‘God bless ya Ryan,’ says new Toy Show co-host

Jenny McGovern

“Oh Jayney, it’d be excellent, God bless ya, Ryan” - the words that cemented 11-year-old Fergal Smith’s fate in co-hosting this Friday’s Late Late Toy Show.
The Celt last week reported how the ambitious Knockbride boy penned a hilarious letter to host Ryan Tubridy, asking for the opportunity to help him out with presenting duties.
The letter, read out by Tubridy himself on 2FM garnered an overwhelming public reaction, with several thousand people urging ‘Tubs’ to give the boy this early Christmas present.
On last Friday’s Late Late, Tubridy again read the letter, praising the youngster and telling the audience that although they get thousands of letters every year from children wanting to come on the show to demonstrate the toys, they never get requests to co-host the show, and with that Ryan rang Fergal’s mother, Mairéad, and asked to speak to the man himself.

Charming
Fergal remained cool as a cucumber throughout the phone interview, charming the audience with his Cavan brogue and his funny anecdotes. Tubridy then enquired if the boy was free on November 28, and what size Christmas jumper he might like to wear, and if he’d do him a favour by helping to co-host this year’s Toy Show.
An audibly breathless Fergal exlaimed: “Oh, I’d love ta. Yes, I would. Jayney, it’d be excellent, God bless ya, Ryan.”

Doubts
Mother Mairéad told the Celt: “I had my doubts, I really did, but wasn’t it unbelievable to get the phonecall? We were warned that Ryan was going to call us, to make sure we were all in the house.
“They [RTÉ] wanted to keep the element of surprise, so Fergal didn’t know a thing about it. It’s just a magical story. He’s taking it all in his stride, looking forward to it, he’s just chuffed with himself. He wrote his letter and got a great reaction, he had his interview with Ryan Friday night and he didn’t falter.”

Tickets
Fergal’s parents Mairéad and Pearse may well have to pen another letter to Ryan for themselves. Although they will be escorting the budding TV presenter to the RTÉ studios they have not yet bagged a coveted audience spot.
“We have to go up early on Friday and Fergal will be told what he’s doing. Myself and Pearse won’t have tickets, but we completely understand that the studio is at full capacity. Everybody is wishing him well and I saw a few cards in the post.”
Fergal’s brothers Pearse Óg (4) and Ciarán (14) are reportedly delighted for the ‘middle child’ on getting this unique opportunity on what is traditionally the biggest live show on Irish television.

Watch the interview here: http://tinyurl.com/pljeers