contest and again after the event.

The 2 Johnnies appeared twice over the past three years to promote their former weekday drivetime radio show Drive It on RTÉ 2fm and their more recent RTÉ2 series, The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In. 

Kielty has also leaned on RTÉ regular Doireann Garrihy, who appeared twice. The 2FM host featured last year to discuss her wedding, return to radio and again last month ahead of the end of her maternity leave – once again to talk about her return to the airwaves.

Another go-to is RTÉ host Baz Ashmawy, who appeared in Kielty’s first season with Vogue Williams and actor James Nesbitt. He returned to the Late Late couch this season to discuss how he juggles ‘hit’ RTÉ shows.

Asked about Kielty’s contract situation, an RTÉ spokesman said: ‘RTÉ does not comment on individual contracts. 

'As The Late Late Show reaches the end of another successful season, it has an average of 390,000 viewers per episode – 38 per cent share with 1.4 million streams on RTÉ Player to date. We look forward to the programme returning for its 65th year in the autumn.’

RTÉ did not respond to queries relating to the level of in-house guests on the Late Late Show.