‘I wanted to save her life’: This year’s Late Late Toy Show was full of many heart-wringing moments

The Late Late Toy Show is a national celebration of all things Irish, told through the medium of incredibly cute and hilarious children. We sit at home in a sugar-induced coma (mandatory at this stage), while Ryan Tubridy dons the intricate costume and belts out the opening number,  before wearing the now legendary Christmas jumper. But he always lets the kids take centre stage. For his tenth Toy Show, he is as brilliant as ever and shows no signs of not enjoying every moment – even if he might get short of breath that bit earlier. This year’s Greatest Showman-themed effort was arguably one of the best ever.

The kids are what make the show; they refreshingly haven’t the filters we do and they just want to come on, pick their favourite toy (though it was probably one that they forgot to put out) and have the craic. The results are often hilarious, frequently magical and almost always heart-wrenching.

And there were many of those moments this year.

One that captured the hearts of the nation was thanks to cousins Scott and Grace Lowe from Athlone. This time last year, six-year-old Grace was undergoing bone marrow treatment for leukemia.

Her first cousin, eight-year-old Scott gave her the bone marrow transplant.

“They’re double cousins, and Grace’s other siblings weren’t a match. They’re best friends,” said Scott’s mum Arlene on the Late Late Toy Show.

“I wanted to save her life”

Absolute hero Scott who donated bone marrow to his little cousin Grace gets a few surprises.#LateLateToyShow pic.twitter.com/xn9dWNgv8k

— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) December 1, 2018

Speaking to Ryan, Scott said that he underwent the treatment because he wanted to save his little cousin’s life.

“I wanted to save her life.”

“I was scared going in for an operation. I just felt really happy (that I saved her life).”

Scott was then surprised with a live meet and greet with his favourite rugby stars – including Rob Kearney, who said Scott was the “real hero” in the room. We couldn’t agree more.

“He’s not here!”

Another highlight was when the impeccably dressed 11-year-old Kerry GAA fan Michael O’Brien who met his hero Davy Fitz. He stole the beloved book-review section with his reviews of Braille books and was hailed as the coolest kid in the room on social media and asked the right and most important questions.

“He’s not here!”
Michael O’Brien age 11 from Kerry just met his hero Davy Fitz!#LateLateToyShow live now pic.twitter.com/4B7hSMjAGb

— RTE One (@RTEOne) November 30, 2018

And who could forget the amazing Leo Javaherian who treated us all to one of the best musical moments on the show?

The 12-year-old from Naas who has Down’s Syndrome played the piano after which Ryan assured him he did a great job (that hug!). It was a gorgeous moment and we’re stealing his brilliant joke at the end:

Take a bow Leo!
Nailed it!#LateLateToyShow live now pic.twitter.com/LfZ4d5Za74

— RTE One (@RTEOne) November 30, 2018

Special mentions have to go to ten-year-old Jerome with his incredible Lego GPO, and his brother who spoke about Barbies, unicorns and all things pink. It was a proud moment to see a shadow cast on gender stereotyping because, as we know, toys are for everyone, regardless of whether you’re a boy or a girl.

There’s a boy on the #LateLateToyShow talking about Barbie, unicorns and pink, ten years ago me or Ireland could never be as open and proud ????.

— Seántay (@SeanCxwman) November 30, 2018

And who could forget Cormac, the young boy, wise beyond his years with a passion for architecture, whom many thought would be a fine candidate to potentially solve the housing crisis woes of Ireland. “I just want to build things,” he told an impressed Ryan, after he revealed that he constructed his Lego Taj Mahal in just 12 hours.

And last, but not least, this moment:

“I think it was the one we forgot to put out”
Maybe we’ll see Davy’s favourite toy next year.#LateLateToyShow live now pic.twitter.com/25ZbjcwmAe

— RTE One (@RTEOne) November 30, 2018

This all resulted in a show that was indeed the greatest, at least in Ireland. And it has officially kick-started the season of festive cheer in the most heartwarming way possible.