Dermot O’Leary is a British-Irish television and radio presenter, born on 24 May 1973, which makes him 53 years old in October 2026. He co-presents ITV’s This Morning on Fridays with Alison Hammond, hosts a Saturday show on BBC Radio 2, and is best known for fronting The X Factor from 2007 to 2018. He is married to Dee Koppang and they have one son.
This guide covers his age, background, career, family and latest news, using sources such as Wikipedia, the BBC and trade press.
Dermot O’Leary at a glance
| Full name | Seán Dermot Fintan O’Leary |
| Born | 24 May 1973, Colchester, Essex |
| Age (October 2026) | 53 |
| Nationality | British and Irish |
| Parents | Maria and Seán, both from County Wexford |
| Education | Middlesex University (Media Studies with Politics) |
| Known for | The X Factor, This Morning, BBC Radio 2, Soccer Aid |
| Spouse | Dee Koppang (married September 2012) |
| Children | One son, Kasper |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | No verified figure |
How old is Dermot O’Leary?
Dermot O’Leary was born on 24 May 1973, so he turned 53 in May 2026. His date of birth is consistent across Wikipedia, IMDb and the BBC-linked profiles we checked. Some older web pages still list him as 41, 49 or 51 because they have not been updated.
Early life and education
O’Leary was born in Colchester and grew up in Marks Tey, Essex. His parents moved from Ireland to England in 1968, and he has described a childhood shaped by Irish music, church and summers in County Wexford, as he told The Irish Times. He has always held an Irish passport alongside his British citizenship.
He went to St Benedict’s Catholic College, retook some exams, then studied A-levels at Colchester Sixth Form College. He later earned a degree in Media Studies with Politics at Middlesex University. As a teenager he also played American football for the Colchester Gladiators and the Ipswich Cardinals.
Dermot O’Leary’s career
From radio and T4 to Big Brother’s Little Brother
He started as a DJ at BBC Essex, then worked as a runner on Channel 4’s Light Lunch. From 1998 he was one of the original T4 presenters. In 2001 he took over Big Brother’s Little Brother, which made him a household name, and he stayed until January 2008. He also presented on XFM from 2001 to 2003.
The X Factor years
In March 2007 ITV named him as the new host of The X Factor, replacing Kate Thornton. He presented it until 2014, left in 2015, then returned in 2016 and stayed until the final series in 2018. That adds up to 11 series. During this time Gary Barlow was among the judges, and the show ran alongside his radio work.
This Morning
O’Leary guest-hosted This Morning in 2014, then became a regular Friday presenter with Alison Hammond from January 2021, after Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford left that slot. As of 2026, Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley present Monday to Thursday, while O’Leary and Hammond present on Fridays. The show also moved to a new studio, The H Club Studio, in 2026. For wider context, see our guide to UK daytime TV presenters, which includes fellow host Paddy McGuinness.
BBC Radio 2
O’Leary joined Radio 2 in September 2004. His Saturday afternoon show won Sony Gold awards for Music Programme of the Year in 2008, 2010 and 2013. Since March 2017 he has presented the Saturday breakfast slot, and since April 2022 he has also hosted Alternative Sounds of the 90s. The BBC schedule can change, so check the BBC programme page for current times. Radio 2 has had a turbulent year; our report on the Scott Mills BBC statement covers the breakfast show story.
| Years | Radio slot |
|---|---|
| 2001–2003 | XFM (weekday mornings, then Saturday evenings) |
| 2004–2005 | Radio 2, Saturdays 2pm to 4pm (Dermot’s Saturday Club) |
| 2005–2009 | Radio 2, Saturday afternoons and early evenings (times shifted) |
| 2009–2017 | Radio 2, Saturdays 3pm to 6pm |
| 2017–present | Radio 2, Saturdays 8am to 10am (breakfast) |
| 2022–present | Alternative Sounds of the 90s |
Other TV, awards shows and Soccer Aid
He hosted the National Television Awards for 10 ceremonies (2010 to 2019), co-hosted the BRIT Awards in 2017 with Emma Willis, and co-presented the BAFTA Film Awards in 2021 with Edith Bowman. He has also co-hosted Soccer Aid for UNICEF since 2010. In March 2009 he introduced Michael Jackson at The O2, which turned out to be Jackson’s last public appearance. He is a keen football fan, supporting Arsenal and Celtic, and if you like sport presenters you may also want our profile of Gary Lineker.
What is Dermot O’Leary doing now? Latest news for 2026
- 7 February 2026: Reel Stories: Rick Astley aired on BBC Two, his music interview series.
- 2 May 2026: the second series of Dermot’s Taste of Ireland began on ITV1 and ITVX, covering the Causeway Coastal Route and Wild Atlantic Way, as reported by Business Eye.
- 18 June 2026: Deadline reported that his children’s books Toto the Ninja Cat are being turned into an animated series by Studiocanal and Superprod.
- Ongoing: Fridays on This Morning, Saturdays on Radio 2, and NFL Big Game Night on Channel 5.
Dermot O’Leary’s wife and son
O’Leary married his long-term partner Dee Koppang in September 2012 in Chiddingstone, Kent. She works in film and TV as a director and producer, and is credited as an executive producer with him on the Toto the Ninja Cat adaptation. They have one son, Kasper, born in June 2020. The family lives in London, and O’Leary keeps the details of their private life low-key.
Books, charity and honours
- Books: the Toto the Ninja Cat series (first book 2017), Wings of Glory (2024) and a memoir, The Soundtrack to My Life.
- Charity: UNICEF and CAFOD ambassador, patron of the London Irish Centre and the Everyman male cancer campaign, and co-host of Soccer Aid.
- Honours: the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad, plus three Sony Radio Academy Gold awards.
Dermot O’Leary’s net worth
There is no verified figure for Dermot O’Leary’s net worth. No credible outlet has published how it was calculated, and the numbers online disagree wildly, so treat all of them as guesses.
| Website | Figure claimed | Method shown? |
|---|---|---|
| Spear’s (older article) | £2.7 million | No |
| Celebrity Net Worth | $12 million | No |
| Content-farm pages | $12 million to $25 million | No |
What is documented is how he earns a living: TV and radio hosting, books, and production work. He once co-owned the Fishy Fishy restaurants in Brighton and Poole, but both closed. If you are comparing presenters, our pages on Ant and Dec’s net worth show how much these figures can vary between sources.
Other people with a similar name
Searches for this name often return different people. Dermot O’Leary the broadcaster is not Dermot O’Leary the Irish economist, Dermot Desmond the financier, Dermot Kennedy the singer or Dermot Murnaghan the journalist. Check the details before relying on a company or finance record. For more on how presenters’ early years shaped their careers, see our celebrity early life stories.
FAQs about Dermot O’Leary
How old is Dermot O’Leary?
He is 53. He was born on 24 May 1973.
Is Dermot O’Leary Irish?
He was born in England to Irish parents from County Wexford and holds both British and Irish citizenship. He describes himself as Irish.
Who is Dermot O’Leary married to?
Dee Koppang, a film and TV director and producer. They married in September 2012.
Does Dermot O’Leary still present This Morning?
Yes. He co-presents on Fridays with Alison Hammond, as well as school holidays and bank holidays.
Why did Dermot O’Leary leave The X Factor?
He left in 2015 to pursue other projects, returned in 2016, and hosted until the final series in 2018.
What is Dermot O’Leary’s net worth?
There is no verified figure. Published estimates are unsourced and conflict with each other.