Tubridy plays it cool with ‘goofy’ Frozen-themed toy show
Ryan Tubridy may be playing Olaf in a Frozen-themed Late Late Toy Show, but unlike the goofy snowman, he won’t be losing his head.
It is Tubridy’s 11th year fronting the hugely successful show that last year attracted more than 1.5m people of all ages for The Greatest Showman-themed extravaganza.
“We started working on Frozen on the very night of the last toy show. In the green room, three 7Ups in, I approached the team and said I have got this,” he said.
“We had to take a bit of a gamble because we did not think that Frozen 2 was going to be so big,” said Tubridy when he unveiled the show’s theme and set.
“We threw the dice and said: ‘Please, Frozen gods shine on us’ and they did because now it is the biggest movie of the year.
“This year it is going to be a little goofier. I thought last year was quite intense — the top hat and the tails and the song.”
He joked that he had to go to the dentist to get a special bracket put into his mouth so he could have a proper Olaf tooth.
“We have been peppering the show with a lot of kindness. There will be things that you don’t see coming but I am not going to tell you about that.”
He described the opening scene as “terrifying” — he has been in training for the role for several weeks.
“The most difficult aspect of the show for me is the costume. It is really hot.”
Tubridy had to call the “sweat prevention unit” to see how they could fix it so he did not end up almost breathless.
He also confirmed that there will be a tribute to the late television and radio broadcaster, Gay Byrne.
He recalled how Gay started the toy show after one of his researchers suggested that they feature some of the toys on sale in Nimble Fingers, a family-run shop in Stillorgan, Dublin, that is still in business.
“The disgusting jumpers are Gay’s fault, not mine. He can take the blame for that,” said Tubridy.
This year, viewers will get a sense of family, drawing from the main characters, Elsa and her younger sister, Anna.
“A lot of the emphasis this year is on family and coming together and gathering to watch the show, as they have done for decades,” said Tubridy.
“It’s not a picture-perfect portrayal of family because every family is different, and they come in all shapes and sizes. It doesn’t matter once you are there together and happy and surrounded by people you love. That’s what it is all about.
“I am asking everyone to put down their phone or tablet for two hours and talk about the show with each other. The most important people in the world that you are trying to make contact with are beside you, wherever you might be.”
Executive producer of The Late Late Show, Katherine Drohan, said Tubridy was a “big champion” of this year’s theme for the toy show.
“Lots of people come up with ideas and we looked at what’s going to happen during the year.”
Ms Drohan said the show was a combination of Frozen and Frozen 2, the Disney animated movies, and would have numbers from both of them.
However, there will fewer toys on the show this year with the emphasis on quality rather than quantity.
Ms Drohan also revealed that the focus would also be on sustainability, with one of the children suggesting how small actions can have an impact.
“We are doing it in a fun way as well so it is not tokenism and it true to the ethos and the heart of the toy show.”
Ms Drohan has worked on the toy show for about ten years and started as a researcher.
“There is a lot of pressure but you cannot let it get to you because it would crush the spirit of the show and that is what makes it so brilliant.”
More than 200 children from all around the country will take part in the live production as singers, performers and toy demonstrators, with special guests making an appearance throughout the show. Among those taking part are Cleo Griffin, Lia Slevin, Kaitlyn Conroy, Grace Kilgannon, Jayden Guilfoyle, and Eamon Coffey who make up the vocal group 6 Sounds from Nenagh, Co Tipperary. They are all members of the Musical Theatre Academy in Nenagh, and its director, Stephanie Browne said performing on the toy show was a dream come true.
Kaitlyn said Tubridy was great with all the children taking part and enjoyed making them laugh.
Denis Moroney from Killorglin, Co Kerry, will be singing on the show but his parents, Lyn and Michael Fenton will not be watching him perform live. “My mum and dad are in New York on their honeymoon. They are married seven years but never really had the time or money to go on a honeymoon until now,” said Denis. “They don’t want to watch the show online. They want to come back on Monday and watch it with the rest of the family.”
