'I found myself, uncharacteristically, having to take very deep breaths every so often,' says Toy Show host

Ryan Tubridy has opened up about the Late Late Toy Show, which moved the nation last Friday.

'I found myself, uncharacteristically, having to take very deep breaths every so often,' says Toy Show host

Ryan Tubridy has opened up about the Late Late Toy Show, which moved the nation last Friday.

The show touched on some serious issues such as bullying and homelessness and also had many heartwarming moments that celebrated Ireland's young people.

Speaking on his RTÉ Radio 1 show, Tubridy said the response was as overwhelming as it was humbling.

"Thank you to everyone who sent WhatsApp messages, Instagram messages," he stated.

"The guys are telling me the email has never been so busy over the weekend. And that's before I even get to the TV office.

"So obviously something lovely happened, and for that reason I just wanted to thank the people behind the scenes who put it together.

"They just worked so hard, and they're colleagues; but more importantly, they're friends.

"And that matters because it just meant there was a warmth to it and a magic to it and an effort put into it that it just lifts the sleigh.

"And then, obviously, the biggest thanks have to go to the children, who kind of knocked us out really."

Tubridy added that "each time we got to one child or another, they just seemed to come out with this wisdom and knowledge, self-awareness and kindness that seemed to make a lot of people cry."

"I found myself, uncharacteristically, having to take very deep breaths every so often because honestly, if I was to let go I probably wouldn't have made it through part two or three.

"I was, like everyone else, just taken aback by them."

The Late Late host said: "Every bone in my body is groaning. But it was worth every second of it.

"It would take it out of you, that's the truth, in a good way. We'll do it all again next year - I have the theme in my head already!"

The 2019 Toy Show was watched by more than 1.7million people over the course of the weekend.

1.35million people tuned in to watch it live on the night, while 26,000 tuned in on RTÉ One +1. A further 134,000 sat down to Saturday's repeat.

Over the weekend, the show had 233,000 streams on the RTÉ Player.

The Toy Show featured a host of heartwarming and heartbreaking moments, with Tubridy being praised for how he handled the show.

Sophia, who was bullied for her hairstyle and other things, was given the chance to confront her bullies by Tubridy.

Tubridy told Sophia she was "a gorgeous human being" as she told the public: "Don't let the bullies stop you from doing the things that you want to do".

Sophie from Cork was praised for being a supportive big sister to Kian, who is in hospital receiving treatment for leukaemia.

Tubridy gave her a trip to the Harry Potter Studio in London, with the host saying: "If I was Kian, I'd want a big sister like you."

There were also a few surprise appearances, including Katie Taylor who surprised boxing fanatic Ella Thompson.

Golfer Ella Kenny was also surprised by Open champion Shane Lowery.

Tubridy and the Toy Show team also reunited a family and surprised Lee, by flying his older sister Alex home from Australia.

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