# Simon Young (presenter)

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Irish radio and television presenter (1959–2021)

Simon Young Born Thomas Anthony Meade 1959 (1959) Died 31 October 2021(2021-10-31) (aged 61–62) Dublin, Ireland Occupation Broadcaster Employer Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) Known for The Beatbox Spouse Phyl Children Two

**Thomas Anthony Meade** (1959 – 31 October 2021), known professionally as **Simon Young**, was an Irish radio and television presenter.

He started in pirate radio and DJ'ing in the 1970's. He presented various TV shows such as *[The Beatbox](/source/The_Beatbox)* and had radio shows on 2FM. He was also known for making contributions to the cult children's television strand, *[Dempsey's Den](/source/The_Den_(Ireland))*, hosted by his radio colleague at that time, [Ian Dempsey](/source/Ian_Dempsey).

Young resigned from RTÉ in 2002 and held a very private life until 2011.[1] He died ten years later, at the age of 62.

## Career

Young presented *Simon's Choice* or *Simon's Saturday Choice* on Saturday mornings from 10:00 - 13:00 in the late 1980s. The catchphrase "Hey Simon, What toime is ittt?" originates from this time. *Choice* was a marketing tool used by the [Bank of Ireland](/source/Bank_of_Ireland), which offered cheap "Fair Cards" for under-26s who opened a "Choice" account at one of their branches.[2]

Young was distinguishable by his [moustache](/source/Moustache) which he grew when he was 15 after noticing in the *[RTÉ Guide](/source/RT%C3%89_Guide)* that people who worked in RTÉ had moustaches. [Tony Fenton](/source/Tony_Fenton) affectionately called him "Simes."[3]

He gave British band [Bros](/source/Bros_(British_band)) his approval as they gained minor success with the song, "[When Will I Be Famous?](/source/When_Will_I_Be_Famous%3F_(song))".

Young made regular substitute appearances for Ian Dempsey, and these appearances extended as far as the children's television favourite *Dempsey's Den* on [RTÉ Two](/source/RT%C3%89_Two). He was often seen in convulsions laughing at [Dustin the Turkey](/source/Dustin_the_Turkey), which at times rendered him speechless on camera. Young's other radio shows included *[The Beatbox](/source/The_Beatbox)* and the *2FM Weekend Breakfast Show* on Saturday and Sunday in the late 1990s. Young also filled the role of Jimmy in the 30-minute *Jimmy's Slot* for a time on Dempsey's 2fm breakfast show in the 1990s, popularising the phrase "Ger owa dat garden!" After Young left 2fm because of his illness, the station continued broadcasting *Ireland's Biggest Jukebox*.

He retired from RTÉ in 2002, but returned to the public in July 2011 when he gave an interview to *[Hot Press](/source/Hot_Press)*.[1]

Young appeared on RTÉ Radio 1's *[The John Murray Show](/source/The_John_Murray_Show)* in August 2011 and talked about his battle with depression and other illnesses. He said during the interview that he had been hospitalised for half of the previous nine years. *[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)* called the interview with Young the "radio moment of the week ... Easy listening it was not."[4]

## Death

Young died on 31 October 2021, aged 62 as confirmed by his family.[5] He died peacefully in his sleep following a long illness. Several sources incorrectly reported his age as 70.[6][7][8]

Tributes were paid to him on TV and radio and in print by public figures, such as fellow DJ and presenter [Ian Dempsey](/source/Ian_Dempsey).[9] Dempsey and Young had been in contact for four decades.

