Eoghan McDermott

Eoghan McDermott
Born 15 April 1983
Nationality Irish
Other names Eoghan Mac Diarmada
Occupation Presenter
Actor
Choreographer
Employer Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ)
TG4
Known for The Voice of Ireland
POP4
Xfm

Eoghan McDermott (also known as Eoghan Mac Diarmada) is an Irish television and radio presenter mostly known for hosting The Voice of Ireland and Xfm Drivetime in the UK

Television

McDermott is a fluent speaker of the Irish language and originally started his media career as an actor on TG4 youth drama Seacht, in which he played the lead role of Pete. From here he progressed to POP4, a weekly chart music show with live bands. Other presenting credits followed, including Frenemies - a youth debate game show for RTE 2 Immeal Geall - a bilingual magazine show for BBC Northern Ireland. He co-presented a series of The Movie Show on RTE 2, which started in November 2012. In September 2013 McDermott had his UK television debut, fronting UK reality show "Celebrity Super spa". for Channel 5. Other credits include a 2013 highlight show "Totes Amazeballs" and Next Year's News - a satirical comedy-panel show anticipating big news stories for the year ahead. Both shows broadcast on RTE2 He currently co-presents The Voice of Ireland with Kathryn Thomas.[1] For season 3 of The Voice, McDermott fronted a live Voice spin-off show on RTE2 He is set to start filming a new series "Drunk" for RTE2 in summer 2014, examining the effects of alcohol on the body and mind.

Acting

McDermott has played the lead role of "DJ Pete" in all four series of the joint TG4/BBC Northern Ireland production, Seacht, a teen drama.[1]

Choreography

McDermott completed his dance training at the Broadway Dance Center and has worked as a dancer and choreographer, supporting acts such as Rihanna, Pussycat Dolls and Chris Brown.[1]

Radio

McDermott started his radio on a bi-lingual chart music show on Dublin radio station spin1038 in 2009. He also co-presented the successful "Sunday Service" before being poached by Global Radio in the UK. In March 2011 he began duties as host of Drive Time with radio station XFM. Xfm is known for finding and breaking presenting talent. Previous presenters have included Dermot O'Leary, Russell Brand, Alex Zane, Ricky Gervais, Simon Amstell & Jimmy Carr. In his first year, McDermott's show was syndicated to Xfm Manchester. Shortly after, he was nominated for "Best Newcomer" in the national commercial radio awards, sponsored by Arqiva.[2] In April 2012, The Guardian newspaper - whilst discussing the new appointment of Greg James on BBC Radio1 Drivetime, claimed McDermott's show was the best DriveTime radio show of its genre in the UK. [3]

His final show with the station aired on 21 December 2012. He said: "I left XFM because I had done it for two years. It is a great place to work with great people but I had had to turn down several pilots because of work. So I decided I wanted to focus on TV work and to do that I had to leave Xfm. And then I got this." [4] It coincided with a management change and the departure of Mary Anne Hobbs to 6 Music and Breakfast presenter Danny Wallace - although in a Twitter post shortly after his departure McDermott noted his final listenership figures were a record high. Online speculation suggested a move to BBC Radio 1 although this has not materialised.

In June 2014, it was announced that McDermott would present a show on RTÉ 2fm radio on the 7-10am slot on Saturday and Sunday starting on 6 July.[5] Three months later, it was announced that he would stand in for Louise McSharry on the station's weekday evening slot for the next few months while she receives treatment for cancer. [6]

Personal life

The presenter has been linked to several high-profile personalities. In 2009 the Evening Hearld had linked him to fellow presenter Laura Whitmore after they were seen together at Irish music festival Oxegen - a claim which she denied. In summer 2013 he accompanied by Irish Sky Sports News presenter Rachel Wyse to Verona but both denied any romantic involvement. In August 2013 the Daily Mail published photos linking him to former Coronation Street and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! star Helen Flanagan - although McDermott again denied any romantic involvement.

Filmography

Television
Title Role Year
Seacht DJ Pete 2010-11 [7]
Frenemies Presenter 2011
The Voice of Ireland Co-presenter 2012-2014 [8]

Celebrity Super Spa (UK) 2013

See also

References