'Daddy!': Children reunited with soldier father in moving TV show surprise

‘I can’t take this. Let’s just go home lads'

One of Ireland’s biggest television events of the year featured a moving reunion of two children with their soldier father after his return from service abroad.

The holiday edition of The Late Late Show sees children from across Ireland brought on stage to check out Santa’s best toys on offer each year.

Some also get to meet some of their biggest heroes, including the likes of Ed Sheeran, Girls Aloud and Robbie Keane.

But last night, one family got a very special Christmas surprise: being reunited with their hero father, a soldier who had been stationed in Africa with the Defence Forces for the past six months.

Siblings Adam and Kayla Burke were invited to the Late Late Toy Show stage by host Ryan Tubridy for a game of limbo.

Asked why their dad could not make it to the live taping, Adam said: “He can’t, because he’s in Mali in Africa. Training the soldiers.

“He’s coming back in January, then going for another month I think.”

The siblings had a big present waiting on stage for them (RTE)

At this point, Tubridy revealed the surprise, unwrapping a large gift on stage.

“Daddy!” Adam screamed, as his father jumped out of the gift box, wrapping his children in a hug.

The happy reunion was joined by Graham’s wife and the couple’s four-year-old daughter.

The father, dressed in military fatigues, said he was “shaking at the moment,” adding: “It’s amazing to see them.”

He said he had been on a training mission in Mali – his sixth tour of duty – and had not seen his children since 14 September.

He will now be able to celebrate Christmas with his family at their home in Cork.

Graham Burke gave his wife and kids the perfect Christmas surprise on the ‘Late, Late Toy Show’ (RTE)

Even Tubridy appeared to become emotional, wiping his eyes and saying: “I can’t take this. Let’s just go home lads.”

Viewers took to Twitter to say how much the show had moved them.

“I’m often told I’m cold-hearted, emotionless and an ice queen, but even I sobbed uncontrollably at the kids seeing their dad from the army,” one viewer wrote.

Another quipped: “I came on here to look at toys and make scathing remarks about children. This level of feels is not what I signed up for.”