Dermot O'Leary

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person Seán Dermot Fintan O'Leary Jr. (born 24 May 1973) is a British-Irish broadcaster. He presented the television talent show The X Factor on ITV from 2007 until its final series in 2018, with the exception of 2015. Since 2021, O'Leary has presented ITV's This Morning on Fridays, school holidays and bank holidays alongside Alison Hammond, a role expanded to the remainder of the week on a rotation with the departures of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby in the summer and autumn of 2023.

O'Leary began his radio career working as a disc jockey at Essex Radio. From 2001 to 2003, he was a presenter for London's indie rock station XFM. O'Leary joined BBC Radio 2 in 2004 and currently presents the Saturday morning breakfast show<ref name=":0" /> and since April 2022 Alternative Sounds of the 90s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

Seán Dermot Fintan O'Leary Jr.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> was born on 24 May 1973 in Colchester, Essex,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the son of Irish parents Maria and Seán both from Co. Wexford.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He attended primary school in nearby Marks Tey and later joined St Benedict's Catholic College in Colchester. His complacent attitude at school caused him to fail all but two of his GCSEs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following that, O'Leary re-took his school-leaving qualifications. This allowed him to later start his A-Level courses at Colchester Sixth Form College. He eventually studied for a degree in Media Studies with Politics at Middlesex University.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Growing up, he was a member of The Boys' Brigade Christian youth organisation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When he was in his late teens, he played American football for the Colchester Gladiators and the Ipswich Cardinals, where he wore the number 32.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/10-things-about/a81554/ten-things-you-never-knew-about-dermot-oleary/</ref>

Career

Early career

O'Leary started as a disc jockey at BBC Essex,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> based in Southend-on-Sea, before becoming a runner on the TV show Light Lunch with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins and then a presenter at Channel 4 as 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. Also in 2001, O'Leary appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.<ref name="blanketyblank2">Template:Cite episode</ref> In 2004, O'Leary hosted the TV show Shattered.

ITV

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. On 27 March 2015, O'Leary confirmed that he had quit The X Factor after eight years to pursue other projects. Via his Twitter account, he said:

Good afternoon. After eight wonderful years on The X Factor it's time for me to move on. I'd like to thank ITV, Simon, The X Factor family and particularly the viewers, all of whom have been a big part of my life for so long. I'd like to wish the team all the best for the future, especially whoever takes over from me.{{#if:|{{#if:|}}

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O'Leary was replaced by Olly Murs and Caroline Flack, who previously co-hosted The Xtra Factor, the behind-the-scenes companion programme, together in 2011 and 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 29 March 2016, O'Leary returned to The X Factor as a presenter, replacing Murs and Flack, for the show's 13th series. In a statement, he said:

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From 2010 to 2019, O'Leary presented the National Television Awards for ITV. Since 2010, O'Leary has hosted Soccer Aid on ITV, a celebrity football match in aid of the charity Unicef. In 2011, O'Leary hosted the Saturday night entertainment show The Marriage Ref on ITV. In September 2013, O'Leary hosted BRITs Icon: Elton John, a one-off music celebration for ITV.

In 2013, O'Leary presented the ITV campaign From the Heart, which encouraged viewers to consider organ donation. In January 2014, O'Leary filled in for Phillip Schofield for a week when he guest presented This Morning opposite Holly Willoughby.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2017, O'Leary co-presented the 37th BRIT Awards with Emma Willis. In March 2017, O'Leary guest-presented nine episodes of The Nightly Show on ITV.

In November 2020, it was announced that Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford had been dropped from their Friday slot on This Morning after 14 years. Alison Hammond and O'Leary were announced to takeover the slot later that month.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They presented their first show in January 2021.

Channel 4

On 27 November 2007, it was announced that Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack was to be O'Leary's last series of Big Brother. After seven years, he made his final Big Brother appearance on 28 January 2008.

In March 2007, O'Leary signed a year-long contract with Channel 4 to appear on Hollyoaks.Template:Citation needed However, this was shortened after a series of disputes on set. Jim Rowe, a series writer at the time, said, "He couldn't follow even the simplest commands. It goes to show how vastly different presenting is to acting". O'Leary hasn't acted since.Template:Citation needed In 2009, O'Leary presented an episode of The Paul O'Grady Show, standing in for Paul O'Grady.

In March 2014, O'Leary made a return to Channel 4, where he presented the Live From Space season for three consecutive nights.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

BBC

O'Leary was a presenter for Comic Relief in 2005, 2011 and 2013. He also presented Sport Relief in 2012. 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.

