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- The 49th season of The Late Late Show, the world's longest-running chat show, began on 3 September 2010 and concluded on 27 May 2011. Ryan Tubridy's second season as host, it aired on RTÉ One each Friday evening from 21:30. Viewing figures hit a 12-year high during this season. The first guest of the season was former British prime minister Tony Blair. The live interview occurred the night before a book signing at Eason's which attracted international attention when Blair was pelted with shoes and eggs and successfully evaded an attempted citizen's arrest on charges of war crimes. Other guests this season included Bob Geldof, Philip Nitschke, Gordon Brown, Eamon Gilmore (before he became Tánaiste), Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Giovanni Trapattoni, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Brendan O'Carroll, Michael Parkinson, Maureen O'Hara, Rhys Ifans and Howard Marks. Golfers Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were interviewed in separate episodes (in September and in March), as were Ireland football forwards Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle (in December with wife Claudine and in April). First Irish interviews were granted by Neil Diamond and Kate and Gerry McCann. Musical guests this season included Clannad, Lighthouse Family, Villagers, Suede, Thin Lizzy, Elbow, Ronnie Wood, Republic of Loose, Bell X1, Mary Black, The Script, Tom Jones, Two Door Cinema Club and Imelda May. The season's conclusion coincided with a tumultuous week in the history of the Irish state, with the death of former Taoiseach Dr. Garret FitzGerald occurring between the state visits of Queen Elizabeth II and Barack Obama. John Bowman and the Taoiseach Enda Kenny, were on hand to offer advice to viewers of The Late Late Show on these matters. (en)
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