The Late Late Toy Show: Patrick Kielty reveals 'Christmas favourite' as this years theme

It's that time of the year again, it's officially time for the most beloved show across the country: The Late Late Toy Show!

Ahead of the show tonight, RTÉ has revealed the theme of this year’s Toy Show which Patrick Kielty said has always been a huge part of Christmas for him growing up.

This years theme will transport viewers to Who-ville, into a world of green mischief and magic inspired by Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

That's right, this years theme will be none other than the beloved Christmas favourite, The Grinch.

RTE said you can expect dazzling performances, plenty of toys and heartwarming moments that prove even the grumpiest of Grinches can discover the true spirit of Christmas.

The show will feature over 300 children from all over Ireland, who will take to the stage tonight showcasing their talents, stories and infectious joy.

Speaking ahead of tonight, host of The Late Late Toy Show, Patrick Kielty said, “The Grinch has always been a huge part of Christmas for me and since becoming host of the Toy Show, it’s always been a dream to make him part of the best night of the year. I am so excited to share the magic of Who-ville with families all across Ireland this Toy Show. The set is spectacular, the costumes are incredible and the children are going to make it truly unforgettable. It’s a show full of heart, joy and a little bit of mischief - just as the Grinch would want!”

The opening of this year’s 2025 extravaganza will be narrated by none other than Liam Neesonwho recorded a voiceover especially for this year’s show. More surprises and special guests will be revealed throughout the night, ensuring magic from beginning to end.

RTÉ production designers have designed an extraordinary set that will bring Who-ville to life, the fantastical town that started from the pages of Dr. Seuss.

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With its colourful, whimsical houses and a bustling town square at the centre of the action, the scene captures the magic of the Whos’ world.

Complementing the set, the RTÉ Costume and Make-Up Departments have meticulously crafted every detail to immerse viewers in the vibrant imagination of Dr. Seuss. To top it all off, Patrick himself will spend hours in the make‑up chair, transforming into the spirit of Who-ville!

Children from all across Ireland will be entertaining audiences on Friday night by showcasing the fun and creativity of the games they enjoy, bringing plenty of energy and excitement to the stage. Alongside this, the much-loved book segment of the show will feature young reviewers sharing their thoughts on a variety of stories. Peppered with performances of Christmas classics and songs of the year, viewers will be singing and dancing along at home!

A list of the toys featured will be available on the show’s website www.rte.ie/latelate following the broadcast.

All toys featured on the night will be donated to charities.  

Where to watch The Late Late Toy Show:

You can watch the Late Late Toy Show on RTE One and RTE Player at 9:35pm tonight, December 5 2025.  

In 2024, The Late Late Toy Show had a record-breaking 622,000 streams from 139 countries.

You can catch all the excitement from behind the scenes on the official social channels. 

RTÉ 2FM's Aisling Bonner and Hugh Carr will host a 30-minute bilingual TikTok Live at 6.30pm on Friday, with access-all-areas passes! They'll catch up with Patrick backstage, bring you on a tour of the set and meet the people who bring the greatest night of the year to life.

Audio Description
For the first time on RTÉ, Audio Description will be available live on RTÉ One during broadcast, making it more accessible than ever and ensuring that its wonder can be shared universally.

Audio Describers this year will be Clara Murray and Berni Stack.

The Late Late Toy Show will be repeated on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Sunday, 7 December at 3:10pm with Audio Description.

ISL
The Late Late Toy Show with Irish Sign Language (ISL) will broadcast live on the RTÉ News Channel and RTÉ Player. 

For the third year, ISL coverage will feature Deaf presenters, Sarah-Jane O'Regan and Jason Maguire - working with hearing interpreters, Ciara Grant and Lisa Harvey-Coleman. 

The Late Late Toy Show ISL is a real celebration of Irish Sign Language, Ireland's third official language.  

The Late Late Toy Show with ISL is also repeated in the late night ISL block on Wednesday, 10 December on RTÉ One. 

The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal   
Inspired by the late Saoirse Ruane, whose courage and generosity touched the nation, the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal has raised an extraordinary €26 million since its launch in 2020, thanks to the generosity of people nationwide.

Working in collaboration with Community Foundation Ireland, these funds have supported hundreds of local and national charities in every county, transforming lives and creating opportunities for children who need it most. 

Rachael Blackmore launched the 2025 RTÉ Toy Show Appeal on last week’s Late Late Show, highlighting the Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre at ChildVision, a project close to her heart that is supported by the Toy Show Appeal. 

The public can donate by going to www.rte.ie/toyshowappeal, or with the appeal’s official donation partner Revolut Pay.