Ivan Yates' last ever Tonight Show
Ivan Yates will present his last The Tonight Show on Virgin Media One this evening when he reunites with Matt Cooper for a special production.
The show will feature regulars of The Tonight Show, including Professor Luke O'Neill, Eamon Dunphy, Deputy Michael Healy Rae, Mary O’Rourke, Sinn Fein President Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, Deputy Brid Smith and Michael Harding.
It has been a record Tonight Show season for Yates and Cooper, with the highest ratings on record for the series in an incredible news agenda, from the January General Election to the Covid-19 outbreak in March. Viewership is up 35% year on year, with an average of 120,000 viewers nightly and more than 2.2 million viewers tuning into the series since the outbreak of Covid-19.
For the last three years, Yates and Copper have brought unique insight and analysis to The Tonight Show, helping viewers navigate and digest some of the biggest events in recent Irish history during this extraordinary time – Brexit, the Cervical Check scandal, the FAI and John Delaney controversy, Election 2020, the abortion referendum, the presidential election 2018, local and European elections last year, extreme weather events, and the recent coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis.
Speaking about his departure from the show, Ivan said: “Since 2017 I've learned so much about live TV. I’ve really enjoyed working with Matt Cooper and the entire production team, who are excellent at what they do. I want to thank Virgin Media management for their support.
“I think the programme gave deeper insights, from Brexit to the elections to Covid-19 and sometimes an alternative view. We embraced controversy and craic at the same time.
“I hope we gave viewers a level of analysis that was both entertaining and informative. I’m delighted for the station that it was such a rating success.”
Bill Malone, director of content at Virgin Media Television, dubbed The Tonight Show 'a great example of public service broadcasting' through these tumultuous times, and he put Yates as being integral to the show’s success.
“I would like to thank him for his contribution to Virgin Media’s current affairs output and wish him well for the future. I will miss him professionally, but most of all as a viewer.”
*Pictured above, Ivan Yates (right) will present his final episode of The Tonight Show with co-host Matt Cooper (left) at 10 p.m. this evening on Virgin Media One.