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Dermot O'Leary

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Dermot O'Leary
O'Leary at the 2009 auditions of The X Factor in Cardiff
Background information
Birth nameSeán Dermot Fintan O'Leary, Jr.
Born (1973-05-24) 24 May 1973 (age 51)
OriginColchester, Essex, England, UK
GenresPop culture
Occupation(s)Television presenter, radio DJ, comedian
Years active1999–present

Dermot O'Leary (born Seán Dermot Fintan O'Leary, Jr.) is an English television and radio presenter. He established himself as a presenter of Big Brother's Little Brother on Channel 4 before moving on to The X Factor on ITV. O'Leary has also presented on the BBC and has his own radio show on BBC Radio 2. He is also notable for being the last person to introduce Michael Jackson in public before his death.

Early life

O'Leary was born in Colchester in England. He attended primary school in Marks Tey and later St Benedict's Catholic College in Colchester, graduating with two General Certificates of Secondary Education,[1] and Colchester Sixth Form College.

O'Leary studied at Middlesex University, achieving a degree in Media and Television with Politics. He achieved a 2:2. [citation needed] He left school with only two GCSEs. Whilst at Middlesex University he developed an interest in comedy and was involved in various gigs in the student union. He was also a member of the University chess society. (Citation many references in Uni Magazine of the era)

Career

Television

O'Leary started as a disc jockey at Essex Radio[2] before becoming a runner on the TV show Light Lunch with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins and then presenter at Channel 4, part of the original presenting line-up of the channel's T4 strand, before moving on to present Big Brother's Little Brother (the companion show to Big Brother) on E4 from 2001 onwards.

On 27 November 2007, it was announced that Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack was to be O'Leary's last series of Big Brother, and that he would not return in summer 2008. After seven years he made his final Big Brother appearance on 28 January 2008.

In August 2006, O'Leary signed a deal to present the game show 1 vs. 100, which aired on Saturday nights on BBC One in combination with the National Lottery draws.

On 29 March 2007, it was announced that O'Leary would replace Kate Thornton as the new host of ITV's The X Factor for at least two series. Speaking after the announcement he said: "I was very flattered to be offered the job to host such a hugely successful show. I'm really looking forward to working with Simon Cowell and the team on the kind of Saturday night entertainment show I grew up watching." While presenting the show he reportedly upset Celine Dion among other things, later saying he "literally had to shut her up".[3]

In March 2009, O'Leary introduced Michael Jackson to an audience of fans at the The O2 in what turned out to be Jackson's final public appearance before his death.[4][5][6][7]

In May 2009, O'Leary became the new host of Matt Lucas and David Walliams' Rock Profile.[8]

In March 2010, O'Leary hosted a spinoff edition of the BBC One show Question Time, which aired on BBC Three, aimed at first time voters.[9] In June 2010, O'Leary hosted Soccer Aid on ITV.

Future projects

He has on several occasions expressed interest in hosting The Rose of Tralee,[10][11] particularly after Ray D'Arcy, a host with whom he has exchanged public banter,[12] vacated the role in 2010.[13]

Radio

O'Leary joined London's Indie rock station XFM in 2001 firstly presenting weekday mid-mornings from 10 am–1 pm, before moving to a Saturday evening show in mid 2002, where he remained until late 2003.

He joined BBC Radio 2 in September 2004, presenting a Saturday afternoon show entitled Dermot's Saturday Club which ran from 2pm to 4pm. Following a number of changes to the length and timing of O'Leary's programme, due in part to the arrival of Chris Evans to Radio 2 and his role as presenter of The X Factor, his show has broadcast between 3pm and 6pm since April 2009. [citation needed]

O'Leary's Radio 2 show focuses on new music and live sessions, and has featured live sessions from the likes of Oasis, Supergrass, The Raconteurs, Massive Attack, Kasabian, Guillemots, The Zutons, Alesha Dixon, Beck, The Lemonheads, Lily Allen, Foo Fighters, The Go! Team, Bloc Party, Ben Kweller, The Magic Numbers, Moby and Kate Nash. O'Leary also hosts Radio 2's coverage of the Brit Awards and South by Southwest. He won a Sony Gold Award for Music Programme of the Year in 2008 and again in 2010.[14]

Shows hosted

Television

Radio

  • XFM Weekday Mid-Mornings - (2001–2002)
  • XFM The Weekender Saturday Evenings - (2002–2003)
  • BBC Radio 2 Dermot's Saturday Club Saturdays 2-4pm (2004–2005)
  • BBC Radio 2 The Dermot O'Leary Show Saturdays 5-7pm (2005–2006), Saturdays 4.30-6.30pm (2006–2007), Saturdays 2-4pm (during The X Factor, Nov-Dec 2007), Saturdays 2-5pm (2008–2009), Saturdays 3-6pm (2009-)

