Dara O'Briain is a stand-up comedian, and television presenter, popularly known in the UK for Hosting BBC 2's Mock the Week, and in Ireland for hosting RTE 2's the Panel. He is one the few performers to host succcesful comedy shows in both the UK and his native Ireland at the same time.
He started his career in television as a children's presenter on RTÉ whilst performing his first stand-up gigs on the Irish comedy circuit, after studying at University College, Dublin, where he did a degree in Mathematical Physics.
He spent three years as a presenter on the bilingual (Irish and English) children's programme Echo Island but came to prominence as a team captain on the topical panel show Don't Feed The Gondolas (1998-2000). He left the show midway through its fifth season in order to perform at the Adelaide and Melbourne comedy festivals.
Dara later co-founded the televison production company Happy Endings Productions, whose most famous show in Ireland is The Panel (2003-onwards).
The show has become one of the most talked about shows in Ireland and was twice nominated for the Best Entertainment show IFTA (Irish Film and Televison Award).
His big break in UK television came in 2003 when he became host of BBC2's Live Floor Show. This was led to an appearance as guest and, ultimately, four appearances as guest host of the popular news quiz, Have I Got News For You.
By this stage he had moved to the UK and was working on the British circuit full-time. He sold out the entire run in Edinburgh in 2002, a feat he was to repeat for the next three years. By 2005, he was the biggest selling solo stand-up comedy show on the Edinburgh Fringe.
He has just finished hosting the third series of the comedy panel game Mock the Week on BBC television, and other notable televison work includes two documentaries re-creating the legendary British comedy novel "Three Men in a Boat", where he rowed down the Thames with Griff Rhys Jones and Rory McGrath, also for the BBC and the comedy interview programme "Turn Back Time".
In 2006, he conducted his third and largest national tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. This included 66 shows across the UK as well as 9 nights sold out in Dublin. His second night in The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London was recorded for his first live DVD, released on November 13 2006.
Website
Dara's agents' website is offthekerb.co.uk
TV Shows
The stuff at the front of my cv:
Mock the Week - Presenter, BBC2
The Panel (Ireland) - Presenter and Producer RTE 2
Have I Got News For You - Guest Presenter, BBC1
Three Men In A Boat, BBC2
Jack Dee Live at the Apollo - Performer, BBC1
Turn Back Time - Presenter, BBC2
And if I had space i might mention:
The Meteor Ireland Music Awards 2003 and 2004 - Presenter, RTE
Live Floor Show - Presenter, BBC2
The Last Laugh - Presenter, BBC3
Let's not forget my dusty forgotten past in RTE:
Echo Island - Presenter
Don't Feed The Gondolas - Team captain
It's a Family Affair - Presenter
Buried Alive - Presenter
And sample, assorted guest appearances in Britain:
Room 101 - Guest
QI - Guest
Parkinson - Guest
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross - Guest
Richard and Judy - Guest
Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Today With Des and Mel - Guest
28 Acts in 28 Minutes - Performer
The World Stands Up - Performer
Dara O Briain's Tough Gig, ITV1 Tuesday 19th June 2007
Films
QI Christmas special –BBC2 December 22 2006 – Part 2
QI Christmas special –BBC2 December 22 2006 Part 3
Albums
The Panel interviews Eanna Ni Lamhna, wildlife expert and better talker than any of us....RTE, Oct 2006
About me: Dara's second live DVD, "Dara O Briain Talks Funny: Live In London" will be released in November. Available for pre-order now!
Dara's first DVD, "Dara O'Briain: Live at the Theatre Royal" was released on November 2006, and is available by clicking the picture below:
Hi Dara , Its been a while and we thought it was about time we updated you on what we've been up to. Our debut EP Little World is now available at our gigs and will soon be available from our myspace and facebook pages, you will also be able to download it from itunes, but we don't have a release date for this as yet. To celebrate the fact that we have now reached 25,000 plays on myspace, we are giving you a free MP3 of Rockabye Baby. All you have to do is send your email address to queen.elvis@yahoo.ie and we will send it to you. We have spent the last year rehearsing with a full band and are now ready to bring it on the road. You can get a look at us when we appear on Balcony TV this week with the full line up. We are currently taking bookings for gigs/concerts/festivals and can be contacted on the email above, or through our myspace and facebook pages. Thankyou for your continued support in what has been a great year for us! Best Wishes Caroline and Colin
Hi Guys just a quick note to let ye know I signed a publishing deal with an Australian company Hook, Line & Synce recently. Hopefully it will get the exposure I need. I hope ye have a great week. All my best from Ireland, James.
although im sure there's nothing you can do about it, did you know you can only watch the panel on the rte website if you live in ireland? ive moved to england n im missing the new series! :(
Hi :) Dara I must say i think that you are one LEGEND ! Saw u last night on Live at the apollo on dave. You crack me up ! Ahh feckin love you ! Reply Pleaaaasse ! XxX
I'm bringing a few mates to see ya in The Grand Theatre in Swansea on November 16th, can't wait! One thing tho, i'm bringing the dad of a little girl I tutor so if ur REALLY naughty i'm gonna get my ass kicked! Hehe ;) xxx
Hi Guys I just uploaded another track from my debut album "This is Joy" called Sympathy. Sure have a listen and if you enjoy feel free to leave a comment. All my best, James.
I made this album that maybe you’d be interested in. It has tall tales, big brass, quiet melodies and sometimes a pop song breaks out. There is a journal on my site of how I started it without a clue, lost faith in it more often than not and bizarrely managed to finish it - finished recording it, then finished mixing it then finished pressing and printing it. The album is called YOU’RE AN ELCTRON I’M AN ELECTRON
If you’re free on Friday 3rd October, check out my album launch in Radio City.
Haha!! as if you're playing Rhyl?? which fool convinced you to go there? even the locals don't want to be there :P Although, seeing as it's you, I shall try and find tickets and take a small road trip to see ya
