Career: O'Dowd made his TV and film debuts in 2003, in an episode of Red Cap and Conspiracy of Silence respectively. Other early roles came in Vera Drake, Festival, The Clinic and Showbands. Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd made him a star in the UK, while the movies The Boat That Rocked, Dinner for Schmucks and Bridesmaids raised his profile in the US. He then created, wrote and starred in the sitcom Moone Boy, which is loosely based on his own childhood. More recently he appeared in the films The Sapphires, This Is 40 and St Vincent.

Career: In 1979, Paul's group Streetband split up and he went on to form Q-Tips. For the next three years, the outfit gained a large following in the UK and Europe, but by the end of 1982, they split, leaving Paul free to sign up as a solo artist. Success came with the hit single Wherever I Lay My Hat, which established him as a star. The hits continued throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, but as his family grew, he spent more time away from the spotlight. The next few years saw him working steadily, touring and enjoying fatherhood. He returned to the music scene in 2002 with the release of his album Los Pacaminos. He continues to record, and away from music, has a passion for cookery. He has appeared on TV shows Celebrity MasterChef and Hell's Kitchen. In January 2014, he was a contestant in ITV reality series Splash!