Personal life

O'Leary supports Arsenal Football Club, Celtic Football Club, London Irish Rugby Football Club and politically the Labour Party. He can be heard on the 'Footballistically Arsenal' podcast with his friends and fellow Arsenal fans Dan Baldwin and Boyd Hilton, and on this show it was mentioned that he owns shares in the club. He supports Wexford GAA in Gaelic Games, attending matches in the past. He has identified himself as a left-wing socialist.[16] During an appearance as a studio guest on Fantasy Football Euro 2004, O'Leary spoke of his support for the Republic of Ireland football team.

When O'Leary was in his late teens, he played American football for his local team, the Colchester Gladiators. In his early years, he was good friends with Lord Gimpett, with whom he lived In London[citation needed]. He ran the 2005 London Marathon (his third) under four hours for the first time. In 2007 he was an usher at the wedding of Holly Willoughby.[17] He is also a practising Roman Catholic, having contributed to the collection of essays Why I am Still Catholic in 2005. In the February 2008 issue of the Irish magazine, Social and Personal, O'Leary was voted the sexiest man in Ireland out of the Top 100. [citation needed]

O'Leary has campaigned on behalf of Make Poverty History, and has visited Sierra Leone with CAFOD accompanied by his father. He is also a patron of the male cancer awareness campaign, Everyman. In 2003, he played in a charity match for the Colchester Gladiators as a punt returner, helping to raise £2,500 for the Barnardo's children's fund.[18][19]

On 19th November 2011 episode of Xtra Factor, it was announced that O'Leary is now engaged to his long-term girlfriend Dee Koppang.[20][21][22]

He co-owns the FishyFishy restaurants in Brighton [23] and Poole.

O'Leary says his funeral song would be "Tonight We Fly" by The Divine Comedy.[24]

References

  1. ^ Sims, Fiona (12 June 2009). "Fishy Fishy: Dermot O'Leary's restaurant is the reel deal". London: The Times. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
  2. ^ http://www.dermotoleary.net/biography.shtml
  3. ^ "Dermot O'Leary upsets Celine Dion". RTÉ Entertinement (14 December 2007)
  4. ^ Michael Jackson Announces Plans For Summer Residency At The O2 Arena (Dermot O'Leary) Zimbio (5 March 2009)
  5. ^ Samson, Pete (7 March 2009) What Jacko said to Dermot: Dermot, is the teleprompter on? The Sun
  6. ^ Youngs, Ian (5 March 2009) 'Final curtain call' for Jackson BBC News Online
  7. ^ "Michael Jackson announces O2 Arena London gigs - and retirement?" NME 5 March 2009
  8. ^ Rock Profile:Peter Andre & Jordan Pt.1 Funny or Die
  9. ^ O'Leary to host episode of Question Time. RTÉ Intertainment. 12 February 2010.
  10. ^ "Dermot O'Leary wants Rose of Tralee gig". RTÉ Entertinment. 11 August 2009.
  11. ^ O’Leary: it would be blooming great if I was the new Rose of Tralee host. Belfast Telegraph 15 May 2010.
  12. ^ Ray D'Arcy hits back at Dermot O'Leary. RTÉ Entertainmeant (19 August 2009)
  13. ^ O'Leary says he is 'free' for Rose of Tralee. RTÉ Entertainmint. 13 May 2010.
  14. ^ BBC coverage of O'Leary's Sony Gold Award
  15. ^ http://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/file/be39c22e2ba2c7fe1b65b1ce534fb41d/dermot-oleary-tv-presenter-radio-presenter-awards-host.html
  16. ^ Rookwood, Dan (7 February 2003) Small Talk: Dermot O'Leary, The Guardian
  17. ^ Holly Willoughby exclusive: Why she loves wearing those revealing dresses. Daily Mirror.
  18. ^ "Team History". Colchester Gladiators American Football Club. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
  19. ^ "Colchester Gladiators - 20th Anniversary Reunion Game". Britball Now. 19 October 2003. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  20. ^ Fulton, Rick (30 September 2005) Relax, Girls, Dermot Is Not Getting Married The Daily Record
  21. ^ Williams, Andrew (23 July 2007) 60 SECONDS: Dermot O’Leary Metro
  22. ^ "My Secret Life: Dermot O'Leary, broadcaster", The Independent 28 July 2007
  23. ^ ___Leary_pledges_future_to_Brighton "Dermot O'Leary pledges future to Brighton". The Argus (Brighton). 24 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  24. ^ Dermot O'Leary Biography BBC Radio 2
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