Irish comedian and television presenter, Dara O Briain (b 1972), was born in County Wicklow and adopted as a baby. He has described his childhood as stable and happy.

After university, Dara began work as a children’s television present and tried out his comedy on the Irish comedy circuit. By 2005, his show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival was widely popular.

Between 2005 and 2022 Dara O Briain was the host of the popular Mock the Week on BBC Two. He has also presented a range of other television shows, including the reboot of Robot Wars in 2016.

Inspired by the film Philomena (2013), Dara searched for his adoptive mother and has, over time, built a relationship with her – and his 3 sisters and a brother.