Late Late Show Cancelled: Rom‑Com Replaces Iconic Friday Slot as Rugby Takes Over
In a scheduling twist that will alter many households’ Friday night routine, the late late show cancelled its usual 9. 35pm airtime this week: RTÉ has replaced Patrick Kielty’s programme with the 2009 romantic comedy It’s Complicated while live Six Nations coverage from Dublin’s Aviva Stadium begins, with pre‑match coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7pm ahead of an 8. 10pm kick‑off. The Late Late Show is scheduled to return on Friday, March 13 with a St Patrick’s Day special.
Late Late Show Cancelled: The immediate facts
Verified facts: RTÉ has removed The Late Late Show from its usual Friday night slot for the coming week. The network’s schedule replaces the talk show with the romantic comedy It’s Complicated, starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Live coverage of Ireland v Wales in the Six Nations will begin on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7pm, with a kick‑off at 8. 10pm in the Aviva Stadium. The Late Late Show, normally presented by Patrick Kielty and typically airing at 9. 35pm, is set to resume on Friday, March 13 with a St Patrick’s Day special featuring a line‑up of guests.
Analysis: These points establish a clear sequence: live sport with a national audience occupies the evening, the talk show yields its regular slot, and programmed film content fills the hours when the chat show would otherwise air. The facts are limited to the schedule change, the replacement film title and cast, the match timing and the announced return date for the programme.
What viewers will see instead and who is involved
Verified facts: Viewers tuned to the usual Late Late Show slot will find the rom‑com It’s Complicated, featuring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Rugby fans can watch build‑up and live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7pm, with the Aviva Stadium hosting Ireland’s match against Wales. Patrick Kielty will not host on the night the match is broadcast; the presenter’s programme is planned to reappear the following week.
Analysis: Replacing a flagship chat show with a film is a straightforward programming decision when live sport is scheduled to attract a large, time‑sensitive audience. The choice of a well‑known rom‑com as the replacement provides a predictable, family‑friendly fallback for viewers who do not follow the match, while the presenter’s announced return and the promise of a St Patrick’s Day special position the change as temporary rather than permanent.
What this scheduling swap means and what the public should expect
Verified facts: The broadcaster has confirmed the Late Late Show will not air this Friday because Ireland plays Wales in the Six Nations; coverage begins on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7pm, with kick‑off at 8. 10pm, and the talk show returns on Friday, March 13 with a St Patrick’s Day special. The replacement film is the 2009 title It’s Complicated.
Analysis: Taken together, these facts indicate a clear prioritisation of live sports coverage on this date. The immediate operational implication is a one‑week absence for the Friday night programme and a conventional cinematic alternative for non‑sports viewers. The broadcaster’s announcement of a dated return and a special episode suggests the slot remains dedicated to the talk show beyond this interruption.
Accountability and next steps: Verified scheduling details answer the narrow public questions about what will air and when. For viewers seeking clarity in future schedule changes, transparency would be better served by continued, timely confirmation of programming decisions and any impacts on regular series. For now, with the late late show cancelled for this Friday and set to resume the following week, audiences can plan around the live Six Nations coverage or the rom‑com replacement.
Verified fact: The Late Late Show will resume on Friday, March 13 with a St Patrick’s Day special; analysis: the single‑week change is presented as a temporary adjustment to accommodate major live sport rather than a permanent programming shift. The late late show cancelled for this week, and viewers have clear alternatives in the broadcaster’s announced schedule.
