RTÉ HAS REVEALED the theme of tonight’s Late Late Toy Show, and it might just make your heart grow three sizes. 

The theme chosen for this year’s show is everyone’s favourite mean, grumpy and green creature who, as the song goes, is as cuddly as a cactus and as charming as an eel.

Yes, it’s the Grinch.

Viewers will be transported to Who-ville when they tune in at 9.35pm tonight, with the stage decorated to reflect the whimsical neighbourhood from the pages of the classic Dr Seuss tale How The Grinch Stole Christmas. 

Over 300 children from across the country will be stealing the spotlight as they showcase their singing and dancing talents and test out toys throughout the show. 

RTÉ has promised “dazzling performances, plenty of toys and heartwarming moments that prove even the grumpiest of Grinches can discover the true spirit of Christmas”. 

The opening of this year’s show will be narrated by none other than legendary Irish actor Liam Neeson, who recorded a voiceover especially for the occasion.

More surprises and special guests have also been promised, though RTÉ are keeping their identities under wraps. 

It will also be the first time that RTÉ Audio Description will be available live on RTÉ One during the broadcast, making it more accessible. 

Patrick Kielty reveals the set of the Toy Show with Poppy Madden (9) from Carlow. Andres Poveda Andres Poveda

Audio describer Clara Murray told The Journal that in previous years, blind and visually impaired people would have to wait until the show was repeated on Sunday for audio description to be available. 

“We said it’s about time we tried to get this rigged up so everyone can enjoy it on the Friday night,” she said. 

“We have set up a special booth upstairs, and we’re going to be doing it live on the Friday night, so anyone who’s blind or visually impaired can enjoy it at the exact same time as everyone else.”

Along with the set being Dr Seuss-ified, host Patrick Kielty is also expected to spend some time in the makeup chair to transform into a certain grumpy, green character. 

Speaking to The Journal ahead of tonight’s show, Kielty said the joy of the Grinch for him is that “he’s not really a meanie. He’s just having a bad day.”

He said: “If you get the right person who actually sees that side of him, and the way that Cindy Lou is able to bring the Grinch out, I think that the Grinch secretly loves Christmas all along. So that’s where we’re going with this.”

Kielty also said there are “so many” Irish toys and books on this year’s show, along with a couple of Irish speakers. 

At the heart of this show is Ireland and we want to try to capture as much of that as we can.

It will be Kielty’s third Toy Show since taking over hosting duties from Ryan Tubridy in 2023. “I remember the first time I actually came in and just how weird it feels,” he said. 

“It never gets old to be standing here.”

Though he would not be drawn on any pre-show rituals that he takes part in, the host did reveal something he does after every Toy Show. 

“Normally a set would come out on the night, but it doesn’t, and so everybody leaves. And there’s just this lovely moment that I sneak back in and sort of sit at the back and you kind of look at it and go ‘Wow, that happened’.

“That’s a little ritual that I now do after it’s all over. Just take a wee second to go ‘you were a part of that’.”

The Late Late Toy Show will air on RTÉ One at 9.35pm, as well as on the RTÉ Player for those watching from abroad. 

The Journal will be liveblogging the Toy Show this evening, so check back in later and watch along with us.