CAFOD interview

Dermot O'Leary - The Lowdown

• Dermot is co-presenter of Sunday morning show T4, with Margherita Taylor
• Dermot wanted to be a TV presenter from the age of 15
• Dermot is a practising Roman Catholic
• Dermot's proud of his Irish roots: "I may not sound very Irish but cut me open and I bleed green."
• Dermot reckons bungy jumping is the maddest thing he's ever done:
  "When you make that leap, you think you're going to die! Then when it's all over you feel fantastic!

Exclusive Dermot O'Leary Interview

Fast Trackers Laura Pugh and Anne Emmett talked to Dermot O'Leary about his passion for sport, his school day memories of CAFOD and his support for Fast Track.

Were CAFOD involved at your school?

At school there were two charities that I remember Amnesty and CAFOD. I wrote letters to support campaigns. CAFOD used to be a byword for 'half my pocket money'; those little green boxes.

Were you very sporty?

Yep, I'm a rugby boy.

Did you play?

I'll tell you what it is. I prefer watching football and playing rugby.
I'm an Arsenal fan. I love going to watch live sport events.

What position did you play at rugby?

Winger and then Centre at university. Carried on playing at uni, for the first year. I was breaking into their first team when I left.

Do you still play now?

I wish I did. I do miss it, I miss contact sport. I used to play a lot of American football. For five years in Colchester, there were a lot of American airbases round the time. Football was rubbish, the teams were banned from Europe at the time so there was a big growth in American football. It was bigger when I was younger so I played for about five years.

Do you think sport brings people together?

Yeah but there'll always be differences. It brings people together on a national level and on a local level, having a kick about with 10 mates in your Sunday league team.

Random Aliens come down and grant you three wishes, what would you ask for?

In the world? Third world debt (erradicate it?) yep totally. Sort out a provision where first world countries work with third world countries. And Peace in Northern Ireland.

How can you make a difference?

One thing you can do is subscribe to and support charities.

Do you?

Yes, I do as much work as I possibly can.

Taken from the CAFOD website (original article)