Patrick Kielty’s Duet with Daniel O’Donnell Lifts Late Late Show Ratings Amid Viewer Concerns
DUBLIN — After several weeks of steadily declining viewership, The Late Late Show has seen a modest but encouraging bump in its audience numbers — thanks in part to a lively and humorous duet between new host Patrick Kielty and beloved country music star Daniel O’Donnell.
According to RTÉ, Friday night’s broadcast drew an average audience of 450,000 viewers across RTÉ One and RTÉ One+1, an increase of nearly 20,000 from the previous week’s 432,000. The show also captured 38 percent of the available audience share on RTÉ One during its timeslot.
Adding to its reach, the episode generated 37,000 streams on RTÉ Player and sparked widespread engagement online, where a clip of Patrick Kielty, Daniel O’Donnell, and actor Ricky Tomlinson discussing banjos racked up 680,000 views and counting. Across RTÉ’s social media and Late Late Show-associated accounts, there were over 87,000 interactions across the weekend.
A Lighthearted Highlight Amid Pressure
Much of the episode’s success is being credited to Kielty’s unexpected musical moment with O’Donnell. The pair performed the singer’s hit I Just Want To Dance With You, with Kielty donning a matching outfit in a cheeky tribute to his guest.
The light-hearted duet and spirited banter drew praise across social media platforms, where viewers labeled O’Donnell a “national treasure.” Some of the playful jokes during the segment even raised a few eyebrows, with what fans described as “X-rated innuendos” further fueling the episode’s viral momentum.
Veteran British actor Ricky Tomlinson joined the conversation later in the show, adding to the episode’s nostalgic and comedic tone — a blend that clearly resonated with both viewers at home and online.
Ratings Rebound Follows Weeks of Decline
The improved figures come as a welcome change for RTÉ, which has faced increasing scrutiny since Kielty assumed hosting duties from long-time presenter Ryan Tubridy in September.
Kielty’s debut drew a blockbuster 830,000 average viewers, peaking at 940,000, but interest quickly waned. By the second week, the audience had dropped to 548,000, and subsequent weeks saw consistent declines, reaching 432,000 last week before the recent modest recovery.
Despite the drop-off, RTÉ insists that sentiment surrounding Kielty remains “overwhelmingly positive.” In a statement, the broadcaster confirmed it had received no formal complaints about Kielty’s performance. Instead, the RTÉ Information Office logged approximately 30 positive calls and 25 positive emails, compared to 17 negative emails and 10 calls.
“The majority of feedback received has been positive about Patrick Kielty as the new host of the show,” a spokesperson said, emphasizing the network’s continued support for the County Down native as he settles into one of Ireland’s most high-profile media roles.
A Show at a Crossroads
The Late Late Show is among RTÉ’s most iconic programmes, with a storied history and a deeply loyal viewer base. As the broadcaster continues to navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape, the transition to a new host was always expected to face some growing pains.
Still, the latest boost — driven by humor, music, and a dose of nostalgia — suggests that the formula for success might lie in striking the right balance between entertainment and tradition. With Kielty now months into the job, segments like the duet with Daniel O’Donnell may point toward the kind of personality-driven content that could help stabilize and revitalize the show.
Whether the upward trend continues remains to be seen. But for one weekend at least, the Late Late Show gave fans a reason to tune back in — and perhaps even dance along.