Dermot Murnaghan
Dermot Murnaghan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Dermot John Murnaghan 26 December 1957 |
| Education | University of Sussex |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, television presenter |
| Notable credit(s) | BBC Breakfast Eggheads Sky News Today Are You an Egghead? Murnaghan |
| Spouse | Maria Keegan (1989–present) |
| Children | 4 |
Dermot Murnaghan (born 26 December 1957) is a British journalist and television presenter.
He is well known for his work as a presenter of ITV and BBC News as well as the shows Eggheads (2003–present) and Treasure Hunt (2002–2003). He co-presented BBC Breakfast from Monday to Thursday as well as regularly fronting national BBC news bulletins until December 2007. He now presents for Sky News. In 1997, as an ITN presenter, he broke the news of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales to viewers on ITV.[1]
Early life
Murnaghan was born in the county of Devon in south-west England. He and his family later moved to Northern Ireland - first to Armagh City, then to Newry, County Down, and then to Holywood.
Education
Murnaghan was educated at two schools in Northern Ireland: St Malachy's Primary School in Armagh City and Sullivan Upper School (a grammar school) in Holywood,[2] followed by the University of Sussex in England, graduating with a master's degree in history in 1980. He then completed a postgraduate course in journalism at City University London. Murnaghan is of Irish ancestry.
Career
Murnaghan worked as a trainee reporter on local newspapers before joining Channel 4 as a researcher and later a reporter for The Business Programme.
He presented the European Business Channel in Switzerland before being recalled by ITN to present the World News on The Channel 4 Daily between 1991 and 1992 after the departure of original anchor Carol Barnes.
He went on to other ITN assignments, presenting programmes on ITV such as the ITV Lunchtime News and News at Ten. He later presented the ITV Evening News and the ITV Nightly News when ITV relaunched their news output in 1999. He also worked on ITV's general election coverage in 2001.
From September 2002 to December 2007 Murnaghan was a main presenter of BBC Breakfast, replacing Jeremy Bowen. He presented the show alongside Sophie Raworth, Natasha Kaplinsky, Kate Silverton, Sian Williams and Susanna Reid. He was also a regular stand-in on the BBC Six O'Clock News and BBC Ten O'Clock News and co-presented the BBC News at Six on Fridays from September 2003 to summer 2007 allongside Sian Williams. His presenting style was lampooned in the impersonation sketch show Dead Ringers by Jon Culshaw, his widely spaced legs on the presenting couch mocked with the phrase 'I'm Dermot Murnaghan, watch my crotch follow you round the room'.
It was revealed in October 2007 that Murnaghan would be quitting the BBC for Sky News. Murnaghan became the second news presenter to depart the corporation in the same month - Natasha Kaplinsky also left to join Five News, produced by Sky. Since 8 January 2008 Murnaghan has presented Sky News Today from 9 AM to 1 PM weekdays.[3] His last time presenting Breakfast was 20 December 2007.
Before departing for Sky, Murnaghan presented the BBC Two daytime shows Eggheads and Are You an Egghead?. He also presented the BBC revival of Channel 4's 1980s hit Treasure Hunt alongside Suzi Perry. Murnaghan has guest presented reports for different travel shows including ITV's Wish You Were Here...? and BBC One's rival programme Holiday. He has made cameos as a newsreader in the 2004 film Wimbledon,[4] Absolute Power and Midnight Man.
In 2006 Murnaghan was president of the Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC) and presented the TRIC Awards 2007.
As of 9 January 2011, Murnaghan started presenting his own show called Murnaghan on Sky News that airs Sunday mornings from 10.00am to 12.00pm.
Personal life
In August 1989 Murnaghan married Maria Keegan in Camden; they now have four children. They live together in North London. Murnaghan is an Arsenal fan.[5]
References
- ^ Interview - Dermot Murnaghan's on a Sky High from independent.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
- ^ Interview with Daily Mail newspaper
- ^ Murnaghan quits BBC, joins Sky News
- ^ Wimbledon cameo ('Comedy risks' section, 3rd para)
- ^ Sky News
External links
- 1957 births
- Living people
- People from Devon
- People educated at Sullivan Upper School
- Alumni of City University London
- Alumni of the University of Sussex
- British reporters and correspondents
- ITN newsreaders and journalists
- BBC newsreaders and journalists
- Sky newsreaders and journalists
- British television presenters
- British game show hosts
- English people of Irish descent