Simon Young (presenter)

Simon Young (real name Thomas Meade) is a former Irish radio and television presenter with RTÉ 2fm. He started in pirate radio and DJ'ing in the 1970's. He presented various TV shows such as The Beatbox and had radio shows on 2FM. He is 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.[1]

Simon Young
NationalityIrish
OccupationBroadcaster
EmployerRaidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ)
Known forThe Beatbox

Young is distinguishable 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 affectionately called him "Simes."[2]

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 Ireland, which offered cheap "Fair Cards" for under-26s who opened a "Choice" account at one of their branches.[3]

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 was forced to leave 2fm, the station continued broadcasting Ireland's Biggest Jukebox, currently fronted by station controller John Clarke.

Young stopped working for RTÉ in 2002. He returned to the public in July 2011 when he gave an interview to Hot Press.[1]

Young appeared on RTÉ Radio 1's The John Murray Show in August 2011 and talked about his battle with depression and other illnesses. 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."[4]

References
  1. "Simon Young: "I was given the last rites." The veteran broadcaster opens up only to Hot Press". 28 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  2. Young, Gifted And Er, Back? Hot Press. 19 September 2011.
  3. "Where is Simon Young?". Radiowaves. 10 April 2003. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  4. Heaney, Mick (13 August 2011). "When it all gets too cosy for comfort". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
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