Darryn Lyons
Encyclopedia
Darryn Lyons is an Australian paparazzo, media personality
and entrepreneur
, best known for his work in Britain
.
, Victoria
.
on 19 August 1965, Lyons graduated from Geelong East Technical School, then began work as a professional photographer at the Geelong News
and Geelong Advertiser
. At the age of 22, he moved to London
, where he gained a job at News of the World
after a chance meeting with Rupert Murdoch
. Two years later, he left to take a position with the Daily Mail
, for whom he provided coverage of the Bosnian War
.
In 1992, Lyons founded the picture company Big Pictures, which supplies paparazzi-style photography for news organizations. He gained widespread media attention when his company sold a photograph to News of the World, which was used to support a claim that football star David Beckham
was having an affair with his personal assistant
Rebecca Loos
.
In 2005 he appeared in the Australian version of the TV show Dragons' Den
. Despite the show's success overseas, the Australian show suffered from low ratings and was promptly cancelled.
In 2011, he became a housemate in the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother
on Channel 5. He entered the house on 18 August 2011 and left during the final night on 8 September. He came in 6th place.
program Dragons' Den, which went for one season and ended in 2005, and featured on the fly on the wall television series called Paparazzi about Lyons and Big Pictures.
He stars in a weekly online and mobile Mr Paparazzi Show, produced by Big Pictures Productions. Each one is approximately 5 minutes in duration and is available for viewing on the Mr Paparazzi website. He has recently appeared in the reality television show Deadline
as a picture-editor along with editor-in-chief Janet Street-Porter
. The show saw ten celebrities producing their own celebrity-based magazine, where Lyons would have to teach them to use a high-tech camera. On 9 May 2007, Lyons appeared on British television show Through the Keyhole
. In 2007 Lyons also appeared on 'Tycoon' which was produced and developed by Peter Jones
.
He was also featured in an episode of Top Gear, season 16 episode 2, in which he had control of the throttle and brake pedal, but not the steering wheel, of a double car race in an automotive variant of "Ashes". He dyed his hair the colors and pattern of the Australian flag for the event.
Darryn partipated in Celebrity Big Brother 2011 (UK)
. Within a few days of entering the house, Darryn unveiled his cosmetically altered 'sixpack' which has caused much media coverage for being "sculpted six pack seemingly implanted atop his generous gut". He came 6th in Celebrity Big Brother 2011.
Infotainment
Infotainment is "information-based media content or programming that also includes entertainment content in an effort to enhance popularity with audiences and consumers." It is a neologistic portmanteau of information and entertainment, referring to a type of media which provides a combination of...
and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, best known for his work in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Early life
Lyons' grew up in a "cathedral-like" house, designed by his father who was an architect, in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
Career
Born in Geelong, VictoriaGeelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
on 19 August 1965, Lyons graduated from Geelong East Technical School, then began work as a professional photographer at the Geelong News
Geelong News
The Geelong News is a free weekly paper delivered to houses in the Geelong region. It is published on Wednesdays with a circulation of over 70,000 copies. The focus of moststories are local community issues and sport...
and Geelong Advertiser
Geelong Advertiser
The Geelong Advertiser is a daily newspaper servicing Geelong, Victoria, Australia, the Bellarine Peninsula and surrounding areas. The Geelong Advertiser is the oldest newspaper title in Victoria and the second oldest in Australia, and was first published on 21 November 1840. The newspaper is...
. At the age of 22, he moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he gained a job at News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
after a chance meeting with Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
. Two years later, he left to take a position with the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, for whom he provided coverage of the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
.
In 1992, Lyons founded the picture company Big Pictures, which supplies paparazzi-style photography for news organizations. He gained widespread media attention when his company sold a photograph to News of the World, which was used to support a claim that football star David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
was having an affair with his personal assistant
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
Rebecca Loos
Rebecca Loos
Rebecca Loos is a Spanish-born Anglo-Dutch model and media personality, who was brought to media attention following claims that she conducted an affair with the married football player David Beckham—while employed as his personal assistant...
