Despite already being an established presenter, Craig Doyle's first appearance on This Morning last year came as a surprise to viewers. But now, more than a year later, fans are regularly calling for him to be a permanent host on the show, particularly since the sudden exit of Phillip Schofield.
Craig made his This Morning debut in May 2022 alongside Alison Hammond. However, it wasn't the TV and radio presenter's first-ever appearance on the programme. He had popped up from time to time in the past, hosting ITV's competition segment from around Ireland, for example.
But, as we've already mentioned, presenting shows such as This Morning is nothing new for the Irish broadcaster as we've discovered his chat show past.
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The Dublin-born host is best known for a range of work on channels including BBC, ITV, BT Sport and Irish network RTÉ. Craig is mainly known for being the lead anchor for BT Sport’s rugby coverage, including Premiership and European Champions Cup games – where he’s been since 2013.
But those living in Ireland might remember Craig from his 2010 chat show on RTÉ One, Tonight with Craig Doyle, and RTÉ Two’s Craig Doyle Live, which ran from 2011 to 2013. It was after that, in 2013, that Craig became the lead anchor for BT Sport’s rugby coverage. Craig also hosted their MotoGP programming from 2015 to 2018 and he's played a key part in covering the Six Nations Rugby, Wimbledon, Athens Olympics and Grandstand.
it was much earlier than that that Craig first appeared on the small screen. After graduating, Craig worked on BBC Radio Suffolk, based in Ipswich, before moving on to ITV to present the children's show Disney Club in 1995, having been head-hunted following a chance meeting with a producer from the show at a visit to Alton Towers.
Moving to London, he presented Tomorrow's World, Fasten Your Seatbelt and Innovation Nation, and spent six years hosting BBC One's Holiday. He also had a live music show on London's Capital Radio every Saturday 8 am – 11 am. And he also appeared on the children’s programme Diggit from 1998 to 2002 on GMTV alongside Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates.
However, one thing that did instantly surprise This Morning viewers about the show's newest host was his age. Craig was born in December 1970, making him 52 years old.
When his age was revealed on the show last year, when he was still 51, one viewer tweeted: "What the hell is going on? How is this man in his 50's? He literally hasn't aged a day in 25 years. He's very easy on the eyes as well." Another quipped: "Idk who this fella is but Google tells me he’s 51! Gonna need your skincare regime please Mr Doyle #ThisMorning."
Away from his career, and his age-defying looks, Craig is very much a family man who has been married to his beautiful wife Doon for almost 22 years. Doon, 50, previously worked as an interior designer, but her current occupation is unknown.
The lovebirds tied the knot in 2002 after they dated for years, having first met before Doon attended University in Ireland. However, Doon was working part-time in a gym when she first laid eyes on her future husband. Speaking to RTÉ about how they met, Craig previously revealed: "I was home in Ireland just before I started on Tomorrow’s World and a mate of mine said to me ‘Doyler! Ya gotta meet this bird.
"I tried my heart out with her but it isn’t happening. She was working in the gym part-time before she started college and I went along to the gym. I didn’t even have gym gear with me. I had a pair of shorts and a pair of shoes, I looked like a kn*b and I met her and I thought ‘holy god'.
"We were on our third date, the kissing date, and we were in Greystones and we had a drink and we were out walking and as I left, I shook her hand. Complete nerd. She looked at me like I was a real tw*t and said ‘that was the kissing date. Why didn’t you kiss me?’ I was scared. I fancied her you see."
They now have four children together: Quinn, Milo, Muireann, and Elsa and live at their family home in Wicklow. Speaking to Belfast Telegraph about his children, Craig previously explained that he would love to have 'loads' of kids due to the fact he loves kids so much.
"I'd have a whole bundle if it were up to me - I love kids," he said. "Doon's full-time with them. She keeps the ship rolling - she's amazing. I go to work but I'm really only doing my hobby. She has a hell of a lot more patience than me."
