THREE Cork children — including formerly conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf — will share their birthdays with the nation when they appear as guests on The Late Late Toy Show tonight.
![Ryan Tubridy with Ballet dancers, Zara Kiernan (7) from Swords, Mia Clifford (7) from Drumconndra and Jordan Cormack (9) from Tyrellstown pictured this afternoon on the set at a preview of the Late Late Toy Show which airs on Friday 2nd December at 9.30 on RTE 1. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin]()
Ryan Tubridy with Ballet dancers, Zara Kiernan (7), Mia Clifford (7)and Jordan Cormack (9) on the set of the Late Late Toy Show which airs tonight at 9.30pm. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
The twins from Carrigtwohill, who are seven years old today, are set to appear on the much-anticipated show among 320 children from across the country.
And the big night comes after a fortnight of sickness for Hussein — and ahead of surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London on December 13, according to their mother Angie.
She said: “They will arrive on the show in two wiggle cars. They could not go to the rehearsals for the show because Hussein was sick and in hospital.”
Meanwhile, Ballincollig boy Thomas Kelly will mark his 11th birthday on the show tonight when he performs rock and orchestra music on the drums and percussion instruments.
Dillons Cross schoolgirl Hannah McSweeney, who attends St Patrick’s Girls National School, will sing on tonight’s toy show extravaganza. The 10-year-old, who turns 11 on December 16, will sing ‘Lost Boy’ by Canadian singer Ruth B.
Also performing will be 11-year-old Allie Sherlock who will sing and play her guitar.
The show will have a Jungle Book theme and is guaranteed to set the pulses of the country’s children — and adults — racing with one of the most spectacular shows ever.
The opening of the show will feature Ryan Tubridy with a cast of 72 young performers dancing and performing to a song drawn from the movie. Mr Tubridy said: “I am tremendously excited that we are doing The Jungle Book this year. It’s a great classic, a real family favourite and something which I think everyone can enjoy whether they’re young or old, boy or girl. I may not be the king of the singers but I hope that for a couple of hours tonight people will get a chance to settle down with the family and forget all about their worries and their strife.”
For the first time, the show will be beamed across the world live on RTÉ Player, across desktop, iOS and Android apps.
The Late Late Toy Show airs tonight at 9.35pm on RTÉ One.
