The 50th season of The Late Late Show, the world's longest-running chat show, began on 2 September 2011 and concluded on 1 June 2012. Ryan Tubridy's third season as host, it aired on RTÉ One each Friday evening from 21:30. The first televised debate of the presidential election campaign was held during the fifth episode. The final episode of the season celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Late Late Show, which fell the following month.