Pat Kenny

Started his television career an anchor on Irish television's current affairs programme Tonight Tonight. He became an unexpected sex symbol after presenting the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest and was forced to leave Ireland for a short period as a result for his own safety.

On his return, he was given a guest presenting slot on weekly chat show "Saturday Live". His charm and wit impressed the producers so much that they made him permanent host, renaming the show "Kenny Live".

This began an intense and bitter rivalry with Late Late Show host Gay Byrne. The rivalry extended to the production crews, which resulted in each show's (female) producers being involved in a cat-fight in the RTE canteen. Both producers were given suspended sentences.

After this bust-up, Gay Byrne decided to retire due to the increasing pressure of the job and Pat Kenny took over the Late Late Show show brand. He continues to present the show to this day.

• Nickname in college was "The Plank".
• Was once suspected of being "The Midnight Commando", a Batman-style vigilante who fought night crime in late 1970s Dublin.