29 Facts About Paddy O'Connell

Paddy O'Connell is an occasional presenter of Radio 4's PM programme.

Paddy O'Connell is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Paddy O'Connell was educated at Gresham's School and the University of Aberdeen.

Paddy O'Connell began his broadcasting career in 1989 on the BBC's local radio trainee scheme, leading to five years spent as a BBC local radio reporter in Devon, Essex and Cleveland.

Paddy O'Connell then joined BBC Radio 5 Live at its launch in 1994, before moving to the United States to present BBC World Service's programme The World.

Paddy O'Connell has presented and reported for a range of other radio stations across the world, including in Australia and Canada.

In 1997 Paddy O'Connell became BBC News's North America Business Correspondent and Wall Street anchor, based in New York City.

Paddy O'Connell appeared regularly on BBC World, BBC News 24 and BBC One news bulletins, reporting on and presenting business news.

Paddy O'Connell was in New York City at the time of the September 11,2001 attacks, and was due to attend a meeting inside the World Trade Center on that day.

Paddy O'Connell reported from the scene of the attacks just hours later, interviewing survivors in the aftermath, and anchored the BBC's coverage from the scene that evening.

Paddy O'Connell stayed in New York for a further two years but left the United States, and the BBC, in 2003.

Paddy O'Connell then did a variety of freelance work, including a wide range of work for the BBC.

Paddy O'Connell fronted a wide range of news and entertainment shows on the corporation's youth-orientated digital channel BBC Three.

Paddy O'Connell presented Celebdaq, a show based around a celebrity stock exchange, allowing O'Connell to mix his vast business knowledge with his interest in showbusiness.

Paddy O'Connell was one of the main presenters on the daily BBC Two business news programme Working Lunch, and anchored the show every Friday and occasionally at other times, presenting alongside Adam Shaw or Nik Wood.

Paddy O'Connell joined the programme in 2003 and produced a number of special reports alongside his presentation duties.

Paddy O'Connell left the programme on 26 September 2008, ahead of its relaunch with new presenters.

Paddy O'Connell appeared regularly on BBC Breakfast, presenting the programme's business news segments from the London Stock Exchange, filling in for regular business reporter Declan Curry.

Paddy O'Connell presented the weekday evening TV quiz show Battle of the Brains on BBC Two, before being replaced by Nicky Campbell.

Alongside these BBC commitments, Paddy O'Connell was a regular presenter on the London radio station LBC 97.3.

Paddy O'Connell joined the programme full-time in 2006, having previously covered for its former presenter Fi Glover while she was on maternity leave.

Paddy O'Connell is an occasional presenter of PM on BBC Radio 4, standing in for its regular host, Evan Davis, and he often stands in for Jeremy Vine on his BBC Radio 2 lunchtime news and current affairs programme.

Paddy O'Connell previously worked as a regular reporter on BBC One's evening current affairs programme The One Show, and has occasionally presented South East Today.

Paddy O'Connell continues to dabble in both light and prime-time entertainment programmes.

Paddy O'Connell presented various behind-the-scenes segments at the main final of the contest, shown on BBC Three.

In 2010 Paddy O'Connell took part in a Eurovision edition of PopMaster on the Ken Bruce Show on BBC Radio 2, losing to John Kennedy O'Connor.

Paddy O'Connell was again a contestant on 17 May 2013, winning the contest against Ken Bruce, with John Kennedy O'Connor as question master.

Paddy O'Connell appeared in the 2011 documentary The Secret History of Eurovision.

Paddy O'Connell is gay and is an ambassador for the charity Stonewall.