James O'Brien (LBC)
Encyclopedia
James Edward O'Brien is a radio presenter and journalist who is currently one of the presenters on London talk station LBC 97.3
, presenting on weekdays between 10am and 1pm, hosting a phone-in discussion of current affairs and news, views and real-life experiences.
gossip column, William Hickey and has had work published in diverse publications such as Cosmopolitan
and The Spectator
. He currently reviews video games and films for the Daily Mail.
.
In early 2001, O'Brien presented A Knight With O'Brien, a talk show
on Anglia Television
.
With his wife, Lucy O'Brien, he fronted Channel 5's 2001 general election
talk show 5 Talk, securing a review from Clive James
, who wrote: "James, in particular, is a pink-shirted walking encyclopedia of political savvy". Recently, O'Brien and wife Lucy have occasional weekend and Bank Holiday
phone-ins for LBC.
Other regular appearances include: Sky News, The Big Questions (BBC 1), The Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV).
O'Brien first appeared on LBC during 2002 as a holiday cover presenter, gaining his own weekly programme in January 2003 and becoming a full-time presenter in 2004. Regular features of his show include the 'Mystery Hour', in which listeners phone in with various things that puzzle them and other callers attempt to give a solution.
O'Brien made national headlines in April 2009 when footballer Frank Lampard phoned his show to object strenuously to tabloid stories about his private life and O'Brien's discussion of them. Lampard's former partner, Elen Rives, had alleged that Frank Lampard
had turned their home into a bachelor pad while herself and Mr Lampard's children were living in a rented flat. Lampard phoned-in, objecting to the assertion that he was 'weak' and 'scum' for allowing his children to live in inferior conditions to him, and to say that he had fought 'tooth and nail' to keep his family together. Public comments on Lampard's reaction praised Lampard’s 'brave' and 'articulate' handling of the situation. The exchange later earned O'Brien, who defended his conduct in an equally heated exchange with Kay Burley on Sky News, a Bronze Award in the 'Best Interview' category of the 2010 Sony Radio Academy Awards.
LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3 is a London-based talk and phone-in radio station. It is one half of the latest incarnation of LBC, the news and speech service which was Britain's first commercial radio station when it went on air in October 1973...
, presenting on weekdays between 10am and 1pm, hosting a phone-in discussion of current affairs and news, views and real-life experiences.
Journalism
Prior to his broadcasting career O'Brien was an editor of the Daily ExpressDaily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
gossip column, William Hickey and has had work published in diverse publications such as Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan (magazine)
Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
and The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
. He currently reviews video games and films for the Daily Mail.
Broadcasting
From 2000-2002, O'Brien was a key panelist on Five's The Wright StuffThe Wright Stuff
The Wright Stuff is a British television chat show, hosted by Matthew Wright, and currently airing on Channel 5 each weekday morning from 9:15 to 11:10am....
.
In early 2001, O'Brien presented A Knight With O'Brien, a talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
on Anglia Television
Anglia Television
Anglia Television is the ITV franchise holder for the East Anglia franchise region. Although Anglia Television takes its name from East Anglia, its transmission coverage extends beyond the generally accepted boundaries of that region. The station is based at Anglia House in Norwich, with regional...
.
With his wife, Lucy O'Brien, he fronted Channel 5's 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
talk show 5 Talk, securing a review from Clive James
Clive James
Clive James, AM is an Australian author, critic, broadcaster, poet and memoirist, best known for his autobiographical series Unreliable Memoirs, for his chat shows and documentaries on British television and for his prolific journalism...
, who wrote: "James, in particular, is a pink-shirted walking encyclopedia of political savvy". Recently, O'Brien and wife Lucy have occasional weekend and Bank Holiday
Bank Holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
phone-ins for LBC.
Other regular appearances include: Sky News, The Big Questions (BBC 1), The Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV).
O'Brien first appeared on LBC during 2002 as a holiday cover presenter, gaining his own weekly programme in January 2003 and becoming a full-time presenter in 2004. Regular features of his show include the 'Mystery Hour', in which listeners phone in with various things that puzzle them and other callers attempt to give a solution.
O'Brien made national headlines in April 2009 when footballer Frank Lampard phoned his show to object strenuously to tabloid stories about his private life and O'Brien's discussion of them. Lampard's former partner, Elen Rives, had alleged that Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard
Frank James Lampard is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. He also holds the position of vice-captain for his club side...
had turned their home into a bachelor pad while herself and Mr Lampard's children were living in a rented flat. Lampard phoned-in, objecting to the assertion that he was 'weak' and 'scum' for allowing his children to live in inferior conditions to him, and to say that he had fought 'tooth and nail' to keep his family together. Public comments on Lampard's reaction praised Lampard’s 'brave' and 'articulate' handling of the situation. The exchange later earned O'Brien, who defended his conduct in an equally heated exchange with Kay Burley on Sky News, a Bronze Award in the 'Best Interview' category of the 2010 Sony Radio Academy Awards.