The television programming and broadcasting firm Patrick Kielty set up after securing the role of host of RTÉ’s flagship Late Late Show last year paid out dividends of €218,590.
The TV presenter incorporated Pamanco Ireland Ltd in May 2023 – the same month in which he was unveiled as the successor to Ryan Tubridy to host the Late Late Show.
New accounts filed show that pre-tax profits at Pamanco Ireland Ltd declined by 9% from €173,273 to €158,908 in the 12 months to July 31, 2025.
Pre-tax profits at the company last year decreased as revenues dipped by 6% from €286,656 to €268,324.
Cash funds at the company last year decreased from €113,393 to €94,287 and after the dividend pay-out offset by post tax profits of €138,958, accumulated profits reduced to €71,982.
The accounts cover Mr Kielty’s second season presenting the Late Late Show where the Home Alone themed Late Late Toy Show broke its own viewing record with over 1.6 million viewers which included catch-up viewing on Saturday and Sunday and the repeat broadcast.
On the company’s future plans, the directors in their report, signed off on April 17, state that the company “plans to continue its present activities and current trading levels”.
Mr Kielty’s three year contract to present the Late Late Show signed off in June 2023 comes to an end this month and an announcement has yet to be made concerning a new contract.
At an RTÉ appearance before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport on May 20, RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst told members on contract negotiations with Mr Kielty “we are still negotiating with Patrick”.
Asked if RTÉ has a contingency plan in place if negotiations are not successful, Mr Bakhurst said: “We want to get Patrick back but we will have to have one in case we cannot conclude a deal with him.”
When asked for an update on negotiations with Mr Kielty, an RTÉ spokeswoman said today: “The Late Late Show reached the end of another successful season, it has an average of 385,000 viewers per episode – 38.2% share with 1.46 million streams on RTÉ Player to date. We look forward to the programme returning for its 65th year in the autumn.”
“We have no further comment at this time,” she added.
In June 2023, Kielty confirmed that his three year contract involved RTÉ paying him €250,000 for each of the three 30-episode Late Late Show series.
Kielty was to also receive a one-off payment of €20,000 to cover pre-production and rehearsals before his September 2023 debut while he waived flight and accommodation expenses.
The firm is a subsidiary of Co Down-registered entertainment firm Boxed Productions Ltd and the €218,950 dividend would have been paid to Boxed Productions Ltd.
Pamanco Ireland Ltd last year recorded a gross profit of €222,772 after incurring cost of sales of €45,552
The company’s pre-tax profits of €158,809 was recorded after administrative expenses of €63,963 were incurred.
The company recorded a post tax profit of €138,958 after incurring a corporation tax charge of €19,851.
The most recent filed by Boxed Productions Ltd to Companies House in the UK show accumulated profits increased by £137,339 from £1.37m to £1.51m (€1.75m) in the 12 months to the end of March 2025.
Kielty is only the fourth host to present the Late Late Show following on from Ryan Tubridy, Pat Kenny and the late Gay Byrne.
Before securing the Late Late Show role, Kielty was a popular face on UK TV and has presented shows on the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 including Fame Academy, Love Island and Stand Up for the Week.
Kielty began stand-up comedy while studying psychology at Queen’s University Belfast.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
