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Difference between revisions of "Des O'Connor"
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| − | + | {{Host|image=Des_OConnor.jpg|debut_episode=Episode 4263|debut_date=2 January 2007|latest_episode=Episode 4732|latest_date=12 December 2008|appearances={{PAGESINCATEGORY:Episodes presented by Des O'Connor}}}} | |
| − | + | {{For||other people called Des|[[Des]]}} | |
| − | + | '''Des O'Connor''' (12 January 1932 – 14 November 2020) was the [[presenter]] of ''[[Countdown]]'' from 2 January 2007 to 12 December 2008. He took over from [[Des Lynam]] at the start of [[Series 56]] and remained presenter until the [[Episode 4732|Series 59 grand final]], won by [[Junaid Mubeen]]. O'Connor announced his exit from the show in July 2008 to focus on other projects, and was [[Episode 4733|eventually replaced]] by [[Jeff Stelling]]. | |
| − | O'Connor | + | O'Connor is one of two presenters alongside [[Anne Robinson]] to have never presented a [[Championship of Champions]] tournament. O'Connor is also one of two full-time presenters alongside [[Richard Whiteley]] to work with more than one [[lexicographer]], though the late [[Michael Wylie]] stood in for [[Susie Dent]] due to her short illness (from [[Episode 4350|9 May]] to [[Episode 4352|11 May 2007]]) and then [[Alison Heard]] stood in when Dent went for maternity leave (from [[Episode 4474|5 November 2007]] to [[Episode 4533|5 February 2008]]). |
| − | + | O'Connor started off his life as a variety performer where he appeared on stage both singing and telling jokes. He got his own show in 1963 named ''{{w|The Des O'Connor Show}}'' and has had a run of television entertainment shows since then, including ''Des O'Connor Entertains'' and ''{{w|Des O'Connor Tonight}}'' which ran for 26 years. O'Connor was also the host of a revived version of ''{{w|Take Your Pick!}}'', which ran on {{w|ITV (TV network)|ITV}} from 1992 to 1998. In 2002, he hosted ''{{w|Today with Des and Mel}}'' with {{w|Melanie Sykes}} until the show was cancelled in 2006. | |
| − | + | O'Connor was not just known for his light entertainment; he was a singer and had a UK number-one hit with {{w|I Pretend}}. His crooning style was often mocked by comedians like {{w|Morecambe and Wise}}, and he took such criticism in good spirit. | |
| − | |||
| − | [[ | + | O'Connor's autobiography is titled ''Bananas Can't Fly!''. The title comes from an incident in his childhood and encapsulates his philosophy that if you want good things, you must make the effort to get them rather than expecting them to come to you. |
| + | |||
| + | O'Connor sadly passed away on 14 November 2020 following a fall, aged 88. [[Episode 7389|The episode that aired after his death]] was dedicated to him. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==External Links== | ||
| + | {{WP}} | ||
| + | *Des O'Connor on the [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0640300/ Internet Movie Database.] | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{DEFAULTSORT:O'Connor, Des}} | ||
| + | [[Category:Presenters]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:18, 29 April 2026
| Des O'Connor | |
|---|---|
| Presenter | |
 | |
| First appearance | 2 January 2007 |
| Last appearance | 12 December 2008 |
| Appearances | 470 |
| Episodes with Des O'Connor | |
- For other people called Des, see Des.
Des O'Connor (12 January 1932 – 14 November 2020) was the presenter of Countdown from 2 January 2007 to 12 December 2008. He took over from Des Lynam at the start of Series 56 and remained presenter until the Series 59 grand final, won by Junaid Mubeen. O'Connor announced his exit from the show in July 2008 to focus on other projects, and was eventually replaced by Jeff Stelling.
O'Connor is one of two presenters alongside Anne Robinson to have never presented a Championship of Champions tournament. O'Connor is also one of two full-time presenters alongside Richard Whiteley to work with more than one lexicographer, though the late Michael Wylie stood in for Susie Dent due to her short illness (from 9 May to 11 May 2007) and then Alison Heard stood in when Dent went for maternity leave (from 5 November 2007 to 5 February 2008).
O'Connor started off his life as a variety performer where he appeared on stage both singing and telling jokes. He got his own show in 1963 named The Des O'Connor Show and has had a run of television entertainment shows since then, including Des O'Connor Entertains and Des O'Connor Tonight which ran for 26 years. O'Connor was also the host of a revived version of Take Your Pick!, which ran on ITV from 1992 to 1998. In 2002, he hosted Today with Des and Mel with Melanie Sykes until the show was cancelled in 2006.
O'Connor was not just known for his light entertainment; he was a singer and had a UK number-one hit with I Pretend. His crooning style was often mocked by comedians like Morecambe and Wise, and he took such criticism in good spirit.
O'Connor's autobiography is titled Bananas Can't Fly!. The title comes from an incident in his childhood and encapsulates his philosophy that if you want good things, you must make the effort to get them rather than expecting them to come to you.
O'Connor sadly passed away on 14 November 2020 following a fall, aged 88. The episode that aired after his death was dedicated to him.
External Links
- Des O'Connor on Wikipedia.
- Des O'Connor on the Internet Movie Database.
