The long-running chat show and the newest episode of its 61st season has another interesting line-up in store.

Last week's 'Late Late Show' got us feeling all warm and wholesome with 'The Late Late Toy Show'. But what's in store this week?

Following on from one of the biggest TV series of the year, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power', Ryan will be chatting with star Lenny Henry about playing a character with a very familiar accent. After nearly 50 years in the business, he'll also chat about singing with Kate Bush, and writing a children's novel and an autobiography.

Next up is some of the cast of the upcoming season of 'Dancing with the Stars' on RTÉ One in the new year. Drag Queen extraordinaire Panti Bliss has been recruited to show off their fancy footwork, with singer and Eurovision star Brooke Scullion, former GAA player Paul Brogan, and businesswoman, TV presenter and influencer Suzanne Jackson also in the line-up. The four hopefuls join Ryan this weekend to chat about their nerves about having to dance in front of the nation.

In a week when she hit the headlines, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald joins Ryan in studio to discuss the party's performance in the polls, what a united Ireland might look like and her reaction to Shane Ross's biography about her.

Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw will be chatting about how she created history by guiding the national team to its first-ever appearance at a World Cup final in Australia/New Zealand next summer.

One of last week's 'Toy Show' superstars, Saoibh Lonergan, joins Ryan on the couch to catch up after an incredibly busy week and tells us about hanging out with her music therapist Alison, singing at Temple Street and how all of the preparation for her trip to Disneyland Paris is going.

Finally, there's some festive cheer in the air, and music on the night comes from The Corrs' very own Andrea Corr. She'll be live in studio to perform 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' from her new release 'The Christmas Album'. Irish songwriter Col Patterson will also make his 'Late Late' debut.

'The Late Late Show' airs this Friday at 9:35 pm on RTÉ One or on catch-up via the RTÉ Player.