As Patrick Kielty prepares to host his final show of his three-year contract tenure this Friday, the presenter faces growing uncertainty over whether he will reprise the role for another season.

But while Kielty’s future as presenter of the Late Late Show is still in limbo, Extra.ie can reveal that the Co Down comedian actually gave previous host Ryan Tubridy a bit of drumming in the show’s ratings.

Figures compiled from industry data show that Kielty’s debut season averaged 452,000 viewers per episode with a 39% audience share across 22 episodes, a significant 45,000 more viewers per week than Tubridy managed in his final season, which averaged 407,000 with a 38% share.

Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty may well host his final episode this Friday.

As RTÉ bosses are understood to be ‘over the moon’ with the performance of the new host, who took charge of the iconic chat show in the wake of the Tubridy payment scandal that had rocked the national broadcaster, it is still unclear whether he will continue in the role.

While Kielty has faced much criticism during his three-year run in the hosting seat, his figures tell quite a different story.

Ryan Tubridy as he arrived at RTÉ. Pic: dmg media Ireland

His very first show somewhat set the tone, drawing 830,000 viewers, a 22% jump on Tubridy’s last appearance in the same slot.

Despite some criticism of his presenting style and a turbulent personal year following his separation from wife Cat Deeley, Kielty has continued to hold his own in the ratings.

His current third season is averaging 390,000 viewers per episode on RTÉ One, with a further 1.3 million streams on RTÉ Player, figures that sources say represent an increase on last season overall.

On the biggest night in the Irish television calendar, his record has been stellar. His debut Late Late Toy Show in November 2023 drew 1.7 million viewers over the weekend, surpassing Tubridy’s final 2022 effort of 1.6 million.

The 2024 Home Alone-themed Toy Show edition matched that figure, and his 2025 Toy Show, marking the 50th anniversary of the beloved institution, bounced back to 1.7 million, making it RTÉ’s most-watched programme of the year for the third consecutive year.

Yet the question now hanging over Montrose is whether or not Kielty is the ‘right man for the job’.

RTE are understood to be on the verge of ‘outsourcing the entire production of their iconic Friday night flagship show’ as Kielty’s future hangs in the balance.

His three-year contract is set to expire at the end of the current season on May 1st, and neither Kielty nor RTÉ have confirmed whether a new deal is in place.

RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst has made clear he wants him to remain, saying in February: ‘I’ve made it really clear to Patrick that we all think he’s doing a great job and we would like to continue that.’

Sources close to the presenter have suggested Kielty is weighing his options, with the emotional fallout from his marriage ending and a cross-channel commute to see his children, who remain in the UK, said to be factors in his thinking.

The figures, at least, make a compelling case for him to stay.