Friday night’s Late Late Toy Show threw up one of the greatest cameos in the show’s long history, with Roy Keane surprising two youngsters in amazing fashion.
Young Dylan and Keelan were two of the stars of the show, receiving an amazing video message from their favourite musician Lewis Capaldi, who invited them as VIP guests to his Dublin gig next year.
However, there was arguably an even better surprise in store.
Dylan and Keelan were tasked with picking out as many blocks as possible from a giant Jenga tower, with toys donated to children in hospital for every block they could knock out of place.
The two young lads became instant heroes, with Dylan explaining how he loves helping his friend Keelan, who struggles with Tourette’s.
Just as host Patrick Kielty jokingly told the two lads to “do their job,” a slightly more ominous Irish sporting figure appeared to remind Kielty that was his phrase.
Well look who it is! Roy Keane | Read more: https://t.co/dVXFtWUMxw pic.twitter.com/Cb8n2QCg0o
— Entertainment on RTÉ (@RTE_Ents) December 5, 2025
It was a sensational moment, with the two kids in disbelief at the appearance of Roy Keane, and the crowd serenading the Corkonian with chants of, ‘KEANO! KEANO!’
After Keane helped the lads pull off a flawless performance in the challenge, Keelan excitedly told him that he also played in midfield – prompting a response of, “Good boy, that’s the best position to play. It’s the happiest.”
For a man so often associated with a sterner exterior, it was a wonderfully special moment for Roy Keane to be a part of, showing a softer side to the Manchester United legend.
It has gained significant reaction on social media even outside of Ireland.
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Football world reacts to Roy Keane’s Late Late Toy Show cameo
The core concept of The Late Late Toy Show is infamously difficult to explain to anyone not from Ireland.
The idea of startling children with meeting their heroes, amid a massive charity drive, while a normally down-to-earth chat show host is tasked with prancing around a fanciful Christmas-inspired set, is a wonderful one.
However, it remains so quintessentially Irish that a sense of astonishment always accompanies international reaction to the most viral moments. That was the case with Roy Keane’s cameo.
Renowned Irish sports journalist Miguel Delaney shared RTÉ’s clip of Keano’s appearance, offering an explanation to audiences from outside of Ireland.
This is amazing, mind. The Late Late Toy Show is when Ireland’s main chat show does a Christmas version – Roy Keane appears to help two young lads win toys for kids in hospitalhttps://t.co/GLyUklQha7
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) December 5, 2025
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Both in the responses to Delaney’s tweets, and in the quotes of RTÉ’s clip, football fans from overseas expressed their amazing at getting one of football’s most infamous “hard men” to make such a heartwarming cameo appearance.
Growing up with Roy Keane the player, and then watching Roy Keane the TV personality is such a jarring experience. https://t.co/gnlAE8w27t
— Liam Kent (@tnekmail) December 6, 2025
Roy Keane is such a legend isn’t he https://t.co/JSnN6GBH01
— Richard Amofa (@RichardAmofa) December 6, 2025
— Cruiseboyd. (@AAnionting) December 6, 2025
Brilliant. https://t.co/OBa0eu0ARf
— Darin Millar (@defencelawyer) December 6, 2025
Love this 😍 https://t.co/7dHeOQrTu3
— L20 Bootle Bee 🚵🏌️⚽❄️ (@BootleBee) December 6, 2025
That look on the wee boys face…. https://t.co/HxSy0kN3De
— Ian Mcloone (@IanMcloone) December 6, 2025
In Ireland, too, Keano’s cameo was undoubtedly the highlight of this year’s Late Late Toy Show.
Theme this year is The Grinch. How could they not have had him on 🤣 pic.twitter.com/ZXAXIihhHh
— Mark O’Brien (@obrienmark) December 5, 2025
How has a grumpy old git getting sent off every weekend causing mayhem.. turned into the darling of the nation the last few years 😆👏🏻… Absolute legend of a man https://t.co/5786MBeLI8
— Jase Lee THFC 🇮🇪,⚽ ⬜🟦 (@JaseL2022) December 5, 2025
Only the Toy Show could get such magic out of Roy Keane.
A moment that those two young lads will never forget.
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