Maia Dunphy

Maïa Dunphy
Born Maia Conchita Dunphy
Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland
Residence London, England
Nationality Irish
Alma mater Trinity College, Dublin
Occupation Television producer, broadcaster and writer
Years active 2000 – present
Known for Maia Dunphy's What Women Want
Celebrity MasterChef: Ireland
Reality Bites
Spouse(s) Johnny Vegas (m. 2011-2018)
Children 2 Michael andTom Dunphy Pennington

Maïa Conchita Dunphy is an Irish television producer, broadcaster and writer.

Early life

Dunphy grew up in Dalkey, County Dublin. Her father is originally from New Ross and her mother Helen from Spain, but grew up in England. She attended school in Paris, France, before returning to Ireland to attend St Andrews College, Blackrock, Dublin.

Dunphy graduated from Trinity College, Dublin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French.[1]

Career

Writing

Dunphy has written and produced for many comedy shows for RTÉ including Podge & Rodge and Katherine Lynch's Wagon's Den and books such as The Ballydung Bible, and has worked with Dustin the Turkey and Zig and Zag. She has written regular columns for The Dubliner magazine, the Irish Times, Image Magazine, the Irish Independent Insider Magazine and the Evening Herald amongst others.

Dunphy wrote the Mr. Tayto spoof autobiography The Man in the Jacket in 2009 which famously kept former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern off the Christmas No.1 spot in the book charts. She is a contributor on the RTÉ 2fm Ryan Tubridy Show and has also sat in for Colm Hayes. Her first book penned under her own name - The M Word - was published in November 2017.

Presenting

In January 2012, Dunphy wrote and hosted a documentary on the Irish baby boom for RTÉ as part of the Reality Bites series. She also began appearing as a regular panelist on the Craig Doyle Live show. Her second documentary Merlot & Me aired on RTÉ in January 2013 to critical acclaim.

In September 2013, a four-part documentary series Maia Dunphy's What Women Want began on RTÉ. The series covered four female centric topics: the pressure on women to stay looking young and the lengths some go to in 'Forever Young'; how women really feel about sex and the importance of female sexuality in 'Best Sex Ever'; the increasing problem of anxiety and benzodiazepine use in 'Calm'; and how many Irish women are breaking away from the traditional ideals of relationships and family in 'Happily Ever After'. The series was well received.

The second series was broadcast on RTÉ 2 in November and December 2014 and looked at food fads in "Food Not Fear"; the love of shopping, from designer bags to the buzz of a bargain in "Retail Therapy"; how perceptions of beauty have become skewed in "The Secrets of Attraction"; and the ongoing cult of celebrity in "Fame".

In October 2015 a new series Maïa Dunphy's Truth About aired on RTÉ 2. In December 2014, Dunphy won the Irish Tatler Woman of the Year award for Entertainment. In August 2013, she was a finalist on Celebrity MasterChef: Ireland.[2][3]

In late 2017 Dunphy released The M Word - a book for women who happen to be mothers which was well received. []

Other television appearances

Dunphy is a well-known face on many Irish shows.

On 18 June 2014, Dunphy and her husband Johnny Vegas took part in an episode of All Star Mr & Mrs.[4] They won the episode and the jackpot of 30,000 for their chosen charity.[]

She took part in the second series of Dancing with the Stars on RTÉ One and was eliminated in week 5. She was partnered with new dancer, Polish champion Robert Rowinski.

Personal life

In April 2011, she wed British comedian Johnny Vegas in her mother's home town of Seville, Spain.[5] The couple lived in London together,[6] but announced in May 2018 that they had separated the previous year.[7]

On 26 January 2015, Dunphy posted an image of her ultrasound,[8] announcing that the couple were expecting their first child together. They have one son.[7]

Dunphy is a supporter of many animal charities including Dogs Trust, Dublin Zoo and Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary in Sabah, where she spent a year working in 2000.

References

  1. ↑ "Our Alumni: Maia Dunphy". Trinity College Dublin. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Gillick wins Celebrity MasterChef". RTÉ. 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Rabbitte, Eimear (17 August 2013). "Masterchef final becomes a sticky situation for Maia Dunphy". Irish Independent. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "All Star Mr & Mrs". ITV. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Comedian Johnny Vegas marries girlfriend Maia Dunphy in Spain". Mail Online. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  6. ↑ Finn, Melanie (21 March 2014). "Maia Dunphy is finally moving in with comic hubby Johnny Vegas". Irish Independent. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  7. 1 2 Bourne, Dianne (14 May 2018). "Johnny Vegas confirms split from wife Maia Dunphy". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Maia Dunphy tweets image of ultrasound scan". Twitter. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
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