Simon Young (presenter)
Encyclopedia
Simon Young is a former Irish
radio and television presenter with RTÉ 2fm
. He presented The Beatbox. He was also known for making contributions to the cult children's television strand, Dempsey's Den
, hosted by his radio colleague at that time, Ian Dempsey
. He resigned from RTÉ in 2002 and disappeared from public until 2011.
Young is distinguished by his moustache
which he grew when he was 15 after noticing in the RTÉ Guide
that people who worked in RTÉ had moustaches. Tony Fenton
affectionally calls him "Simes."
, which offered cheap "Fair Cards" for under-26s who opened a "Choice" account at one of their branches. Young gave the British
band Bros
his approval as they gained minor success with the song, "When Will I Be Famous?
". Young made regular substitute appearances for Ian Dempsey, and these appearances extended as far as the children's television favourite Dempsey's Den on RTÉ Two
. He was often seen in convulsions laughing at Dustin the Turkey
, which at times rendered him speechless on camera. Young's other radio shows included The Beatbox and the 2FM Weekend Breakfast Show on Saturday and Sunday in the late 1990s. Young also filled the role of Jimmy in the 30-minute Jimmy's Slot for a time on Dempsey's 2fm breakfast show in the 1990s, popularising the phrase "Ger owa dat garden!" After Young left 2fm, the station continued broadcasting Ireland's Biggest Jukebox, currently fronted by station controller John Clarke.
Young resigned from RTÉ in 2002. He returned to the public in July 2011 when he gave an interview to Hot Press
.
Young appeared on RTÉ Radio 1's The John Murray Show in August 2011 and talked about his battle with depression and marriage breakdown. He said during the interview that he had been hospitalised for half of the previous nine years. The Irish Times
called the interview with Young the "radio moment of the week ... Easy listening it was not."
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
radio and television presenter with RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
. He presented The Beatbox. He was also known for making contributions to the cult children's television strand, Dempsey's Den
The Den (television)
The Den was the brand of the children's television strand on Irish public broadcaster RTÉ Two. It first broadcast on 29 September 1986 on RTÉ One, before moving to RTÉ Two in September 1988. The strand began to diversify throughout the late 1990s and the 2000s...
, hosted by his radio colleague at that time, Ian Dempsey
Ian Dempsey
Ian Michael Dempsey is an Irish presenter of television and breakfast radio. He is the long-running presenter of the breakfast show on Today FM, self-titled The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, which runs from 07:00 - 09:00 each weekday morning...
. He resigned from RTÉ in 2002 and disappeared from public until 2011.
Young is distinguished by his moustache
Moustache
A moustache is facial hair grown on the outer surface of the upper lip. It may or may not be accompanied by a type of beard, a facial hair style grown and cropped to cover most of the lower half of the face.-Etymology:...
which he grew when he was 15 after noticing in the RTÉ Guide
RTÉ Guide
The RTÉ Guide is a television and radio listings magazine in Ireland published by RTÉ Commercial Enterprises Ltd, a subsidiary of Raidió Teilifís Éireann....
that people who worked in RTÉ had moustaches. Tony Fenton
Tony fenton
Anthony James Fagan , known professionally as Tony Fenton, is an Irish radio presenter and DJ, currently working with Today FM. He has been with Today FM since 2004, having previously presented a show on RTÉ 2fm, which he left in 2003. Fenton is "one of Ireland's favourite pop DJs". Louis Walsh has...
affectionally calls him "Simes."
Career
Young presented Simon's Choice or Simon's Saturday Choice on Saturday mornings from 10:00 - 13:00 in the late 1980s. The catchphrase "Hey Simon, What toime is ittt?" originates from this time. Choice was a marketing tool used by the Bank of IrelandBank of Ireland
The Bank of Ireland is a commercial bank operation in Ireland, which is one of the 'Big Four' in both parts of the island.Historically the premier banking organisation in Ireland, the Bank occupies a unique position in Irish banking history...
, which offered cheap "Fair Cards" for under-26s who opened a "Choice" account at one of their branches. Young gave the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
band Bros
Bros
Bros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan...
his approval as they gained minor success with the song, "When Will I Be Famous?
When Will I Be Famous? (song)
"When Will I Be Famous?" was a single by UK boyband Bros, released as a single in 1987 and later appearing on their 1988 album Push. The verses are sung from the viewpoint of an agent or talent scout and the chorus is sung by the viewpoint of the person asking when they will be famous. The song...
". Young made regular substitute appearances for Ian Dempsey, and these appearances extended as far as the children's television favourite Dempsey's Den on RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
. He was often seen in convulsions laughing at Dustin the Turkey
Dustin the Turkey
Dustin the Turkey is a puppet, "television presenter" and star of RTÉ television's The Den since 1989. A turkey with a strong Dublin accent, Dustin is voiced by John Morrison, brother of Ciaran Morrison who was one of the creators of Zig and Zag. Dustin first appeared on The Den with Zig and Zag in...
, which at times rendered him speechless on camera. Young's other radio shows included The Beatbox and the 2FM Weekend Breakfast Show on Saturday and Sunday in the late 1990s. Young also filled the role of Jimmy in the 30-minute Jimmy's Slot for a time on Dempsey's 2fm breakfast show in the 1990s, popularising the phrase "Ger owa dat garden!" After Young left 2fm, the station continued broadcasting Ireland's Biggest Jukebox, currently fronted by station controller John Clarke.
Young resigned from RTÉ in 2002. He returned to the public in July 2011 when he gave an interview to Hot Press
Hot Press
Hot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
.
Young appeared on RTÉ Radio 1's The John Murray Show in August 2011 and talked about his battle with depression and marriage breakdown. He said during the interview that he had been hospitalised for half of the previous nine years. The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
called the interview with Young the "radio moment of the week ... Easy listening it was not."