Lucy Kennedy

Kennedy grew up in Sandycove, Dublin, the middle child of three girls. Her father is John Kennedy who would later feature alongside his daughter as her pianist on The Lucy Kennedy Show.

Lucy attended Holy Child Killiney secondary school. Kennedy's first career was as a flight attendant with Cityjet, followed by a course in television presenting and production.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/lucy-kennedy-1360386.html|title=Lucy Kennedy|first=Ciara|last=Dwyer|date=27 April 2008|work=Sunday Independent|access-date=27 April 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512062934/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/lucy-kennedy-1360386.html|archivedate=12 May 2008}} In 2002, she worked as a contestant researcher for an Irish version of The Weakest Link. She later worked as a production assistant on An Tuath Nua and production co-ordinator on A Scare at Bedtime and briefly worked in sales for SPIN 1038.

Kennedy began presenting two series of The Ex-Files in 2004 and was approached to co-host The Podge and Rodge Show in February 2006. She described the duo as "like the older brothers I never had" but left the show after three series. In 2007, Kennedy made numerous television appearances on other shows such as No Frontiers and People in Need Telethon, as well as winning the TV Now Award for Female Personality of the Year. The same year she starred in Debbie does Dallas 21.

In April – May 2008, Kennedy featured in her own show, Livin' with Lucy, the premise of which she shared a house with celebrities such as Brian McFadden and Calum Best for a weekend. The show aired on RTÉ2 on Monday nights. During the show she was hunted by the paparazzi and the press when she stayed with the British reality-television personality Jade Goody.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/paparazzi-scare-lucy-hunted-by-the-press-1342321.html|title=Paparazzi Scare: Lucy Hunted by the press|date=9 April 2008|accessdate=19 October 2008|work=Irish Independent|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410171953/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/paparazzi-scare-lucy-hunted-by-the-press-1342321.html|archivedate=10 April 2008}} Kennedy encountered controversy whilst staying with Samantha Mumba when Mumba launched a verbal attack on Irish radio presenter Dave Fanning using expletives.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/not-a-fann-mumba-takes-a-pop-at-dj-dave-on-livin-with-lucy-1347330.html|last=Feehan|first=Conor|title=Not a Fann: Mumba takes a pop at DJ Dave on 'Livin' with Lucy'|date=14 April 2008|accessdate=19 October 2008|work=Irish Independent|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508194924/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/not-a-fann-mumba-takes-a-pop-at-dj-dave-on-livin-with-lucy-1347330.html|archivedate=8 May 2008}}

Kennedy presented The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show when regular host Ian Dempsey was absent on 18 July 2008.[http://www.todayfm.com/Article.asp?id=492118 "On the show archive"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531033721/http://www.todayfm.com/Article.asp?id=492118 |date=31 May 2008 }}. Today FM. Retrieved 24 October 2008.

Kennedy was subject to speculation that she would take over the role of host of travel series No Frontiers from Kathryn Thomas but this did not come to pass.{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/filling-kathryns-shoes-is-a-frontier-too-far-for-glam-newlywed-lucy-1475789.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904011127/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/filling-kathryns-shoes-is-a-frontier-too-far-for-glam-newlywed-lucy-1475789.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 September 2012 |last=Nolan |first=Lorna |title=Filling Kathryn's shoes is a Frontier too far for glam newlywed Lucy |date=15 September 2008 |accessdate=19 October 2008 |work=Irish Independent }}

Her chat show, The Lucy Kennedy Show, an inhouse RTÉ production, began on 6 January 2009. Her father John was her pianist on the show. She co-presented Charity Lords of the Ring alongside Barry McGuigan in August 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0727/charitylordsofthering.html|title=RTÉ reveals Lords of the Ring line-up|date=27 July 2009|accessdate=27 July 2009|publisher=RTÉ|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728165159/https://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0727/charitylordsofthering.html|archivedate=28 July 2009}} After this she took maternity leave.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0909/kennedyl.html|title=Expectant mum Kennedy taking break|date=9 September 2009|accessdate=9 September 2009|publisher=RTÉ|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911080230/https://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0909/kennedyl.html|archivedate=11 September 2009}} She began filming the third series of Livin' with Lucy in July 2010.

In September 2013, Kennedy began co-hosting Late Lunch Live alongside weatherman Martin King. Late Lunch Live replaced The Morning Show.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/media-and-marketing/tv3-goes-live-with-new-daytime-line-up-1.1539659|title=TV3 goes live with new daytime line-up|newspaper=The Irish Times|first=Laura|last=Slattery|date=26 September 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926002830/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/media-and-marketing/tv3-goes-live-with-new-daytime-line-up-1.1539659|archivedate=26 September 2013}} In February 2014, she signed a contract with Virgin Media One (formerly TV3).{{cite news| url= http://www.evoke.ie/showbiz/lucy-kennedy-tv3-permanent-contract/|work=evoke.ie | title= 'Lucy is with us now' Lucy Kennedy is confirmed to leave RTE for a new more permanent role at TV3| date= 27 February 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216122624/https://evoke.ie/showbiz/lucy-kennedy-tv3-permanent-contract/|archivedate=16 February 2015}} Late Lunch Live subsequently became The Seven O'Clock Show in 2015,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/ive-been-bursting-to-tell-everyone-lucy-and-martins-late-lunch-live-bumped-up-to-7pm-30951318.html|title='I've been bursting to tell everyone' - Lucy and Martin's 'Late Lunch Live' bumped up to 7pm|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=30 January 2015}} and now airs as The Six O'Clock Show due to the return of Emmerdale and Coronation Street to Virgin Media One in 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2016/1122/833564-tv3-confirms-return-of-coronation-street-and-emmerdale/|title=TV3 confirms return of Coronation Street and Emmerdale|publisher=RTÉ|date=23 November 2016|access-date=4 March 2021}}

