Craig Doyle

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Craig Doyle
Doyle at the Isle of Man TT in 2009
Born (1970-12-17) 17 December 1970 (age 53)
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
EducationSt Patrick's College, Maynooth, Diploma of Broadcast Journalism: London College of Printing
Occupation(s)Television and radio presenter
Years active1995–present
Notable credits
Spouse
Doon Hutson Doyle
(m. 2002)
Children4

Craig Doyle (born 17 December 1970) is an Irish television and radio presenter. To British viewers he is recognisable as working for the BBC and ITV and more recently BT Sport. Irish viewers also know him as the host of RTÉ One chat show Tonight with Craig Doyle and RTÉ2's Craig Doyle Live. He is the main anchor on BT Sport Premiership, European Champions Cup rugby coverage and MotoGP motorcycle racing. Craig has also been a presenter on ITV's Rugby World Cup coverage. Since 2022, Doyle has been a regular relief presenter on ITV daytime series This Morning alongside Josie Gibson and Holly Willoughby. In September 2023, he replaced Laura Woods as host of The NFL Show on ITV.

Early life[edit]

Doyle was born on 17 December 1970, and was raised in the Dublin suburb of Stillorgan.[1] Educated in Blackrock College. He studied sociology and history at Maynooth, followed by the London College of Printing, where he earned a diploma in broadcast journalism.[2]

Broadcasting career[edit]

After graduation, Doyle worked on local radio with BBC Radio Suffolk based in Ipswich, before moving on to ITV to present the children's show Disney Club in 1995, having been head hunted following a chance meeting with a producer from the show at a visit to Alton Towers.[3]

Moving to London, he presented Tomorrow's World, Fasten Your Seatbelt and Innovation Nation, and spent six years hosting BBC One's Holiday. He also had a live music show on London's Capital Radio every Saturday 8 am – 11 am.[4]

Doyle was a key member of the BBC Sport team from 2004, anchoring international rugby, including the Six Nations Championship, and triathlon.[5] He supports London Irish. In 2004, he formed his own production company Boxer. Its first production was The Craig Doyle Show, an Irish travel/celebrity program running on RTÉ, and Doyle produced and presented Ireland's Richest.[6]

Released early from his BBC contract, Doyle joined ITV Sport in February 2008, replacing Jim Rosenthal by hosting the UEFA Champions League highlights on ITV. He also presents ITV4's coverage of the Isle of Man TT. Doyle left Capital Radio at the end of 2008.[4]

Doyle presented Ireland's Top Earners in 2008, later recalled by John Boland in the Irish Independent as a programme that came about "just when the country was sliding inexorably into economic ruin and in which Doyle swooned over the wealth that had been amassed by Seán Quinn" [since bankrupt].[7][8]

In April 2010, Doyle returned to Irish TV once again to host his own chat show Tonight with Craig Doyle on RTÉ One.[9] In September 2010 he joined the team on ITV's Lorraine as an investigative reporter.[10] Doyle presented Irish satirical program The Panel up to 2011. After that he became the presenter for a new live chat show called The Social from November 2011, which returned to screens in 2012 as Craig Doyle Live.[11]

He presented Now That's What You Called News for RTÉ over the Christmas at the end of 2011.[12]

Doyle currently works with BT Sport presenting coverage of Rugby Union since mid 2013.[13] Doyle also presented BT Sport's coverage of MotoGP between 2015 and 2018.[14]

Since November 2021, Doyle has been appearing on ITV show This Morning usually presenting the competitions. In May 2022 he appeared twice as a guest presenter on the show alongside Alison Hammond.[15][16] He presented alongside Josie Gibson, Mollie King and Rochelle Humes during the school summer holidays on This Morning in 2022 and has since become a regular relief presenter on the show.[17]

In the week beginning 22 January 2024, Doyle appeared as a contestant on the BBC Two game show Richard Osman‘s House of Games. He finished third, behind comedian Leo Reich and scientist and entrepreneur Anne-Marie Imafidon, but ahead of former Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson.[18]

Other activities[edit]

Doyle presented the ESAT Young Scientist Exhibition in Dublin, sponsored by BT Ireland in 2005. He is prominent in the UK fronting the adverts of double-glazing company Everest Windows. In Ireland he serves as the face of the UPC cable service adverts. He was a face of Littlewoods Ireland.[19]

Personal life[edit]

In January 2002, Doyle married his longtime girlfriend Doon. The couple have four children and live in County Wicklow. They also have a home in Kew, West London. Doyle completed his first triathlon in 2006; a year later he represented Ireland at the World Championships in Hamburg, Germany.[20] Doyle is a supporter of Manchester United.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "This is who I am". The Times. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Craig Doyle". NMP Live. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  3. ^ Jarlath Regan (18 February 2017). "Craig Doyle". An Irishman Abroad (Podcast) (179 ed.). SoundCloud. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b "DJ Craig Doyle leaves Capital Radio". The Guardian. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  5. ^ "BBC gives Doyle a sporting chance". The Guardian. 7 January 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  6. ^ "RTE star Craig Doyle's new life in UK after major success and new ITV job". 12 August 2022.
  7. ^ Boland, John (19 November 2011). "Actually, Brennan's tour wasn't grand". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Seán Quinn declared bankrupt at High Court". RTÉ News. 16 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  9. ^ "Tonight With Craig Doyle". Raidió Teilifís Éireann.
  10. ^ "Craig Doyle". RTÉ. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Was Craig Doyle really the biggest trending celebrity in Ireland for 2012?".
  12. ^ "RTÉ announces Christmas highlights". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  13. ^ "Author Bio – Craig Doyle". Sport.bt.com. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  14. ^ Patterson, Simon. "MotoGP: Doyle set to leave BT Sport coverage". MCN. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Craig Doyle goes down a storm with This Morning viewers as he makes presenting debut". Irish Mirror. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  16. ^ Jones, Rebecca (27 May 2022). "This Morning viewers 'delighted' as Dermot O'Leary replaced 'Breath of fresh air'". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  17. ^ "This Morning's Craig Doyle 'emotional' as viewers call for him to get bigger role". Chronicle Live. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  18. ^ Richard Osman's House of Games - Series 7: Week 15: Monday, retrieved 26 January 2024
  19. ^ "Morahan the new face of Littlewoods". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  20. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ 2007 Hamburg BG Triathlon World Championships, Triathlon.org. Retrieved 4 June 2017.