Late Late Toy Show 2020

Post intro text here

Text describing this picture

Every year as the days grow shorter and the nights colder, we look forward to a tradition in which we all get together of an evening, virtually or in person, to watch the one and only Late Late Toy Show.

This year, 2020's Toy Show was pericularly special. Constrained by the ongoing restrictions around you know what Ryan Tubridy and his crew managed to put together a truly wonderful show filled with songs, chats with amazing kids and of course loads of cool toys.

Toy Show Appeal #

Among all the amazing moments the biggest one was the launch of the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal. During the show the appeal managed to raise an amazing €5.2 million to support a range of charities all around Ireland.

Rule The World #

A highlight of the show was the amazing Rule The World song that featured Gary Barlow on piano and included greetings from Irish families all over the world.

Fantastic Mr Fox and the Twits #

The theme of the show was Roald Dahl. From the introduction and throughout the show there were costumes of all sorts of characters from his books. The show also features loads of other great books, as well as toys, so let's take a look at what was featured!

Some highlights from the event:

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (Nintendo Switch) at Shop Ireland

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (Nintendo Switch)

Nintendo

In Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, create a Mario Kart track in your own home and race against AI-controlled karts or friends and family. Includes one physical kart, four gates, two arrow signboards, and a USB charging cable.

Buy here

Oculus Quest 2 — Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset — 256 GB at Shop Ireland

Oculus Quest 2 — Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset — 256 GB

Oculus

Oculus Quest 2 — Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset — 256 GB

Buy here

Books #

Since the show featuring books, I thought I'd do a quick roundup of all the books mentioned before moving on to the toys. Here we go:

Cá Bhfuil Puifín Beag? at Shop Ireland

Cá Bhfuil Puifín Beag?

Erika McGann

An Irish translation of a classic puffin adventure!

Buy here

Mythical Irish Oddities at Shop Ireland

Mythical Irish Oddities

Mark Joyce

Connemara man Mark Joyce tells of Irish legends.

Buy here

Once Upon a Reader at Shop Ireland

Once Upon a Reader

Lorraine Levis

A lovely guide to raising young readers.

Buy here

The Great Irish Farm Book at Shop Ireland

The Great Irish Farm Book

Darragh McCullough

Everything you could ever want to know about Irish farms, and more!

Buy here

The Haunted Lake at Shop Ireland

The Haunted Lake

A ghostly love story set in a spooky, underwater world.

Buy here

David Walliams #

It was great to see the wonderful David Walliams making an appearance. Here's the books he mentioned:

The Boy in the Dress at Shop Ireland

The Boy in the Dress

David Walliams

David's first novel - a charming, funny debut.

Buy here

CodeName Bananas at Shop Ireland

CodeName Bananas

David Walliams

1940's based adventure featuring Gertrude the Gorilla.

Buy here

Some other books #

I tried to spot as many books as I could in between buffering the stream. Here are some I noticed:

Kay's Anatomy at Shop Ireland

Kay's Anatomy

A Complete (and Completely Disgusting) Guide to the Human Body.

Buy here

Kindness Grows at Shop Ireland

Kindness Grows

A Peek-through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup.

Buy here

Finding Nutmeg at Shop Ireland

Finding Nutmeg

Join Sean on a magical journey to the North Pole.

Buy here

Did you spot any others I missed? Let me know if you did! Now then...

Toys #

The toys featured in the 2020 RTÉ Late Late Toy Show!

Thw show opened with a hoovering competition featuring this Henry Vacuum Cleaner. It wasn't plugged in on the show, but it's an actual working replica!

Casdon 728 Henry Vacuum Cleaner Toy, Red at Shop Ireland

Casdon 728 Henry Vacuum Cleaner Toy, Red

Buy here

We also saw some Dyson handheld vacuums featured, but they weren't nearly as charming in my opinion.

Inflatable costumes #

Bodysocks Kids Inflatable Green Dinosaur Costume at Shop Ireland

Bodysocks Kids Inflatable Green Dinosaur Costume

Fits kids aged 5 to 11

Buy here

Bodysocks Inflatable Deluxe Dinosaur Riding Costume (Adult) at Shop Ireland

Bodysocks Inflatable Deluxe Dinosaur Riding Costume (Adult)

Adult sized version

Buy here

You can find loads of other examples, including Santa carrying an elf, unicorns, inflatable pigs, cows and more.

Tobar 23072 Bubble Machine at Shop Ireland

Tobar 23072 Bubble Machine

The bubble machine that almost didn't work!

Buy here

Toyrific Pogo Stick for Kids Boys and Girls, Daisy Crushaz design at Shop Ireland

Toyrific Pogo Stick for Kids Boys and Girls, Daisy Crushaz design

Buy here

Pheasant at Shop Ireland

Pheasant

It's a pheasant.

Buy here

Fitbit Ace at Shop Ireland

Fitbit Ace

Designed to help kids get more active.

Buy here

Thomas & Friends Storytime Thomas at Shop Ireland

Thomas & Friends Storytime Thomas

Buy here

Board games #

Monopoly As Gaeilge at Shop Ireland

Monopoly As Gaeilge

Buy here

Scrabble As Gaeilge at Shop Ireland

Scrabble As Gaeilge

Buy here

Adam's Space Section #

Kids Karaoke Microphone Speaker at Shop Ireland

Kids Karaoke Microphone Speaker

Ground control to Major Tom!

Buy here

Ride-ons (AKA Christy Moore section) #

Audi Kids Electric Ride-On Car at Shop Ireland

Audi Kids Electric Ride-On Car

Buy here

Rollplay 35541 Powersport ATV Electric Car at Shop Ireland

Rollplay 35541 Powersport ATV Electric Car

Buy here

My Lovely Llama 12V Powered Ride On at Shop Ireland

My Lovely Llama 12V Powered Ride On

Buy here

Kraftz Realistic 12v Ride On Fire Truck at Shop Ireland

Kraftz Realistic 12v Ride On Fire Truck

Buy here

Inline Skates at Shop Ireland

Inline Skates

Buy here

Micro-deluxe scooters at Shop Ireland

Micro-deluxe scooters

Buy here

Dawes 12

Dawes 12" Lil Duchess Bike

Buy here

John Deer Ride-Ons at Shop Ireland

John Deer Ride-Ons

Loads of cool options for the young farmer!

Buy here

Essential painting tools #

Relaxdays Fitness Trampoline at Shop Ireland

Relaxdays Fitness Trampoline

Buy here

Listen again #

The amazing Michael Maloney performance become even more wonderful when Dermot Kennedy himself turned up! Here's his album.

 at Shop Ireland

Other toys spotted on the set #

Kindness Grows at Shop Ireland

Kindness Grows

A Peek-through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup.

Buy here

Lola, the pink squishmallow unicorn at Shop Ireland

Lola, the pink squishmallow unicorn

Buy here

Playmags 50 Piece Set at Shop Ireland

Playmags 50 Piece Set

Buy here

Slush Husky at Shop Ireland

Slush Husky

Buy here

Rabbits soft toys at Shop Ireland

Rabbits soft toys

Buy here

Catacorns soft toys at Shop Ireland

Catacorns soft toys

I'm sure I saw a few of these around!

Buy here

Squish A Boo soft toys at Shop Ireland

Squish A Boo soft toys

Buy here

Eeyore Plush Figure at Shop Ireland

Eeyore Plush Figure

Buy here

Shark stuffed toys at Shop Ireland

Shark stuffed toys

Buy here

That's it for this year! #

I hope you had as much fun watching this year's Late Late Toy Show as I had compiling this list of amazing books and toys! If I missed anything, please do get in touch and let me know.

More articles