Figures show Patrick Kielty had record-breaking debut on The Late Late Show

IN A WEEKEND filled with entertainment and sporting excitement, Patrick Kielty took center stage with a record-breaking debut on The Late Late Show.

On Friday night, viewers from Ireland and around the world flocked to RTÉ Player to witness Patrick Kielty's historic moment as he became only the fourth presenter of the world's longest-running live chat show.

The season opener of The Late Late Show proved a resounding success, capturing an average audience of 830,000 viewers who tuned in live or within the same day on RTÉ One and RTÉ One +1, securing a remarkable 62% audience share. The pinnacle of viewership soared to an impressive 934,000 individuals.

RTÉ Player streamed the show to an astounding 158,000 viewers, marking it as the strongest Late Late Show opening on the platform to date. Among adults aged 25-44, the show commanded an impressive 65% audience share.

The buzz extended to social media, where videos shared on Late Late Show accounts have collectively accumulated an astonishing 7.6 million views since September 1.

Patrick Kielty's inaugural episode featured a star-studded lineup, including; Tommy Tiernan, former President Mary McAleese, footballer James McClean, and The 2 Johnnies, along with a captivating live performance by Chasing Abbey.

In the realm of sports, a captivated audience of 965,000 viewers who tuned in live or within the same day reveled in Ireland's triumphant 59-16 victory over Tonga at the Rugby World Cup in Nantes, France, securing an impressive 63% audience share.

The game reached its pinnacle during the 20th minute, with an astounding audience of 1,064.7 million viewers. The match also saw history being made as Johnny Sexton broke Ronan O'Gara's long-standing record to become Ireland's all-time leading points scorer with a spectacular try.

Additionally, there were 162,000 streams of Ireland v Tonga on RTÉ Player.

Drama enthusiasts were also treated to a captivating weekend on RTÉ, with Fair City attracting an average audience of 257,000 viewers who watched live or within the same day on Friday night. Sunday's episode maintained the momentum, drawing an average audience of 305,000 viewers who watched live or within the same day. Furthermore, an additional 61,000 viewers streamed the beloved soap opera on RTÉ Player.