In May 2009, O'Leary became the presenter of Matt Lucas and David Walliams's show Rock Profile on BBC.<ref>Rock Profile:Peter Andre & Jordan Pt.1 Template:Webarchive Funny or Die</ref>

In March 2010, O'Leary hosted a spin-off edition of the BBC One show Question Time aimed at first time voters, which aired on BBC Three.<ref>O'Leary to host episode of Question Time Template:Webarchive. RTÉ Intertainment. 12 February 2010.</ref> He also presented Dermot Meets..., a series which saw him interview the likes of David Cameron, Gordon Brown, and Nick Clegg.

In November 2015, O'Leary replaced Terry Wogan on Children in Need due to Wogan's cancer-related ill health, from which he died a couple of months later.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2016, O'Leary presented the BBC One Saturday night game show The Getaway Car. The series was filmed in November 2015 and began airing in January 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has also guest-presented two episodes of The One Show with Alex Jones.

Radio

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

O'Leary joined BBC Radio 2 in September 2004, presenting a Saturday afternoon show titled Dermot's Saturday Club, which ran from 2Template:Nbsppm to 4Template:Nbsppm. 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 was broadcast between 3Template:Nbsppm and 6Template:Nbsppm from April 2009Template:Citation needed until its end on 21 January 2017. It focused on new music and had featured live sessions. O'Leary also hosted Radio 2's coverage of the BRIT Awards and South by Southwest. He won Sony Gold Awards for Music Programme of the Year in 2008, 2010, and 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Since March 2017, O'Leary has presented the Saturday morning breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 between 8Template:Nbspam and 10Template:Nbspam, taking over the slot from Brian Matthew and Sounds of the 60s, which moved to an earlier time of 6am with Tony Blackburn as presenter.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since April 2022 he has presented the weekly show Alternative Sounds of the 90s with Dermot O'Leary.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other work

In March 2009, O'Leary introduced Michael Jackson to an audience of fans at The O2 in what turned out to be Jackson's final public appearance before his death.<ref>Youngs, Ian (5 March 2009) 'Final curtain call' for Jackson Template:Webarchive BBC News Online</ref><ref>"Michael Jackson announces O2 Arena London gigs - and retirement?" Template:Webarchive NME 5 March 2009</ref>

In 2015, he was named one of GQ's 50 Best Dressed Men in Britain.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He has voiced television advertisements for Amazon Prime. In 2017, he released a children's book called Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 2024, he released another children's book called Wings of Glory.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Charity work

O'Leary opened The Rodillian Academy in 2001. He is one of nine presidents of Better Planet Education<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and is a patron of the international children's film festival CineMagic, a registered charity for young people based in Belfast.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has campaigned on behalf of Make Poverty History, and 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2005, O'Leary ran the London Marathon for the third time, completing it for his first time under four hours.

In March 2014, along with Jeremy Kyle, Bill Bailey, John Prescott, Richard Osman, Rizzle Kicks, Louis Smith, Levi Roots, and Ricky Wilson, O'Leary went commando for charity to raise awareness of testicular cancer. The promo was released on 24 February 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

For Red Nose Day 2015, O'Leary participated in a 24-hour dance to raise money for Comic Relief.<ref name=discodermot>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

O'Leary married his long-term girlfriend, Dee Koppang, in Chiddingstone in September 2012.<ref>"My Secret Life: Dermot O'Leary, broadcaster" Template:Webarchive, The Independent 28 July 2007</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Koppang is of Norwegian descent.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> They have one son, Kasper, who was born in June 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In a 2003 interview, O'Leary praised the Socialist Workers Party but quipped that they would "take all of [his] money", so he instead supported the Labour Party.<ref>Rookwood, Dan (7 February 2003) Small Talk: Dermot O'Leary Template:Webarchive, The Guardian</ref> He supports Arsenal F.C., Celtic F.C. and London Irish RFC.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He can be heard on the Footballistically Arsenal podcast with his friends and fellow Arsenal fans Dan Baldwin and Boyd Hilton; on the show, it was mentioned that he owns shares in the club. He supports Wexford GAA in Gaelic games. During a studio guest appearance on Fantasy Football Euro 2004, he spoke of his support for the Republic of Ireland national football team and the national rugby union team.

