Late Late Show end date confirmed as Patrick Kielty's return hangs in the balance

An end date for this season of The Late Late Show has been confirmed as Patrick Kielty's return for a 4th season hangs in the balance.

The current season is due to finish up on May 1, with host Kielty signing off for a third year, however, it's unsure whether he will return in the Autumn for a 4th season.

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Kielty, who took over from Ryan Tubridy in 2023, initially signed up to host three seasons of the much loved talk show and according to reports, no agreement has been reached as of yet for a contract renewal.

Despite ongoing speculation, Kielty and RTÉ have remained tight lipped on whether he will continue in the role beyond the season.

Kilety's tenure has seen changes to the show's tenure including a shorter runtime and fewer episodes per season, with his reported earnings from the show being in the region of €250,000 annually, aligning with new pay restrictions introduced by RTÉ in the wake of it's 2023 payments controversy.

The uncertainty over Kielty's future comes as RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst faces criticism over a proposed pay increase.

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Reports indicate that Bakhurst is in line for a salary boost of around €20,000, a move that has sparked fresh debate given his previous stance on imposing a pay cap across RTÉ.

The proposed increase would see Bakhurst's salary rise above €250,000, an amount he had previously set for top earners within RTÉ, a policy that was introduced as part of efforts to restore public trust in the State broadcaster.