On 30 August 2017, it was announced that Kennedy would host Ireland's Got Talent.{{cite news|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/tv3-autumn-schedule-3572336-Aug2017/|title=So TV3 confirmed the worst-kept secret in Irish media today - here's what else is in the schedule|website=TheJournal.ie|first=Daragh|last=Brophy|date=30 August 2017}} She hosted two series of Ireland's Got Talent until its cancellation in 2019.{{cite news|url=https://extra.ie/2019/09/23/entertainment/movies-tv/lucy-kennedy-irelands-got-talent-cancelled|title=‘Part of me was relieved’ — Lucy Kennedy on Ireland’s Got Talent cancellation|website=Extra.ie|date=23 September 2019|first=Orlaith|last=Condon|access-date=4 March 2021}}

Kennedy had a "recent stint" in RTÉ 2fm with Bazil Ashmawy.

On 7 May 2010, it was announced she would co-present with Colm Hayes for one month the 9 am – 12 noon slot vacated by the death of Gerry Ryan.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2010/0507/rte2fm.html|title=Colm and Lucy set for morning show|date=7 May 2010|accessdate=7 May 2010|publisher=RTÉ|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508225613/http://www.rte.ie/arts/2010/0507/rte2fm.html|archivedate=8 May 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/did-rte-splash-out-euro428k-to-capture-colm-and-jimjim-2933808.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804144832/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/did-rte-splash-out-euro428k-to-capture-colm-and-jimjim-2933808.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2012 |last=Murphy |first=Claire |title=Did RTÉ splash out €428k to capture Colm and Jim-Jim? |date=14 November 2011 |accessdate=14 November 2011 |work=Evening Herald |quote=After Gerry Ryan died, Hayes teamed up with Lucy Kennedy for a temporary replacement programme. }} However, she was not given the job permanently stating that she did not have the necessary experience for it.{{cite news|author=Nolan, Lorna |url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/i-dont-want-gerrys-job-im-just-too-busy-being-a-mum-lucy-2178428.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913071820/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/i-dont-want-gerrys-job-im-just-too-busy-being-a-mum-lucy-2178428.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2012 |title=I don't want Gerry's job, I'm just too busy being a mum – Lucy |date=13 May 2010 |work=Evening Herald |accessdate=13 May 2010 }}

She did Weekend Breakfast with Baz & Lucy. This is a "less visible" role in the organisation that is RTÉ. On 18 April 2018 Lucy co-hosted the first edition of a new breakfast show on Radio Nova 100FM (Ireland) with Colm Hayes, called The Colm and Lucy Breakfast Show. (Colm Hayes had joined Radio Nova 100FM as its Programming Director in June 2017.) Some months prior to this launch, they had presented a one-off show on Radio Nova 100FM.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/female-tv-presenters-there-is-only-one-queen-bee-2907667.html|title=Female TV Presenters: There is only one Queen Bee|date=16 October 2011|accessdate=16 October 2011|last=Murphy|first=Catherine|work=Sunday Independent|quote=While Lucy Kennedy is less visible (she's currently presenting a 2fm radio show every Saturday and Sunday between 7 and 10am)...}}

Kennedy has authored The Friendship Fairies series of books debuting in 2020. Kennedy has published five books in the series, each illustrated by Phillip Cullen.

Kennedy is married to Richard Governey; the couple have three children, two daughters and a son.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/lucy-kennedy-i-couldnt-work-fulltime-id-miss-my-children-too-much-35686591.html|title=Lucy Kennedy: 'I couldn't work full-time – I'd miss my children too much'|work=Irish Independent|date=6 May 2017|accessdate=10 October 2017}} She models her mother/career-oriented lifestyle on that of Miriam O'Callaghan.{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/i-dont-know-how-miriam-copes-with-eight-says-mumtobe-lucy-2946684.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903150836/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/i-dont-know-how-miriam-copes-with-eight-says-mumtobe-lucy-2946684.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2012 |last=Butler |first=Laura |title=I don't know how Miriam copes with eight, says mum-to-be Lucy |date=26 November 2011 |accessdate=26 November 2011 |work=Evening Herald }}

Kennedy won Favourite Female TV Presenter at the 2009 TV Now Awards.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0423/kennedyl.html|title=Lucy Kennedy expecting first child|date=23 April 2009|accessdate=23 April 2009|publisher=RTÉ|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426034758/https://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0423/kennedyl.html|archivedate=26 April 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/pregnant-lucy-prepares-for-her-new-role-1717161.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803202451/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/pregnant-lucy-prepares-for-her-new-role-1717161.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 August 2012 |last=Murphy |first=Cormac |title=Pregnant Lucy prepares for her new role |date=23 April 2009 |accessdate=23 April 2009 |work=Evening Herald }}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| 2009 || Lucy Kennedy || Favourite Female TV Presenter || {{won}}

|-

{{end}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|2111440}}
• [http://www.rte.ie/tv/thepodgeandrodgeshow/bios.html Lucy Kennedy's profile at RTÉ.ie]
• [http://www.rte.ie/tv/ttv/thecafe/lucymichael.html Another Lucy Kennedy profile at RTÉ.ie]
• [http://www.rte.ie/tv/lucykennedy/ The Lucy Kennedy Show site]

{{2fm}}

{{Charity Lords of the Ring}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Lucy}}

Category:1976 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Sandycove

Category:RTÉ 2fm presenters

Category:RTÉ television presenters

Category:Irish women radio presenters

Category:Irish women television presenters

Category:Today FM presenters

Category:People educated at Holy Child Killiney

Category:Broadcasters from County Dublin