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In an emotional opening to his debut as the host of RTÉ's The Late Late Show, Patrick Kielty expressed that it is the "honour of a lifetime". Fighting back tears in RTÉ's studio 4, Kielty mentioned that his family will be watching the show from County Down and beyond. Earlier, he stated that the show would have an all-Ireland influence due to his Northern Irish background. Kielty, a comedian and entertainer, is now the fourth permanent presenter of the world's longest-running live chat show. The Late Late Show is considered an Irish institution, having started just a few months after the launch of Irish TV in 1962. Kielty began his career at a comedy club in Belfast and has since gone on to present Love Island, This Morning, and BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz, among other comedy and theatre shows. He is married to presenter Cat Deeley. Kielty had to wait several months for his debut, as the announcement of his appointment was made back in May. Notable guests on the opening night included former Irish President Mary McAleese, Republic of Ireland footballer James McClean, and comedian Tommy Tiernan. In a recent interview with BBC News NI, Kielty stated that hosting the show and being from Northern Ireland makes him the representation of the all-Ireland dynamic. Returning to a show on which he performed one of his early televised comedy sets, Kielty expressed feeling more comfortable discussing more serious topics about life on the island and its people. He said, "I am much more at ease going from comedy to something more serious and talking about who I am and what I believe in." Kielty sees The Late Late Show as a platform for people to come on and talk about various subjects, reflecting the different identities on the island. He acknowledges the responsibility of being looked upon for his opinions but also believes in being true to oneself, telling jokes and enjoying a laugh. Taking up the role after a major crisis at Irish national broadcaster RTÉ, sparked by a scandal over the pay of the show's previous presenter Ryan Tubridy, Kielty made several jokes about recent events during the debut episode. He also humorously mentioned that he expected a large audience to tune in based on the latest figures for TV license payments. In an interview with BBC News NI, Kielty discussed the relaunch of the show and the efforts put into it, including a new set. However, he emphasized that he does not view it as part of the recovery plan for RTÉ but rather as the biggest show on Irish TV on a Friday night that he is fortunate enough to host. Having previous experience as a TV chat show host with Patrick Kielty Almost Live on BBC One Northern Ireland, he learned not to believe he is in control of everything and that anything can happen. As for his pre-show preparation, Kielty jokingly mentioned doing stretches in the dressing room as if he's going to play a game of football, even though he will be sitting on a chair.