Friday night will be a big one for an Irish actress who, after years in the spotlight, is making her Late Late Show debut.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the Derry Girls and Amandaland star had already appeared on the chat show – we’ll admit we thought just that!

But as it turns out, Mayo actor Philippa Dunne has yet to sit opposite Patrick Kielty in the RTÉ studio, something she’ll be remedying this Friday.

Philippa has knockout performances in Derry Girls, Tall Tales & Murder and Amandaland to her name and will tell all about her BAFTA nod and working with her comedy heroes.  

Also joining Patrick on Friday are Irish sporting power couple Mikey Breen and Sharlene Mawdsley.

Both sports stars have represented county and country – Mikey has lifted the Liam McCarthy Cup for Tipperary three times while athlete Sharlene has wowed in the athletics world in recent years. 

They’ll chat about competing on the national and international stage and why they’ll always be each other’s biggest supporters. 

It won’t all be relaxed though, as the duo will also be taking part in a sporting challenge… intriguing.

Another familiar face in the studio will be newlywed Laura Fox, who’ll tell all about Ireland’s Fittest Family soon returning for another season.

She’ll dish all the backstage gossip and explain why some of the coaches are more difficult to keep in check than others. She’ll also talk of her joy at getting married earlier this year. 

Joining them on the line-up is The King of Chemo, Iain Ward, who is preparing to take part in the Dublin Marathon.

Iain will discuss the life-changing diagnosis which sent him on a path that has taken him around the world raising money for cancer research. 

Investigations Editor of The Sunday World, Nicola Tallant, will also be in studio to talk about the rise in violent crime and the communities across the country that are living in fear.

As for the music, traditional Irish music group Beoga, who were among those who walked away from Ed Sheeran’s tour after the Macklemore controversy, will be in the studio for a performance and a chat.

Niall Breslin, who is known to many as the frontman of The Blizzards, will also be in the studio and treating viewers to a performance with a difference.

The Late Late Show airs at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.