DARA O'BRIAIN
Dara O’Briain has to be one of the busiest men in comedy. His 2006 UK comedy tour was overwhelmingly well received. The show is an absolute masterclass in intelligent stand up.
2006 saw Dara host the third series of satirical panel show Mock The Week which also stars Rory Bremner and includes other top name guest comedians. In addition he has hosted a news series for BBC2 entitled If I Could Turn Back Time. In the series Dara takes guests back through their past, finding out if there are any moments they would like to have turned out differently. Guests include Vic Reeves, Johnny Vegas, Phill Jupitus, Ruby Wax, Terry Jones and Barry Humphries.
One of the biggest and best comics in the country... Real class. The Irish Times
Unassuming, likeable and very, very funny - Time Out
His BBC 2 series Live Floor Show received excellent reviews. He has also acquired an excellent reputation as a top stand-up around the world. He has performed sell-out shows across Europe, Asia, and Australia, as well as in Dubai, Boston and New York. He has been brilliantly received at the Edinburgh Festival where ticket sales demanded extra shows, and the critics continued their rave reviews...
"An excellent show, drenched in truth and intelligence, by a comedian at the top of his game" Metro
"Genuinely imaginative and ridiculously funny" The Independent
"The sharpest of the many Irish comics...a must see act" The Sunday Express
Dara also made a huge impression at the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal where he was openly commended by the likes of former Canadian Premier, Brian Mullrooney, and host, Joan Rivers, after he stole the show at the first of the Televised Galas (later viewed in Ireland during Ed Byrne's mini series highlighting the Just For Laughs 20th Anniversary).
Having already made himself a household name in Ireland due to his various television roles, Dara has been a regular on television's top stand-up showcases, chat shows and panel shows, including as a regular stand in host of BBC1's satirical flagship Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, The Stand-up Show, and The Empire Laughs Back, appearing as a guest on Jonathan Ross and Parkinson; as well as RTE's The Lounge; Channel 5's Bring me the Head of Light Entertainment and The Panel Channel 7, Australia. In 2005 Dara opened up the new series of BBC2 show Room 101 and appeared on Stephen Fry's intellectual game show Q.I. and was star guest on Jack Dee Live At the Apollo. In 2006 Dara released his debut DVD, Live at the Theatre Royal. Following a hugely successful sell out tour across the UK and Ireland early in 2006, Dara performed the grand finale for two nights in London’s West End, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which received record breaking audience figures.
"As well as being likeable, intelligent and, yes, funny, O’Briain has the added bonus of being the best dressed comic" The Independent
Dara has co-written and hosted The Live Floor Show and celebrated St Patrick's Day with his debut West End show at London's Soho Theatre. He has had several highly successful Irish tours, Edinburgh Festivals, Kilkenny Cat Laughs. He's even mentioned the possibility of returning to Australia!
When not touring or televising, Dara can either be found fronting prominent awards ceremonies and performing cabaret for corporate events and devising more television projects with his company Endings. He has also dabbled in radio, filling-in for Jackie Clune on BBC London 94.9, as well as featuring on Radio 4's Loose Ends and Radio 2 with their topical comedy series We Say Tomay-to.
A big man with a big personality, who exudes warmth and spontaneous good humour, Dara is a delight to be entertained by. Chortle, www.chortle.co.uk, best summed Dara up at the Chortle Comedy Awards for Live Comedy with two well-deserved nominations including Best Compere and winner - Best Headline Act. "This is 100 per cent, grade A, pure uncut stand-up - and it's simply brilliant. O Briain's simply an astonishingly funny comic, hitting scorching form."