The Late Late Toy Show attracts a huge number of viewers every year, but is it really for children anymore?

In just a few short hours, social media will be abuzz with Toy Show content, adults will be crowded around television screens and ex-pats from around the world will be tuning in to the RTÉ player for a healthy dose of nostalgia.

There's no denying the Toy Show's enduring popularity with Gen X and millennials, but is it still a hit with today's children?

On Lunchtime Live, freelance journalist Niamh O'Reilly says she thinks the Toy Show is really for adults.

“In our house anyway, it’s not the children who are really, really excited about sitting down and watching the Toy Show - it’s the adults in the room," she said. 

"It's peak nostalgia - the theme this year is Home Alone, which is tripling the nostalgia for me.

"They couldn't have picked a better theme for the adults."

Ms O'Reilly's sons, however, are less enthusiastic.

"We've recorded it and put it on the Saturday morning and tried to get the hype going, but they're confused about what the Toy Show is," she said.

"It's not big budget enough to be some amazing TV spectacle but there’s also not enough about the toys to get them interested."

Patrick Kielty pictured with children of the Spotlight stage school, Tara Dowling (5) from Carlow, Louis Hanna (6) from Dublin, Sofia Ngobeni (10) from Carlow, Cuinn O Dowd (5) from Navan, Layla Valentine (8) on set of this year’s Late Late Toy Show. Picture Andres Poveda

Some of the Toy Show's biggest draws - celebrity guests, giveaways and viral memes - are a hit with adults.

"The kids are just looking at each other, like 'What's this? Can we put Netflix on instead?'" Ms O'Reilly said.

While they might not enjoy the Toy Show itself, Ms O'Reilly's sons are more than happy to enjoy to take part in Toy Show-related activities.

"They love all the hype around it and the amount of Late Late Toy Show treat-boxes," she said.

"They buy into the hype but the show itself doesn't do it for them."

Her sons' lack of interest makes Ms O'Reilly worried about the future of the Toy Show.

Patrick Kielty pictured with Louis Hanna on set of this year’s Late Late Toy Show. Picture Andres Poveda

"I feel like when they grow up - are they going to have the same nostalgic feelings about it as I do?" she said.

"I'm worried about the future of the Toy Show - it's more for adults at this stage."

The Late Late Toy Show airs tonight at 9.35pm on RTÉ One.

You can listen back here:

Featured image: Patrick Kielty pictured with Louis Hanna on set of this year’s Late Late Toy Show where the theme has been revealed as Home Alone. Picture Andres Poveda