Dara O'Briain

Dara O’Briain’s Background

O’Briain spent his early television career as a children’s TV presenter, working on Ireland’s bilingual Echo Island. His cheerful disposition and sense of fun made him ideal for this role, but the affable giant (he is 6’4″ in height) was soon working as a team captain on topical panel show Don’t Feed The Gondolas. In the role for two years between 1998 and 2000, O’Briain also continued his work in stand up, eventually leaving the show in order to perform at comedy festivals in Australia.

O’Briain studied maths and theoretical physics at University College Dublin, where he founded a student newspaper (the University Observer) and was an active member of the debating society. It was during his university days that he discovered his love of comedy performing and decided to pursue a career as a stand-up.

Career

During his career, O’Briain has worked on numerous shows both in his native Ireland and in the UK. His appearances alongside Rory McGrath and Griff Rhys Jones in the Three Men in a Boat series further enhanced his reputation as he added his uniquely comic take on events during adventures on river, canal and the high seas. Daras appearances on The Apprentice: Youre Fired have also earned him widespread acclaim and have helped fans of The Apprentice to enjoy a light-hearted catch-up with contestants.

In 2003, O’Briain and Seamus Cassidy co-founded Happy Endings Productions, which has since produced more than one hundred hours of programming for British and Irish television, including a show hosted by Dara, the highly successful The Panel. In 2009, Dara published his first book, Tickling the English, but he was already no stranger to writing, having produced a football column for the Guardian in 2009 and 2010 (in which he mostly discussed Arsenal!)

Able to entertain millions as a quiz host and presenter and one of the best stand-up comedians of his generation, Dara O’Briain is a brilliant after dinner speaker who combines topical humour with natural warmth.

Voted the 16th greatest stand-up comic by Channel 4 in 2010 and the winner of two Chortle Awards, Dara O’Briain has become one of the UK and Irelands most popular comedians and presenters. Still best known for his work as the host of the BBCs topical quiz Mock The Week and RTɒs The Panel, O’Briain has recently begun to combine his love of science with his love of presenting, becoming the face of School of Hard Sums and Stargazing Live.

Current / Past Roles & Positions

• Comedy icon
• Host of Mock The Week
• TV presenter