What It's Like... to be Ardal O'Hanlon

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to an Irish actor and stand up comedian. Spending his childhood in Monaghan, this week’s guest didn’t grow up looking for a life in the spotlight. Quite shy and introverted, he loved to read and was extremely curious about the world. Going to college, he decided he wanted to change as a person and took up debating where he got his first taste of what stand up comedy could be like. Realising he had the ability to make his peers laugh, about six months after graduating, he set up one of Ireland’s first comedy clubs with three friends in the upstairs room of the International Bar in Dublin. Taking it as far as he could in Ireland, his next move was to London where everything changed. Being approached to audition for a new series, Father Ted, was only the beginning and a few stand up tours, further TV roles such as DI Jack Mooney in Death in Paradise - led him to make quite the name for himself on the world stage. Sharing his story thus far, here’s what it’s like to be Ardal O’Hanlon.

Follow Ardal on Twitter @ardalsfolly