The Late Late Show (season 50) The Late Late Show (season 50) The 50th season of The Late Late Show, the world's longest-running chat show, began on 2 September 2011 and concluded on 1 June 2012. Ryan Tubridy's third season as host, it aired on RTÉ One each Friday evening from 21:30. Local guests this season included Bob Geldof, Senator David Norris, President Michael D. Higgins, Joanne O'Riordan and Micheál Martin. Ireland football players Shay Given, Paul McGrath, Niall Quinn and Ronnie Whelan all featured in different episodes (as did England football player Steven Gerrard), while other guests from the world of sport this season included
The Gerry Ryan Show new show in that slot "the biggest prize right now in radio". The now cross-media event "Operation Transformation" originated on "The Gerry Ryan Show". In 2010, Ryan launched "Undercurrents", a Friday slot airing unsigned unplaylisted Irish acts who then had their details published on his website. The "Irish Independent"s John Meagher disagreed that this was typical of RTÉ 2fm and Gerry Ryan. A spin-off show of the demoed songs premiered on RTÉ 2XM on 5 March 2010, presented by "GRS" researcher John Bela Reilly. Following Ryan's untimely death on 30 April 2010, Meagher hoped "Undercurrents" would be continued by his