More than half a million tuned into the Late Late Show on Friday night – but Tommy Tiernan suffered a slight drop in ratings as the country's restrictions were lifted on Saturday night.
Late Late host Ryan Tubridy saw an average 505,000 tuning into his show on Friday, but comedian Tommy had a slight dip with 425,000 with a 38% share tuning into his chat show. A further 91,000 watched Tommy back on the Rte Player.
A spokesperson for RTÉ said: "An average of almost 505,000 watched Friday night’s Late Late Show across RTÉ One and RTÉ+1. This marked 43% share of the available audience on RTÉ One.”
It comes in the wake of the country lifting most restrictions on Saturday, which saw many viewers enjoying late nights once again.
Navan native Tommy previously knocked Tubridy off the top spot for a few weeks and his unscripted show was extended for six episodes.
Speaking about that time, Tommy said he was delighted his chat show resonated with Irish viewers.
He said: "That was really a big moment for me because that was kind of a final validation.
"Because it is risky because you're trusting that when two people sit down and have a chat, that it doesn't have to be planned, it doesn't have to be advertised.
"There's something rewarding about watching [it].
"That moment of just getting higher ratings - in the bigger picture it's absolutely irrelevant and means nothing - but the particular moment, the symbolism of it for me was huge.
"The Late Late is a very well managed show and the people who work on it work hard and they think deeply about what they're doing.
"Ours is from another place so for the Irish public to go, 'You know what? We also like this'.
"That was a big moment for me."
Tommy spoke with Marty Morrissey on RTE Radio 1 about his nerves over not knowing who his next guest is.
He said: "It is terrifying but I think that's the price to be paid for the drama of it.
"If you knew who was going to be on our show...You'd have your mind made up.
"You'd be less inclined to watch it because you'd have your mind made up before the show was even broadcast.
"It goes back to that thing of the old Late Late Show where you wouldn't know whether Gay would introduce David Niven, Muhammad Ali, Páidí Ó Sé or Bishop Eamonn Casey.
"You had no idea who was going to walk out and if you lost interest halfway through one guest, you'd think 'Well sure I'll hang on Sophia Loren or Sharon Ni Bheolain might walk out next'.
"I do get very nervous beforehand but I also feel kind of transformed a bit afterwards.
"I don't think you get the release unless you clench first."