.
In 2005 he appeared in the Australian version of the TV show Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den is a series of reality television programmes featuring entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas in order to secure investment finance from a panel of venture capitalists. The show originated in Japan as "Manē no Tora"...
. Despite the show's success overseas, the Australian show suffered from low ratings and was promptly cancelled.
In 2011, he became a housemate in the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother
Celebrity Big Brother 2011 (UK)
Celebrity Big Brother 2011 was the eighth series of Celebrity Big Brother and the first series of Big Brother UK to air on Channel 5. It launched on 18 August 2011 at 9 pm on Channel 5. It ran for 22 days concluding on 8 September 2011 and was followed by the twelfth regular series of Big Brother...
on Channel 5. He entered the house on 18 August 2011 and left during the final night on 8 September. He came in 6th place.
Media
Lyons often appears on radio and television programmes to speak about celebrities and news coverage of them. He has a slot every Monday morning on LK Today called Caught On Camera where he talks about the latest celebrity news and pictures. He was one of the five "business experts" on the Australian reality televisionReality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
program Dragons' Den, which went for one season and ended in 2005, and featured on the fly on the wall television series called Paparazzi about Lyons and Big Pictures.
He stars in a weekly online and mobile Mr Paparazzi Show, produced by Big Pictures Productions. Each one is approximately 5 minutes in duration and is available for viewing on the Mr Paparazzi website. He has recently appeared in the reality television show Deadline
Deadline (reality TV series)
Deadline was a reality television series, aired on ITV2 during April and May 2007. It featured ten celebrities compiling a magazine with Janet Street-Porter as the editor-in-chief.-Content:...
as a picture-editor along with editor-in-chief Janet Street-Porter
Janet Street-Porter
Janet Street-Porter is a British media personality, journalist and television presenter. She was editor for two years of The Independent on Sunday. She relinquished the job to become editor-at-large in 2002...
. The show saw ten celebrities producing their own celebrity-based magazine, where Lyons would have to teach them to use a high-tech camera. On 9 May 2007, Lyons appeared on British television show Through the Keyhole
Through the Keyhole
Through the Keyhole was a British panel game, hosted by Sir David Frost where panellists are given a video tour of a mystery famous guest's property and attempt to identify them. As of 1996, it is produced by David Frost's own production company, Paradine Productions at The Leeds Studios , and has...
. In 2007 Lyons also appeared on 'Tycoon' which was produced and developed by Peter Jones
Peter Jones (entrepreneur)
Peter Jones, CBE is a British entrepreneur and businessman with interests in mobile phones, television, media, leisure, and property. He became a television celebrity through his appearances on the BBC Two show Dragons' Den and on his American television show American Inventor...
.
He was also featured in an episode of Top Gear, season 16 episode 2, in which he had control of the throttle and brake pedal, but not the steering wheel, of a double car race in an automotive variant of "Ashes". He dyed his hair the colors and pattern of the Australian flag for the event.
Darryn partipated in Celebrity Big Brother 2011 (UK)
Celebrity Big Brother 2011 (UK)
Celebrity Big Brother 2011 was the eighth series of Celebrity Big Brother and the first series of Big Brother UK to air on Channel 5. It launched on 18 August 2011 at 9 pm on Channel 5. It ran for 22 days concluding on 8 September 2011 and was followed by the twelfth regular series of Big Brother...
. Within a few days of entering the house, Darryn unveiled his cosmetically altered 'sixpack' which has caused much media coverage for being "sculpted six pack seemingly implanted atop his generous gut". He came 6th in Celebrity Big Brother 2011.
External links
- Big Pictures - Celebrity Stock Photos "Big Pictures", Lyons's company.
- Mr Paparazzi - Celebrity Gossip for Mr Paparazzi's celebrity blog