Gerry Kelly (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
Gerry Kelly is a broadcaster from Northern Ireland
. He is best known for his presenting career at UTV
.
reporter, but left the station quickly after being blacklisted by the National Union of Journalists
. Following a year's work experience at the Down Recorder
, he returned to UTV in 1979 as a reporter, and later presenter, of its evening magazine programme, Good Evening Ulster,.
The first edition of the broadcaster's weekly talk
/variety show
series, Kelly
, was broadcast in September 1989. In 1999, he memorably inteviewed a 9 year old Rory McIlroy
after he had won the world under 10s championship. The series reached its 500th episode in 2003, and the highest-rated edition of Kelly was broadcast on Friday 10 November 2000, when a special edition dedicated to George Best
was watched by 367,000 viewers. The end of the Kelly series was announced by UTV in 2005. Despite calls to save the series from ending, the final episode of Kelly was transmitted on 16 December 2005.
However, three months after the cancellation of Kelly, a new series, Gerry Meets... was launched. The series concentrated on one-to-one interviews with guests.
Kelly also presented the series Lifestyle, Kelly's People, Kelly on Tour, Kelly on the Road, What Next?, Get It Right Next Time and Pick of the Six for Ulster Television.
In January 2008, it was reported that Kelly had left UTV. In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Kelly said, "I'm leaving UTV on amicable terms and I have nothing but the highest regard for them. As far as I'm concerned, they gave me one of the best jobs in the world and I'm grateful to them for that."
In March 2009, it was announced that Kelly would be joining BBC Radio Ulster
to present a Saturday afternoon programme, commencing in April.
Kelly is the brother of former Down GAA
goalkeeper Danny Kelly. He is married with two daughters and he lives in Ardglass
.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He is best known for his presenting career at UTV
UTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
.
Broadcasting career
Kelly's broadcasting career began at Ulster Television as a part-time GAAGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
reporter, but left the station quickly after being blacklisted by the National Union of Journalists
National Union of Journalists
The National Union of Journalists is a trade union for journalists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and has 38,000 members. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists .-Structure:...
. Following a year's work experience at the Down Recorder
Down Recorder
The Down Recorder is a weekly newspaper published in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is owned by W.Y. Crichton & Co.-History:The paper was first published, as The Downpatrick Recorder, on 31 December 1835. It was the first newspaper published in Downpatrick and was owned by Conway...
, he returned to UTV in 1979 as a reporter, and later presenter, of its evening magazine programme, Good Evening Ulster,.
The first edition of the broadcaster's weekly talk
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....
/variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
series, Kelly
Kelly (TV show)
Kelly was a talk and variety show that was hosted by broadcaster Gerry Kelly and was broadcast on UTV, between September 1989 till December 2005.-History:...
, was broadcast in September 1989. In 1999, he memorably inteviewed a 9 year old Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy is a Northern Irish professional golfer from Holywood in County Down. He has represented Europe, Great Britain & Ireland, and Ireland as both an amateur and a professional. He had a successful amateur career, topping the World Amateur Golf Ranking for one week as a 17-year-old in 2007...
after he had won the world under 10s championship. The series reached its 500th episode in 2003, and the highest-rated edition of Kelly was broadcast on Friday 10 November 2000, when a special edition dedicated to George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
was watched by 367,000 viewers. The end of the Kelly series was announced by UTV in 2005. Despite calls to save the series from ending, the final episode of Kelly was transmitted on 16 December 2005.
However, three months after the cancellation of Kelly, a new series, Gerry Meets... was launched. The series concentrated on one-to-one interviews with guests.
Kelly also presented the series Lifestyle, Kelly's People, Kelly on Tour, Kelly on the Road, What Next?, Get It Right Next Time and Pick of the Six for Ulster Television.
In January 2008, it was reported that Kelly had left UTV. In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Kelly said, "I'm leaving UTV on amicable terms and I have nothing but the highest regard for them. As far as I'm concerned, they gave me one of the best jobs in the world and I'm grateful to them for that."
In March 2009, it was announced that Kelly would be joining BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
to present a Saturday afternoon programme, commencing in April.
Personal life
Before his career in broadcasting, Kelly worked as a teacher and a lecturer at St. Mary's College in Belfast. He also worked as a leisure development officer for Belfast City Council.Kelly is the brother of former Down GAA
Down GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
goalkeeper Danny Kelly. He is married with two daughters and he lives in Ardglass
Ardglass
Ardglass is a coastal village in County Down, Northern Ireland and still a relatively important fishing harbour. It is situated on the B1 Ardglass to Downpatrick road, about 11 kilometres to the south east of Downpatrick, in the Lecale peninsula on the Irish Sea. It had a population of 1,668...
.