Dara O'Briain

Dara O'Briain is a stand-up comedian, and television presenter, best known in the UK for hosting BBC2's Mock the Week, and in Ireland for hosting RTÉ 2's The Panel.

Dara is one of only a few performers to host successful 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 studied Mathematical Physics.

Dara came to prominence in Ireland as host of topical panel show Don't Feed The Gondolas (1998-2000). He had to leave the show midway through its fifth season in order to perform at the Adelaide and Melbourne comedy festivals. Dara later co-founded the television production company Happy Endings Productions, whose most famous show in Ireland was The Panel. The show was one of the most talked about shows in Ireland and was twice nominated for the Best Entertainment show IFTA (Irish Film and Television Award).

His big break in UK television came in 2003 when he became host of BBC2's Live Floor Show. This 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 time he had moved to the UK and was working on the British circuit full-time.

Dara 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.

In 2007 Dara fronted the BBC comedy interview programme Turn Back Time and in 2011 he began co-hosting BBC1's astronomical show Stargazing Live alongside Professor Brian Cox.

Dara's first book Tickling the English, released in 2009, proved to be an instant hit, remaining in the charts for nigh on two years after release. Part travelogue, part tour diary, the result is an affectionate, hilarious and often eye-opening journey through the Sceptred Isle.

In 2015, the year of Professor Stephen Hawking's Oscar-winning biopic, a special documentary for BBC One, Dara Ó Briain got to meet Stephen Hawking and gain a unique and personal insight into the unique man behind the bright lights and famous equations.

In 2017 Dara released his first children’s book ‘Beyond the Stars’ (Scholastic), a hilarious journey through the solar system and our galaxy. In 2018 the follow up ‘Secret Science – The Amazing World Beyond your Eyes’ was released to great critical acclaim. In 2020 Dara released his third children’s book ‘Is There Anybody Out There’.

In 2022 Dara went on a world tour with his stand-up show ‘So Where Were We?’

Dara O'Briain has developed an enormous reputation as one of the most sought after awards hosts in Britain; regularly hosting corporate award ceremonies and gala dinners such as the European Advertising Awards in the Grosvenor Hotel’s Great Room, alongside prestigious and high profile events, including The Empire Film Awards, BAFTA Video Game Awards and Irish Rock & Pop awards, held in the Point depot in Dublin, in front of 5,000 people.

The king of audience interaction, when Dara O'Briain is on stage he loves nothing more than exchanging ultra rapid fire quips with members of the audience, and delivers witty and daring anecdotes like no other stand up comedian.

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Clients often ask about purchasing books for giveaways and delegate packs. Below you’ll find a selection of products by Dara O'Briain. Click the images to view on Amazon's website. For bulk orders, please speak with your Booking Agent.