| Des O'Connor | |
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| Born | January 12, 1932 Stepney, East London, England |
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| Occupation | Singer entertainer Presenter |
Desmond Bernard "Des" O'Connor (born 12 January 1932, Stepney, East End, London) is a well-known veteran English television personality. Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Stepney is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. East London is the name commonly given to the north eastern part of London, England on the north side of the River Thames. See also Entertainment (disambiguation and The Entertainer (disambiguation Entertainment is an activity designed to give people A presenter, or host (sometimes hostess, in feminine form is a Person or Organization responsible for running an event Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Stepney is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A celebrity is a widely-recognized or famous person who commands a high degree of public and media attention He is the current presenter of the long running Channel 4 gameshow Countdown. Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began Countdown is a British Game show presented by Des O'Connor and Carol Vorderman, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent
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Biography
Born in Stepney to an Irish father and a Jewish mother, O'Connor wrote in his autobiography that he is probably the only O'Connor ever to have had a Bar Mitzvah. The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ An autobiography, from the Greek αὐτός autos "self" βίος bios "life" and γράφειν graphein "to write" In Judaism, Bar Mitzvah ( Hebrew: בר מצוה "one (m to whom the commandments apply" Bat Mitzvah (בת מצוה "one (f He was evacuated to Northampton during World War II. This article is about Northampton in England for other places of the same name see Northampton (disambiguation Northampton ( is a large Market World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including After completing his National Service in the Royal Air Force, he entered show business. "National Service" redirects here For national service in other countries see National service. Showbiz redirects here For other uses see Showbiz (disambiguation. Before his break in television, his first theatre appearances were in variety, where he appeared in venues throughout the country.
He is one of only a handful of British entertainers to be acclaimed internationally on stage and television. When he was given an American series of his show, it went out to over 40 countries and was seen by 200 million people world-wide. On stage he has starred at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, the Sydney Opera House, The O'Keefe Centre, Toronto and has made over 1000 solo appearances at the London Palladium. The Sydney Opera House is located in Sydney New South Wales, Australia The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts is a major performing arts venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario The London Palladium is a 2286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster.
He has met and worked many personalities of the day, from rock and pop stars, actors and TV performers, to politicians, princes, to luminaries, such as Frank Sinatra, Adam Faith, Sean Connery, Liberace, the Beatles, Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford, Tony Blair, and members of the Royal Family. Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor Terence (Terry Nelhams-Wright, known as Adam Faith (23 June 1940 East Acton, London &mdash 8 March 2003 Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born August 25 1930) is an Academy Award - Golden Globe - and BAFTA Award -winning Scottish Wladziu Valentino Liberace He had a twin who died at birth and he was born with a Caul, which in his family as in many societies was taken as a sign of genius and an exceptional The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Barbra Streisand (ˈstraɪsænd "STRY-sand" born April 24 1942 is an American Singer, Film and Theatre Actress Charles Robert Redford Jr (born August 18 1936) is an Academy Award -winning American Film director, Actor, Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to A royal family is the extended family of a monarch. Generally the head of a royal family is a king or queen regnant
He has toured with Buddy Holly and Jason Donovan. Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley (September 7 1936 – February 3 1959 was an American Singer-songwriter and a pioneer of Rock and roll. Jason Sean Donovan (born 1 June 1968, Malvern, Melbourne) is an Australian Actor and Singer.
Television work
At the time of writing in 2007, Des O'Connor has starred in a mainstream TV show in every year since 1963, a feat that only one other television personality has achieved worldwide (US game show host Bob Barker, who hosted mainstream television shows from 1956 until 2007, with 1966-1972 being in syndication). Robert William Barker (Born December 12 1923) is a nineteen-time Emmy Award -winning former American Television Game show In 2001, he was presented with the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards for his contributions to television. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The National Television Awards is a British Television awards ceremony sponsored by the ITV network and initiated in 1995.
Notable shows hosted by Des O'Connor:
- The Des O'Connor Show (1963–1968)
- Des O'Connor Entertains (1974–1976) - A variety show with guest stars, featuring singing, dancing and comedy sketches. Kraft Music Hall Presents The Des O'Connor Show was the title given by NBC to the UK ATV Network chat show presented by Des O'Connor in the early
- Des O'Connor Tonight (1977–2002) - A celebrity chatshow that also featured music and comedy.
- Take Your Pick (1992–1998)
- Des O'Connor Beat School (1999–2000) - A reality show where O'Connor was set the task of turning round the lives of problem children. Take Your Pick was a UK Game show originally broadcast by Radio Luxembourg in the early 1950s
- Today with Des and Mel (2002–2006) - A live afternoon chat and light entertainment show co-hosted by Melanie Sykes. Today with Des and Mel was a British television series hosted by Des O'Connor and Melanie Sykes. Melanie Sykes (born 7 August 1970 in Mossley, Lancashire) is an English Television Presenter and model The chemistry between the veteran O'Connor and relative newcomer Sykes made the show immensely popular, notably with students, giving O'Connor a whole new fanbase. However, on May 12, 2006, ITV announced that the show would be one of a number to be axed in a "painful, but utterly necessary" move[1]. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent
- Countdown (2007-present) - On January 2, 2007, Des O'Connor took over from Des Lynam as co-presenter (with Carol Vorderman) of Channel 4's long-running quiz show Countdown. Countdown is a British Game show presented by Des O'Connor and Carol Vorderman, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Desmond Michael "Des" Lynam OBE (born 17 September 1942 Ennis, County Clare, Ireland) is a presenter on British television and Carol Jean Vorderman MBE (born 24 December 1960 is a British Television personality best known for being a long-standing co-presenter of Channel Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began
Singing career
Des O'Connor has had a successful career as a singer, recording 34 albums and selling over 15 million records. His singing ability has been mocked frequently, most notably by legendary British comedians Morecambe and Wise, and Ricky Gervais. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, were a British comic Double act, working in variety, radio Film O'Connor however has always taken criticism in good-humour, even appearing with Morecambe and Wise on their show in a sketch that mocked him.
Singles
- "Careless Hands" (1967)
- "I Pretend" (1968) (UK #1)
- "1-2-3 O'Leary" (1968)
- "Dick-A-Dum-Dum" (King's Road) (1969)
- "Loneliness" (1969)
- "I'll Go On Hoping" (1970)
- "The Tips Of My Fingers" (1970)
- "Feelings"
- "Three Times A Lady"
- "The Skye Boat Song" (with Roger Whittaker) (1986)
Personal life
Des O'Connor married his fiancée of 17 years, Australian singer, Jodie Brooke Wilson, on September 23, 2007. Lyrics Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wingOnward! the sailors cryCarry the lad that's born to be KingOver the sea to Skye Roger Whittaker (born March 22 1936 in Nairobi, Kenya) is an English - Kenyan Singer / Songwriter and For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. [1] She gave birth to their first child (and O'Connor's fifth), Adam Harrison Campbell, in September 2004. He has four daughters from three previous marriages; Karen with Phyllis, Tracy and Samantha with dancer Gillian Vaughan, and Kristina with Swiss model Jay Rufer. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation
| Preceded by "Baby Come Back" by The Equals |
"I Pretend" - UK number one single July 24, 1968 |
Succeeded by "Mony Mony" by Tommy James & The Shondells |
| Preceded by Des Lynam |
Host of Countdown 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
References
External links
| Persondata | |
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| NAME | O'Connor, Des |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Singer, entertainer, Presenter |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 12, 1932 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Stepney, East London, England |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |