Jennifer Zamparelli

Jennifer Zamparelli
Born
Jennifer Maguire

(1980-04-09) 9 April 1980 (age 44)[1]
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • TV presenter
EmployerRaidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ)
Known for
Spouse
Lauterio Zamparelli
​
(m. 2014)​
Children2

Jennifer Zamparelli (née Maguire; born 9 April 1980) is an Irish comedian and television presenter. She is known for her role on the TV show Republic of Telly, where she was a primary writer, and as co-host of the 2FM morning show Breakfast Republic with Bernard O'Shea and Keith Walsh.[2] She also stars in the sitcom Bridget & Eamon.

Career

Zamparelli appeared on the British television series The Apprentice in its fourth series as a 27-year-old marketing consultant, who says that when she first ran an office, she made £60,000 in six months with no training.[3] She described herself as "the best saleswoman in Europe at the moment".[4] The media portrayed her as "an ice maiden" and as resembling "someone frozen alive while chewing a wasp".[5] She was fired in week 7 along with Jenny Celerier.[6][7]

After leaving The Apprentice Zamparelli returned to Ireland. She has since embarked on a television career. In August 2008, she participated in the Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) reality television show Fáilte Towers, where she reached the final.[8] During the show she went to Castle Leslie with fellow contestant Don Baker.[9] She has also been on radio with Ray Foley on Today FM. In March 2009, Zamparelli was believed to be running a chain of (two) photography studios in Ireland.[10]

She presented the long-running[11] satirical clip show Republic of Telly on RTÉ Two.[12] She was going to leave it to return to the UK in 2011 but decided to stay in Ireland and continue her work on the show.[13] She notably rendered Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary speechless on this show when she asked him: "What's it like being the biggest prick in Ireland?"[14] She has also recommended to Marty Whelan that he retire, accused the late Gerry Ryan of being "too old" for the Meteor Music Awards and queried if Gráinne Seoige cringes while watching The All Ireland Talent Show.[14] In 2010 she presented One Night Stand on RTÉ.[15] RTÉ deemed it too risque and cancelled it after one series, to the annoyance of Zamparelli who adjudged them prudish in their outlook.[16]

In September 2011, she was subjected to a mix-up when her pictures mistakenly appeared on the website of model agency Assets.[17] In 2012, she presented online TV show Snug TV.[18]

In October 2018, Zamparelli was announced as the new co-host of the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars alongside Nicky Byrne.[19]

In March 2019, it was announced that Zamparelli would be leaving Breakfast Republic to front her own mid-morning show from June.[20]

In May 2024, she announced that she would be leaving RTÉ 2fm after more than a decade with the station.[21]

References

  1. ^ Nolan, Lorna (14 April 2011). "Jennifer to celebrate her birthday in style as Lau whisks her off to Milan". Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  2. ^ "No surprise there! Jennifer Maguire, Bernard O'Shea and Keith Walsh unveiled as new 2fm hosts". Irish Independent. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  3. ^ Cooper, Lorna. "Apprentice 2008 Contestants". MSN. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  4. ^ The Apprentice; Week 1 and 2.
  5. ^ Bielenberg, Kim (25 March 2009). "Why we all need our Sugar fix". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Jennifers fired on The Apprentice". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  7. ^ Singh, Anita (7 May 2008). "The Apprentice: Jenny Celerier and Jennifer Maguire fired". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  8. ^ "13 Fáilte Towers celebrities announced". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 25 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  9. ^ O'Keeffe, Alan (9 August 2008). "Feisty Jennifer's no ice queen for Don as Failte Towers pair 'de-stress' in Castle". Evening Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  10. ^ "The Apprentice – Notes to Editors" BBC Press Office, 17 March 2009.
  11. ^ Butler, Laura (31 January 2012). "Oprah's Irish chef Stuart dumped from TV3's spring menu". Evening Herald. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012. He will team up with presenters Dermot Whelan and Jennifer Maguire to record a sketch for the long-running comedy programme.
  12. ^ "The Republic of Telly". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010.
  13. ^ "You're stuck with me on the Telly, says RTÉ's Jen". Evening Herald. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  14. ^ a b McBride, Caitlin (26 April 2010). "Jennifer's on-air jibe leaves O'Leary lost for words". Evening Herald. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  15. ^ Nolan, Anna (23 November 2010). "Jennifer Maguire, you're so much better than this dating show". Evening Herald. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  16. ^ Ryan, Alexandra (23 January 2012). "I loved hosting One Night Stand... but it was too risque for RTÉ - Jen". Evening Herald. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  17. ^ Ryan, Alexandra (9 September 2011). "Jen's shock at model agency web mix-up". Evening Herald. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Vogue and Brian head back to Oz". Evening Herald. 26 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  19. ^ "Jennifer Zamparelli announced as the new co-host for Dancing with the Stars". The Journal. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Darragh McManus: Can Jennifer Zamparelli get young listeners to tune in to 2FM?". Irish Independent. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  21. ^ Pepper, Diarmuid (23 May 2024). "Jennifer Zamparelli to leave RTÉ 2FM after more than a decade with the station". TheJournal. Retrieved 24 May 2024.