Mock the Week

Dara O Briain (Host)

Born: February 04, 1972 in Bray, Co Wicklow, Ireland

Best Known For: Mock the Week.

Early-life: Born in Bray, Co Wicklow, on February 4, 1972, and attended a tough school on Dublin's southside. He studied maths and theoretical physics at University College, Dublin. While a student there, he was both the auditor of the Literary and Historical Society (the university's oldest debating society and the official College Debating Union) and the co-founder and co-editor of the University Observer college newspaper. In 1994, he won the Irish Times National Debating Championship and the Irish Times/Gael Linn National Irish language debating championship.

Career: O Briain's first post-uni job was as a children's TV presenter for RTE. He also began performing stand-up gigs on the Irish comedy circuit. He came to prominence as a team captain on the Irish topical panel show Don't Feed The Gondolas (1998-2000). He then toured heavily, performing across Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. In 2002, O Briain began making appearances on British TV shows. He has hosted the comedy panel game Mock the Week since 2005, and continues to perform stand-up. He took over from Adrian Chiles as the host of The Apprentice: You're Fired! in 2010, but quit in 2014. He has also branched out into maths and science with the series School of Hard Sums and Stargazing Live.

Quote: On School of Hard Sums: "I only did it to get the problems, because I quite like doing equations. There's a bit of me that just pined for a bit of maths."

Trivia: O Briain was one of the six celebrities who took on the Zambezi River for Comic Relief's 2013 Through Hell and High Water challenge.

Hugh Dennis (Panellist)

Born: February 13, 1962 in Kettering

Best Known For: His regular slot on Mock the Week and The Now Show on Radio 4.

Early-life: Peter Hugh Dennis was born in Kettering on February 13, 1962. His father was Bishop of Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Hugh read geography at Cambridge, where he joined the famous Footlights and met future comedy partner Steve Punt. After graduating, he worked at Unilever for six years. Hugh and Steve worked the comedy circuit, including London's Comedy Store. There, they were spotted by Jasper Carrott, who offered the pair a slot on his show Carrott Confidential.

Career: Punt and Dennis moved on to work on The Mary Whitehouse Experience, alongside Rob Newman and David Baddiel, before branching out into their own radio series, It's Been A Bad Week and the hugely popular The Now Show. Over the years, Dennis has appeared in a string of comedy shows, including The Imaginatively Titled Punt and Dennis Show, Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You. As well as keeping busy with plenty of voice-over work, Dennis is also an accomplished actor. His CV boasts roles in My Hero and the popular sitcom Outnumbered. He has been involved with The Now Show on Radio 4 since 1998.

Quote: "Everyone's careers go at different paces; you need to forget what other people are doing and concentrate on your own progress."

Trivia: Away from performing, in 2007, Dennis took part in a mountain stage of the Tour de France.

Ed Byrne (Panellist)

Born: April 16, 1972 in Dublin

Best Known For: His stand-up tours.

Early-life: Ed Byrne was born on April 16, 1972, in Swords, Dublin. He was interested in comedy from an early age - he credits his brother's Billy Connolly albums as an early inspiration - but initially seemed to be set on a very different career path when he left Ireland at the age of 18 to study horticulture at the University of Strathclyde. He dropped out of the course after a friend encouraged him to concentrate on comedy - Ed says that every time he said something funny, his mate would tell him to write it down.

Career: Byrne's career initially got off to a flying start. His first solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1996 was a huge success, and two years later he was nominated for a prestigious Perrier Award, while also making well-received appearances on TV. By Ed's own admission, he experienced a slump in the early to mid-noughties - he blames it on a combination of being burnt out and making some bad decisions in regard to his TV work. However, in 2006, he proved he'd got his mojo back with the shows Standing Up, Falling Down and Different Class. Away from stand-up, he's also acted in the drama Reunited and the film Round Ireland with a Fridge, and is a regular on Mock the Week.

Quote: "As I've got older and have more stories to tell, and I guess a more interesting view of the world, my material just got a bit better."

Trivia: In 2010, he signed a letter with other public figures opposing Pope Benedict XVI's state visit to the UK.

Matt Forde (Panellist)

Milton Jones (Panellist)

Zoe Lyons (Panellist)

Josh Widdicombe (Panellist)

Born: April 08, 1983 in Dartmoor

Best Known For: Being a comedian and a regular on The Last Leg.

Early-life: Joshua Widdicombe was born in Dartmoor on April 8, 1983. He has a brother, Henry. Josh went on to study linguistics at the University of Manchester. He began performing stand-up in 2008 and made it to the final of So You Think You're Funny at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival the same year.

Career: In 2011, Widdicombe performed his debut solo show in Edinburgh and was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award in the best newcomer category. Since 2012, he has been a regular on Channel 4's The Last Leg, alongside Adam Hills and Alex Brooker. He has also appeared on Mock the Week, QI and Have I Got News for You.

Quote: "The thing about stand-up is that you end up meeting your idols."

Trivia: In December 2013, Widdicombe won his edition of Celebrity Mastermind - his specialist subject was Blur.

Ewan Phillips (Producer)

Geraldine Dowd (Director)

12:00 am - 12:40 am, Friday, December 19 on U&Dave (19)

About this Broadcast

Season 14, Episode 5

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