Young is survived by his wife Phyl, son Nathan and daughter Holly.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hot_press_last_rites_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hot_press_last_rites_1-1) ["Simon Young: "I was given the last rites." The veteran broadcaster opens up only to Hot Press"](http://www.hotpress.com/news/8102175.html). 28 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Where is Simon Young?"](http://www.radiowavesforum.com/rw/showthread.php?t=3140). Radiowaves. 10 April 2003. Retrieved 14 November 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Young, Gifted And Er, Back?"](http://www.hotpress.com/8318933.html?new_layout=1) *Hot Press*. 19 September 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Heaney, Mick (13 August 2011). ["When it all gets too cosy for comfort"](http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/0813/1224302356618.html). *The Irish Times*. Retrieved 13 August 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Glenn Meade on Twitter"](https://twitter.com/MeadeGlenn/status/1455244507184775173). 1 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Tributes paid to presenter Simon Young"](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2021/1101/1257101-tributes-paid-to-presenter-simon-young/). *[RTÉ](/source/RT%C3%89)*. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Kelleher, Olivia (1 November 2021). ["Tributes paid after death of former 2FM DJ Simon Young"](https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/tributes-paid-after-death-of-former-2fm-dj-simon-young-1.4716389). *[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)*. Retrieved 2 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Slater, Sarah (1 November 2021). ["Simon Young, former RTÉ 2FM DJ and TV presenter, dies"](https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40734195.html). *The Irish Examiner*. Retrieved 5 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Donohoe, Amy (31 October 2021). ["RTE 2FM DJ Simon Young passes away"](https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/rte-2fm-dj-simon-young-22025909). *DublinLive*. Retrieved 1 November 2021.

v t e RTÉ 2fm Presenters Weekday Marie Crowe Beta Da Silva Doireann Garrihy Jenny Greene Dan Hegarty Carl Mullan Ruby Walsh Weekend Cormac Battle Conor Behan Dave Clarke Aindriú de Paor Laura Fox Mo K Aifric O'Connell Emma Power Roz Purcell Dave Tracey Bláthnaid Treacy DJ Wax Former Jay Ahern Bazil Ashmawy Johnny B Nicky Byrne Stephen Byrne Mark Cagney Michael Cahill Tracy Clifford Ronan Collins Ian Dempsey Leo J. Enright BP Fallon Dave Fanning Tony Fenton Larry Gogan Emilia Golightly Jimmy Greeley Chris Greene Vincent Hanley Colm Hayes Nikki Hayes Avril Hoare Jenny Huston Lucy Kennedy Pat Kenny Ciara King Denzil Lacey Will Leahy Aidan Leonard Michael Lyster Maxi Mark McCabe Damien McCaul Eoghan McDermott Paddy McKenna Alan McQuillan Louise McSharry Declan Meehan Mike Moloney Caroline Morahan Arthur Murphy Jim-Jim Nugent Donncha O'Callaghan Gareth O'Callaghan Hector Ó hEochagáin Jim O'Neill Bernard O'Shea Rick O'Shea Dave Redmond Gerry Ryan Ruth Scott Johnny Smacks Gerry Stevens Tommy Tiernan Ryan Tubridy Keith Walsh Marty Whelan Simon Young Jennifer Zamparelli Shows Current 2FM Breakfast 2FM Mornings 2FM Request Show The Alternative The Electric Disco Game On The Greene Room The National Chart Show The Spring Session White Noise Former The Beatbox Black Echoes Breakfast Republic Breakfast with Hector Chris and Ciara The Colm & Jim-Jim Breakfast Show The Colm and Lucy Show The Dave Fanning Show Drive By Drive It with The 2 Johnnies Europe's Biggest Dance Show The Full Irish The Gerry Ryan Show Larry Gogan's Golden Hour Mailbag Marty in the Morning The Rick & Ruth Breakfast Show Tubridy Announcers and newsreaders Kate Carolan Rachael English Jacqui Hurley Barry O'Neill Other contributors Philip Boucher-Hayes Des Cahill Oliver Callan Brenda Donohue Eamon Horan Jenny Kelly Darren Kennedy Lucy Kennedy Fiona Looney Conor McNamara Evelyn O'Rourke Lottie Ryan Laura Woods Heads John Clarke John McMahon Dan Healy Related 2fm 2moro 2our Death of Gerry Ryan "Maniac 2000" Nob Nation Operation Transformation Podcasts 2FM Song Contest RTÉ 2XM Other RTÉ radio stations: RTÉ Radio 1 RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta RTÉ lyric fm

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Simon Young (presenter)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Young_(presenter)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Young_(presenter)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.