"This," Ryan Tubridy told thousands of exhilarated Toy Show devotees this afternoon, "is it. This is where the magic is going to happen."
The RTE superstar has been living and breathing the Toy Show for weeks now – and hours before it hits millions of screens across the country, he gave us a sneak peak behind the curtain.
On Twitter, the 47-year-old – clad in a trademark Christmas jumper – walked us through the plan of action for tonight, with a set based on the "wonderful world of Roald Dahl."
Tubs showed us where the Giant Peach is located, where the Oompa Loompas will emerge from and even the homestead of the BFG.
Dotted around the stage are jarfuls of what Tubridy animatedly told us are dreams.
"This show is full of dreams. Jars and jars and jars of never-ending dreams."
"Because tonight, friends, everything changes. Tonight the sun comes out again, we forget our troubles and we enjoy a beautiful smorgasbord of pure imagination.
"We'll see you for Toy Show 2020 very soon."
This year's Toy Show takes place in circumstances quite unlike any that have come before, with a deadly pandemic leaving many of us grieving loved ones or struggling under newfound financial pressures.
And Tubridy has lifted the lid this week on the process behind a Toy Show that he admitted "nearly didn't happen."
And if you were in any doubt about the excitement levels among the public – those living in Ireland and those tuning in from overseas – then you need only have tuned into the Dubliner's daily radio programme to dispel those fears.
Yesterday, Tubridy left many in floods of tears after reading aloud a heartfelt – and beautiful – letter from a Co Cavan boy who'll be watching with his family for the first time since the death of his uncle in January.
Fiacha, from Belturbet, wowed Tubridy with his bravery and a wisdom that the 47-year-old said goes far behind his years.
