Pat Kenny’s ‘instinct’ is that Patrick Kielty ‘probably won’t stay on’ as Late Late host

The former Late Late Show host was asked whether he thinks Patrick Kielty will stay on as host as there has been no confirmation of a contract renewal just yet

Pat Kenny says it his “instinct” that Patrick Kielty “probably won’t stay on” as Late Late Show host.

There has been much speculation surrounding the comedian’s future as host of RTÉ’s flagship chat show as his three-year contract with the broadcaster has come to an end without news of a renewal.

Pat, who hosted the Late Late between 1999 and 2009, thinks changes in Patrick’s personal life since joining the show may influence whether or not he stays on as presenter.

The Newstalk host told the Sunday Independent: “I asked him if he was going to renew and he said he hadn’t at the time [when Pat was a guest on the Late Late back in March].

“I wouldn’t necessarily expect him to confide in me, I don’t know him that well, but the fact that he didn’t say ‘yeah’, obviously he was either still in negotiations or there was some reluctance [on his behalf].

“His domestic arrangements are somewhat more complicated since he split up from Cat [Deeley] – the kids are over in London and he’s up in Northern Ireland, so that must be very gruelling, so I think it’s up to him.

“He has done it for three years, but he wasn’t split up at the beginning, so it may be just wearing him down, though he doesn’t show it on air.

“My instinct is that he probably won’t stay on. Maybe it’s too constrictive. If you don’t have kids, you can carry on regardless.”

When asked if it was time for RTÉ to call a day on the Late Late Show, Pat said it would be “commercially crazy” to do so.

He told the publication: “When Gay Byrne left after 37 years, it was my job to keep the brand alive, which I did for 10 years, and then Ryan Tubridy took over, and it was his job to keep the brand alive.

“But I do know it’s more difficult now. The Late Late Show should be like a rowdy Irish dinner party.

“Someone would sing a song, someone would tell the jokes, there would be a row – that’s the recipe – and of course, there has to be a bit of stardust.

“It gets harder and harder to get the stardust to walk into the studio. The big international stars are more reluctant to travel than they ever were.

“They can do it by Zoom, or they go into a hotel in London and give 20 interviews.”

Patrick signed off from the Late Late Show for the summer on Friday night, but didn’t address any news of a contract renewal.

He told viewers at home: “That is it from us for tonight, and for this season, we hope you have a fab summer. This has been the Late Late Show, I’ve been Patrick Kielty, and playing us out tonight, this is Westlife! Goodnight.”

RTÉ sources this weekend told the Sunday Independent that the general consensus is that Patrick will stay on as host.

However, there has been no official confirmation on his future as of yet.

As the show wrapped up on Friday night, a spokesperson for the national broadcaster said: “As The Late Late Show reaches the end of another successful season, we look forward to the programme returning for its 65th year in the autumn.”

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