David McWilliams

David McWilliams was educated, first in Dublin’s Blackrock College and then Trinity College Dublin (University). He has worked in the field of economics and spent time in London where he worked for Banque Nationale de Paris, among others.

When he returned to Ireland in 2002 he moved into broadcasting and fronted a programme on TV3, ‘Agenda’ in which he interviewed various figures in public life. With the founding of Newstalk, a Dublin based radio station specialising in news, McWilliams became the presenter of the breakfast show until 2004 when he was succeeded by Eamon Dunphy.

Not one to let the grass grow under him, McWilliams swiftly returned to broadcasting with a lunchtime debate programme, The Big Bite, on RTE television. In 2006 the Killiney based economist had his first book published, ‘The Pope’s Children’, and this kept him in the public eye, despite not having a regular television slot. However the book was criticised in the Ireland on Sunday newspaper, who claimed it had been based on a book by a writer, David Brooks.

In September 2007, McWilliams’ second book, ‘The Generation Game’, came out and spawned a three part television series. He has also hosted a satirical/discussion event ‘Leviathan’ which moves from venue to venue, but is not broadcast. It has even been taken to festival events such as ‘The Electric Picnic’.

Recently McWilliams has used his economic expertise to advise finance minister, Brian Lenihan TD. Mr Lenihan’s penchant for chewing garlic cloves was revealed to the public in the process.

In his latest tome, ‘Follow the Money’, McWilliams courts controversy by making saucy comments about a fellow broadcaster, Miriam O’Callaghan, which he says he now regrets. In an interview with the Sunday Tribune he rues the remarks: “I’m very sorry Miriam was upset by what I wrote…I never meant to suggest that she in any way used her sexuality in pursuing her career…I’m very sorry about that.”

McWilliams enjoys a high profile, courtesy of the media, and his opinions on the economy are frequently sought. He has been installed as the new host on RTE’s The Panel television show, which features some of Ireland’s top comedians. Pat Stacey, writing in the Evening Herald, says of McWilliams’ foray into the realm of entertainment: “Whoever thought it would be a good idea to make McWilliams the permanent host of ‘The Panel’ was not being very clever, but very dumb.”

Despite the criticism however, viewers can expect to see McWilliams on television screens regularly. Having brought characters such as ‘Miss Pencil Skirt’ and ‘Breakfast Roll Man’ to national prominence in the past, who knows what’s next from this red headed celebrity.