LATE LATE UK? Chris Evans calls for RTÉ's Toy Show to be broadcast in the UK

Chris Evans has admitted he would 'love' to bring a version of The Late, Late Show to the UK, as he called for Sky to contact RTÉ and arrange for the Toy Show to be screened live on their network next year.

Speaking on his Virgin Radio Breakfast Show, the broadcasting giant lavished praise on RTÉ's enduringly popular Friday night show, as he tried to educate an English audience on the Toy Show spectacular.

"The Late, Late Show is a mad show," said Evans. "I've been on it and it's just amazing. I say mad because it starts around 9.30 in the evening and just carries on until it is finished. I don't know why anyone hasn't done it over here.

"It's this poo pourri of a show, a rainbow of content. As a concept, no commissioning editor would ever really go out on a limb and say make 12 of those, we'll have a go, but it does work.

"They will do something really joyous for 15 minutes, then they'll have a really serious political debate, then they will have Ronan Keating on, then they'll have a juggler, then they will talk about funerals. It's mad, but it's brilliant.

"As the show gets later, it gets more serious and they know that people want to shout at the telly as the night goes on. So they start really light and then go heavy and confrontational. Then everyone in Ireland is happy over the weekend because they got all they annoyance out watching The Late, Late Show.

"I'd love to host the UK's Late, Late Show. They say 1.7m watched the Late, Late Show in Ireland and if you are a TV controller over here, you have to look at this and wonder why we don't have a version of this show here. They seem to be on to something over there. You could call it Friday Night Shout at the Telly."

Evans then urged Sky to do a deal with RTÉ to broadcast next year's Toy Show, as he insisted a UK audience needed to be part of the festive fun.

"This is RTÉ's biggest show of the year, The Late, Late Toy Show and half of Ireland watches it," he added.

"Sky should get on the phone RTÉ and tell them you want to simulcast it at the same time as it goes out live in Ireland. It's too late for this year, but we have to make it happen next Christmas. It's just amazing."

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Online Editors