Denis Tuohy facts for kids

Denis Tuohy is a well-known television broadcaster, news presenter, journalist, and actor from Northern Ireland. He was born on April 2, 1937.

Denis Tuohy grew up in Belfast. He went to Queen's University Belfast, where he became very good at debating. This also sparked his interest in acting. In 1960, he acted in a play called Over the Bridge. Later that same year, Denis made history by becoming the first Catholic broadcaster to work for BBC Northern Ireland. This was an important step in making television more open to everyone.

Starting at BBC2

In 1964, Denis moved to London to join the new BBC2 television channel. He was supposed to be the very first person seen on the channel when it launched in April. However, on the opening night, there was a power cut! Another newsreader, Gerald Priestland, was briefly seen before the broadcast stopped. The official launch had to be put off until the next day. When BBC2 finally began, it started with a picture of a burning candle, and then Denis Tuohy blew it out.

A Career in News and Current Events

During the 1970s, Denis Tuohy worked on several important current events shows for the BBC. These included Tonight and the long-running program Panorama. Later, he moved to Thames Television. There, he was a reporter and presenter for shows like This Week and TV Eye.

One of his notable interviews was with Margaret Thatcher before she became the Prime Minister in the 1979 United Kingdom general election. In the 1990s, Denis became a news anchor for ITN. He often presented the overnight news and the ITV Morning News. He also worked on many documentaries, which are factual films.

Returning to Ireland and Acting

In 2001, Denis Tuohy moved back to Ireland. He started acting again and appeared in several TV shows. These included Fair City, The Clinic, and Fallout. He also acted in BBC NI's Betrayal of Trust.

Denis also wrote a book about his life in broadcasting called Wide-Eyed in Medialand: A Broadcaster's Journey. He has written and presented over twenty documentaries for UTV, especially a series called The Troubles I've Seen. He has also shared many thoughts and reflections on BBC Radio Ulster's Thought for the Day. A collection of these thoughts, titled Streets and Secret Places, was published in 2021.

External Links

• Denis Tuohy at the British Film Institute