For One Night Only is an Irish light entertainment show hosted by Gay Byrne. It features music and chat with a special guest musician. The studio-based show originally aired on Friday nights as a summer "filler" in 2011. The show returned for a second series in 2012.
History Following Gay Byrne's retirement as host of The Late Late Show in 1999, he occasionally returned to present other shows. These included, amongst others, The Gay Byrne Music Show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and The Meaning of Life. Several of these shows reflected Byrne's own personal interest in a particular subject.
Production The first series of For One Night Only was recorded before an audience of 180 in Studio 4 in the RTÉ Television Centre at Donnybrook, Dublin 4. The shows are usually broadcast on Friday nights during July and August, immediately after the RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock at 9:35 p.m.
Format For One Night Only is described as giving an "intimate and emotional look at the featured artist's life story." The show offers a This Is Your Life-style interview with a special guest musician and is punctuated by performances by that musician.
Christmas special A special Christmas edition was broadcast on 25 December 2011 as a tribute to The Dubliners 50th anniversary. The show featured Declan O'Rourke, Sharon Shannon, Shane MacGowan, Mary Coughlan and Liam Ó Maonlaí.
Broadcast dates
Series 1 Show Guest Broadcast date Recording date1 Imelda May 15 July 2011 16 June 20112 Bob Geldof 22 July 2011 29 June 20113 Christy Moore 29 July 2011 9 June 20114 Daniel O'Donnell 5 August 2011 15 June 20115 Mary Black 12 August 2011 7 June 20116 Paul Brady 19 August 2011 30 June 2011
Special Show Guest Broadcast date Title7 The Dubliners 25 December 2011 Christmas special
Series 2 Show Guest Broadcast date Recording date8 Sinéad O'Connor 3 August 2012 15 June 20129 The Saw Doctors 10 August 2012 8 June 201210 Finbar Furey 17 August 2012 7 June 201211 Aslan 24 August 2012 13 June 201212 Dickie Rock 1 September 2012 14 June 2012
Specials Show Guest Broadcast date Recording date13 Sharon Shannon 24 December 2012 5 June 201214 Boyzone 24 August 2013 13 June 201315 Phil Coulter 24 December 2013 11 June 2013
References
External links Official Site at RTÉ