Cast your minds back to 2009 when the Toy Show was just the Toy Show and not the social media powerhouse it is today. A simpler time and perhaps a touch more charming, too.

While there have been countless examples of youngsters who caught the attention of the public over the years, not many have captured the imagination as much as John Joe, a budding horologist who appeared alongside Ryan Tubridy, in what was the presenter's first Toy Show, nine years ago.

Speaking with a level of passion many of us can only aspire to, the eight-year-old spoke all about how he became interested in clocks and his aspirations for the future.

Now 17, it appears John Joe hasn't lost any of his enthusiasm, appearing in the Sunday Times surrounded by a number of clocks adorning the walls of his Parisien bedroom.

Where are they now? John Joe - the clock-loving kid from the Late Late Toy Show - is a teenager, living in Paris, and still loving clock. ????❤️ pic.twitter.com/ntq2FeHxjQ

— Eithne Shortall (@eithneshortall) November 20, 2018

The image was posted by author Eithne Shortall and she went on to point out that, sadly, John Joe sees no future in clocks and now plans to become an auctioneer.

For those asking, this info comes from a Sunday Indo renovation feature on his parents’ Parisian home, but they totally buried the lead. pic.twitter.com/yUQvwc3PyO

— Eithne Shortall (@eithneshortall) November 21, 2018

Horology's loss is auctioneering's gain it would seem. To see more little stars of the future, be sure to tune into The Late Late Toy Show on December 1. A trailer for the programme can be found here.

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