Guest line-up announced for first Late Late Show of 2023

Crime journalist Nicola Tallant, former Love Island winner Greg O'Shea, and the leaders of the new series of Operation Transformation will be among the guests on the first Late Late Show of 2023 tomorrow (Friday).

Choreographer and Dancing with the Stars judge Julian Benson will also be on the show to talk about finally buying a house where Cystic Fibrosis patients and their families can stay while they are receiving treatment in hospital.

The house was purchased with monies raised through the Julian Benson CF Foundation and money that was raised on The Late Late Show. Before opening the doors to this house, Julian has a big project ahead of him to renovate the house, and he will appeal to the public on the night for their support.

Olympian and winner of Love Island 2019 Greg O'Shea will join host Ryan Tubridy on the couch to chat about rising to fame, retiring from rugby, and the impact the last three years have taken on his mental health.

Operation Transformation returned to our screens earlier this week, and the Late Late Show will welcome this year's leaders Marie Clear, Andrea Daly, Lorraine Dempsey, Stephanie Bowden and Thomas Hynes as they embark on a health and wellness plan to kick-start a new chapter in their lives.

With the Regency Hotel murder trial resuming next week, Nicola Tallant of The Sunday World will join Ryan to discuss how the Kinahan gang rose to become one of the biggest crime cartels in the world and how they found themselves in the crosshairs of the US authorities.

To mark Nollaig Na mBan, there will be a very special performance by some of Ireland's best female singers and musicians including Niamh Farrell (Ham Sandwich), Pamela Connolly (Pillow Queens), Krea (Wyvern Lingo), Faye O'Rourke (Soda Blonde), Saibh Skelly and Susan O'Neill.

They will perform Sinead O'Connor's hit Mandinka with the Theodora Byrne choir and an all-female band.

And in the spirit of Nollaig na mBan, Toshín Bankole will perform a special version of the classic Respect.

* The Late Late Show airs on RTÉ One this Friday, January 6, at 9.35pm.