In 2007, O'Leary was an usher at the wedding of Holly Willoughby.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is a practising Roman Catholic.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In an interview with Peter Stanford of the Daily Telegraph in February 2008, he "cheerfully" admitted using contraception while living with his future wife: "I do get it in the neck from some Catholics who say I am a buffet Catholic, picking and choosing the bits I like or don't like."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

O'Leary co-owned the Fishy Fishy restaurants in Brighton and Poole.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Poole restaurant closed in 2013,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the Brighton restaurant closed in 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998–2001	T4	Presenter
1999	The Dog's Balearics
2000	The Barfly Sessions
2000, 2008, 2009	Never Mind the Buzzcocks	Guest Team Captain / Guest Presenter	3 episodes
2001–2008	Big Brother's Little Brother	Presenter
2002	Top of the Pops		2 episodes
2002–2003	Re:covered
2002–2004	SAS: Are You Tough Enough?		3 series
2003	Teen Big Brother: The Experiment
2004	Shattered		7 episodes
2005, 2011–2013	Comic Relief	Co-presenter	Annually; 3 episodes
2006	Morning Glory	Presenter
2006–2007	1 vs. 100		2 series
2007–2014, 2016–2018	The X Factor		11 series
2008	Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack
2009	Rock Profile		Series 3
2010	Question Time: First Time Voters		One-off episode
	Dermot Meets...		1 series
	A League of Their Own	Guest Team Captain	2 episodes
2010–present	Soccer Aid	Co-presenter	Annually; 7 episodes with Kirsty Gallacher
2010–2019	The National Television Awards	Presenter	10 ceremonies
2011	Live from the Royal Wedding		One–off episode
	The Marriage Ref		1 series
2012	Sport Relief	Co–presenter	1 episode, with Davina McCall
2013	From the Heart	Presenter	One–off episode
	BRITs Icon: Elton John
2014	Live From Space	Presenter	3 episodes
2014, 2020	This Morning	Stand–in Co–presenter	9 episodes
2015	Children in Need	Co-presenter	Main role, with Tess Daly and Fearne Cotton
2016	The Getaway Car	Presenter	1 series
	The One Show	Guest Presenter	2 episodes
2017	BRIT Awards	Co-presenter	37th event with Emma Willis
	The Nightly Show	Guest Presenter	9 episodes
2018	The Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle	Commentator	2 episodes
	Reel Stories: Kylie Minogue	Host	BBC Two programme
2019	Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century	Category Presenter ("Advocate")	2 episodes
	Small Fortune	Presenter	1 series
	The X Factor: Celebrity
	The X Factor: The Band
2020	One World: Together at Home	Co–presenter	One–off special
	Goodwood SpeedWeek	Presenter
2021	British Academy Film Awards	Co–presenter	With Edith Bowman<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	The Pet Show		With Joanna Page<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	An Audience with Arsène Wenger and David Dein	Presenter	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	48 Hours to Victory	Co-presenter	Three-part Channel 4 series<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Reel Stories: Sting	Presenter	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2021–present	This Morning	Co-presenter	Fridays; with Alison Hammond
2022	Reel Stories: Robbie Williams	Presenter	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023	Inside No. 9	Himself	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	The Chase for Soccer Aid	Contestant	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Reel Stories: Noel Gallagher	Host	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Remarkable Places to Eat	Himself	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2024	Saving Lives at Sea in World War II	Presenter	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer	Contestant	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Reel Stories: Jon Bon Jovi	Host	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Reel Stories: Shania Twain	Host	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Dermot O'Leary's Taste of Ireland	Presenter	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	Silence is Golden	Host	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Radio

Year	Network	Slot	Notes
2001Template:Ndash2002	XFM	Weekday mornings
2002Template:Ndash2003		Saturday evenings	Show called The Weekender
2004Template:Ndash2005	BBC Radio 2	Saturdays 2Template:Snd4Template:Nbsppm	Show called Dermot's Saturday Club
2005Template:Ndash2006		Saturdays 5Template:Snd7Template:Nbsppm
2006Template:Ndash2007		Saturdays 4:30Template:Snd6:30Template:Nbsppm	2Template:NbsppmTemplate:Snd4Template:Nbsppm (during The X Factor months)
2008Template:Ndash2009		Saturdays 2Template:Snd5Template:Nbsppm
2009Template:Ndash2017		Saturdays 3Template:Snd6Template:Nbsppm
2017Template:Ndash		Saturdays 8Template:Snd10Template:Nbspam	Show called Saturday Breakfast with Dermot

External links

• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0641581

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• Dermot O'Leary (BBC Radio 2)
• Alternative Sounds of the 90s with Dermot O'Leary (BBC Radio 2)