Dermot Bannon returns to our screens this weekend for a new series of Room to Improve.
The popular RTE show returns on Sunday with a series that has been three years in the making, after the Covid pandemic put a spanner in the works.
Dermot Bannon has been hosting the show for over a decade, however fans often wonder about his personal life away from the camera.
Early life
Dermot was born in Malahide in north county Dublin on May 2, 1972 meaning he’ll turn 50 later this year.
However, he didn't spend his whole childhood in Dublin, spending some years in Egypt.
At the age of 18, he attended the Hull School of Architecture in the UK.
He currently lives in Dublin with his wife and three children.
Marriage
Dermot married his wife Louise in 2002. The pair grew up together in Malahide.
Dermot and Louise now work together running the business Dermot Bannon Architects.
They have three children together.
Children
Dermot and Louise are parents to three children - Sarah (15), James (12 ) and Tom (8).
He previously told RSVP Magazine: "I am a busy Dad. I either work or I am a Dad. My social life has fallen by the wayside over the last few years.
“I have a teenager and the youngest is eight years younger so I realise how fast time goes.
"I want to be around them as much as possible but I am not going to put myself on a pedestal and say that I am an amazing Dad, I do my best."
Family home
Dermot and his family have made their home on the northside of Dublin in Drumcondra.
Viewers got to see the €600,000 renovation of the house he bought for €895,000 on Valentia Road in a special two-part series of Room to Improve.
Dermot revealed it was an impulse buy because he hadn’t been looking to move from his native Malahide.
He told The Mirror: “The only reason we moved house was because a house on that road where we’d always said we’d love to live came up, that is why we moved.
“We weren’t out actively looking for a house. I kind of tend to… as long as a house is cosy I’m content.
“But now that I’m in it I love it, I pinch myself. My favourite spot is to sit on the stool in a double height space looking into the garden.
“Where we were living was tiny, we’d two and a half bedrooms. The kids didn’t have enough space to have their friends over.
“And much as I love this it might not be for ever either, we might downsize in 20 years.”
Career
Dermot is both an architect and TV star. He runs Dermot Bannon Architects and hosts shows for RTE.
Room to Improve has been running since 2007 and has over 60 episodes. It has gone on to become must-watch TV viewing on a Sunday evening.
He's also presented his own show called Dermot Bannon's Incredible Homes and Dermot Bannon’s Super Small Spaces.
Room to Improve returns on Sunday night on RTE One at 9.30pm.
