The Late Late Show owl The Late Late Show owl "The Late Late Show" owl is a motif that has been used by the world's longest-running chat show, "The Late Late Show" on RTÉ One television, since its inception in 1962. The owl symbol (a barn owl) is the only remaining theme from the classic format other than the show's name and the traditional annual ‘toy show’ edition. The first thing Ryan Tubridy said when announcing his plans for his takeover as host in August 2009 was: "I can tell you that the owl is not dead". Tubridy posed for photographs on the set holding
Ryan Tubridy had lost over 110,000 listeners since the move. After finishing "The Tubridy Show" on 16 July 2010, he began presenting "Tubridy" on RTÉ 2fm on 20 August 2010, surprising listeners by starting the programme three days earlier that what was originally scheduled for 23 August. His first guest on the programme was Bono. His RTÉ Radio 1 slot was filled by John Murray. "Tubridy" became synonymous with declining listenership figures, a 40% collapse of which by 2011 coincided with increased listenership figures for its rival "The Ray D'Arcy Show". In May 2011, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland upheld a complaint