Evelyn Cusack becomes this year's Ed Sheeran on the Late Late Toy Show

Johnny was showcasing his own homemade weather forecast game on the popular Christmas show when he was surprised by the well-known RTE weather presenter.

The young boy was left momentarily speechless by the Met Eireann forecaster's entrance - but recovered just in time to invite her to play his game 'Aimsir'.

This was Tubridy’s seventh time to host the ‘Late Late Toy Show’, which is generally noted as the unofficial start to Christmas.

“It’s going to be a special night,” he said at the start of the show.

“You are very welcome to the most magical night of the year. The set is amazing, it’s like a big castle with toys.”

More than 500 toys and gadgets featured in tonight’s 145 minute extravaganza, 200 during the show with an additional 300 used.

The set which took seven weeks to design and build and four days to install on the RTE stage.

RTE chiefs are hoping that last night’s spectacle will share the same success as last year’s ratings, when the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-themed programme attracted more than 1.3m viewers.

Last year, a special surprise appearance from singer Ed Sheeran made Aimee's night - and wowed "everyone in the audience" too.