Shane MacGowan will perform Fairytale of New York live on this week's Late Late Show

RTE will also pay a tribute to the Pogues singer, 61, with friends and family joining Shane in the studio

Shane MacGowan will perform his classic Christmas hit Fairytale of New York on the Late Late Show this week, it has been revealed.

RTE will also pay a tribute to the Pogues singer, 61, with friends and family joining Shane in the studio to perform a number of other songs.

Host Ryan Tubridy said on last week's show: "What we Irish are very good at is making music, and next week it's our privilege to pay tribute to one of the very best, Shane MacGowan, musician, songwriter and front-man of The Pogues.

"Shane and a host of stars will take to the stage to perform Fairytale of New York, as well as many other gems.

"In the lead up to Christmas on The Late Late Show, it promises to be a session like no other!"

It comes after Shane's festive hit was branded "chav bilge" by a BBC radio presenter, who said the song should be banned from the radio.

The controversial comments from Alex Dyke about the Christmas hit by The Pogues were slammed online after he admitted he "no longer feels comfortable" with the song.

The 57-year-old shared a series of now-deleted tweets ranting about the song before hosting his show on Tuesday.

In the posts, he called the 1987 track an "offensive pile of downmarket chav bilge".

He wrote: "Radio, let's ban Fairytale Of New York this Christmas!

"'You're a slut on junk, you scumbag, cheap lousy faggot' - is this what we want our kids singing in the back of the car?

"It's an offensive pile of downmarket chav bilge. We can do better!"

He later reiterated his point while on air, saying: "I hope I'm not going to ruin your Christmas, but I've decided that I am no longer comfortable with playing Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.

"I think Christmas songs should be about excited children, toys, Christmas trees, snowy streets, ski lodges, reindeer, wrapping paper, Santa, family, peace on earth and love.

"I just find The Pogues' Fairytale Of New York a nasty, nasty song.

"I think it should be banned, I really do, so I won't be playing this record on the radio of this Christmas."

He added that by not playing the song, he was "making a stand for the good of the people".

A BBC spokesperson said they wouldn't actually be banning the song on their stations.

They commented: "This was Alex's decision. There is no ban. We have a strict music policy that we expect to be followed."

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