Goodbye Gay Byrne One Last Late Late. 1999

Reflections as Gay Byrne prepares to present ‘The Late Late Show’ for the final time.
After almost 37 years at the helm, Gay Byrne will present his last-ever edition of ‘The Late Late Show’. The presenter has been involved in more than 1,400 editions of the show, first broadcast on 6 July 1962.
Over the years, guests from far and wide and from every walk of life have contributed to what has become,
The longest-running live chat show in the world.
The fiercely loyal ‘The Late Late Show’ production team is too busy to get emotional about the veteran broadcaster’s departure. Director Colette Farmer, the person behind the catchphrase ‘roll it there, Colette’, describes working on ‘The Late Late Show’ as a magical and marvelous experience,
I can honestly say I’ve never had an unhappy day.
Special assistant Maura Connolly recalls the one instance where she and Gay Bryne clashed over an item she wanted him to do. The whole team backed her,
Go for it Connolly, good on you!
The final show will star people who previously appeared on the show over the years and will,
Undoubtedly attracts one of the biggest audiences in the history of Irish broadcasting.
Gay Bryne has received numerous messages from well-wishers letting him know that he will be missed. They say,
They will be watching and how sad they will be at the end of the show and all that.
The unflappable host is not expecting to feel emotional,
I would reckon that I would hold onto myself, I think I will.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 May 1999. The reporter is Colm Connolly.