The Late Late Toy Show to feature children's choir cover of 'Rule The World' tonight

Tonight on the Late Late Toy Show, children in the Irish community abroad will sing a cover of Take That's 'Rule The World'.

The song, led by Eva Norton (pictured below in red), will be a way for the youngsters to sen Christmas wishes back to their loved ones in Ireland. Eva, from Lucan, Co Dublin, is joined by: Ryan Tillman from Adelaide, Emma Rosemond in Times Square, the Aisling Céilí Ballad Group from an empty Times Square in New York City, Shay Gallagher in Bahrain, Lili Joy Kelly in Perth, Tara Neiland in South Korea, and the Ginnity, Melady, Kelly and Lenehan families in Adelaide for the pre-recorded performance.

Also featured are: Brendan Griffin in Rochester in New York, Dáithí Fitzgerald in Dubai, Abbi Houton in Boston, Liam and Soaah Slattery in Maryland, Moya Forde in Johannesburg, Kiera Arthur in Canberra, Rosemary Whelan in Melbourne, Isabelle Bonas in Dubai, the Gota Murphy brothers in Madrid, Joshua Earls in Auckland, Taylor Hayes in Florida, and Millie May O'Mahoney in Tasmania.

"I don't think there will be a dry eye in the land tonight when this performance is beamed across the country," said Ryan Tubridy.

"Seeing these children - who all have much-missed and much-loved family back here in Ireland - come together to sing from every corner on Rule the World - I think it will soften the hardest of hearts.

"It's a performance that encapsulates the year that was, and bright hopes for the future, and that children everywhere are going to go on to rule the world.

"It's really something very, very special and of the moment, and I'm not ashamed to admit that it really did stop me in my tracks and I was overcome with emotion."

Meanwhile, Ryan and the children of Spotlight Stage School were pictured today on the Roald Dahl inspired set of The Late Late Toy Show 2020. Matilda, Charlie, a little fox, little rabbit, grasshopper, and Badger, all from Dahl's collection of stories joined him in Studio 4 ahead of tomorrow evening's show. The set, created by the RTÉ production Design Department and led by Marcella Power, is like no other ever staged for The Late Late Toy Show, with a giant screen in place so that Ryan can be joined by the virtual audience on Friday night.

The set has been completely influenced by the works of Roald Dahl and features nods to some of his most famous works including Willy Wonka, The Twits, and James and the Giant Peach, it also, fittingly, features a special reading area for the eagerly anticipated book reviewers who will join Ryan tomorrow night.