Surprising reason RTE Late Late Show not on tonight as Patrick Kielty shares huge news for next week

Fans of The Late Late Show may be in for a shock tonight, when they discover that the beloved RTE talk show won't be hitting its usual Friday night slot. The surprising reason? Host Patrick Kielty and the team are taking a pause from their regular programming to pre-record their annual New Year's Special.

Even thought we're only just into November, the show is setting up what will undoubtedly be a spectacular end-of-year celebration with an impressive line-up of guests and highlights from throughout the year.

Kielty addressed the schedule change during last week's live show and reassured fans that the show will be back next week with a huge guest. He told viewers: “We’re not here next week, but we’ll be back on Friday the 15th with the star of Gladiator II, Paul Mescal.”

For those seeking alternatives for their disrupted Friday night routine, RTE One will be screening the beloved romcom Notting Hill, where Hugh Grant's charmingly awkward bookshop owner chances upon love with Julia Roberts' renowned film star.

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Over on RTE 2, you can catch American Gangster, featuring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. The film narrates the tale of 1970s drug lord Frank Lucas, whose innovative heroin smuggling techniques made him a prominent figure in the New York underworld, reports RSVP Live.

Meanwhile, Virgin Media One will be broadcasting Ireland vs New Zealand live from Dublin's Aviva Stadium. The two teams face off for the first time since last year's World Cup defeat as Andy Farrell's squad begin their Autumn series campaign.

The Graham Norton Show, a rival chat show, airs on BBC One from 10.40pm. The Irish host will be joined by Kate Winslet, Dwayne Johnson, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez and Jharrel Jerome, with music from Celeste.

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