Tallaght man and TV producer Billy is rubbing shoulders with the stars

Tallaght man and TV producer Billy is rubbing shoulders with the stars

By Mary Dennehy

GROWING up in Firhouse, a young Billy Halpin always dreamed of being on the other side of the screen when watching television.

Despite being encouraged as a youngster to pick a more ‘achievable’ career path, Billy had his eyes firmly fixed on the screen and, after a lot of hard work and dedication, the now 38-year-old graduate of Ballyfermot College is working on some of TV’s biggest shows.

LIFE Billy Halpin Voice UK set with Kylie full

Now a freelance TV producer in Los Angeles, Billy, who was based in London for 12 years, has worked on shows such as Loose Women, The Paul O’Grady Show, Today with Des and Mel, The Sharon Osbourne Show, The Voice UK, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and Dancing with the Stars (US).

Speaking with The Echo before he travels home to Firhouse for Christmas, Billy had a quick chat about his career to date, his plans for 2017, Kylie Minogue and always chasing your dreams.

What’s your best memory of growing up in Firhouse?

My best memory of growing up in Firhouse was being at the foot of the Dublin Mountains. At the time Carriglea was the last housing estate so from the top of our road you were up ‘in the fields’. You’d have to walk though quite a few housing estates now from Carriglea but at the time we used to set off with our dogs and not stop until we got up as far as the Hellfire Club.

What inspired you to chase a career in TV?

From a young age I was always obsessed with TV. I would get home from school, do my homework (or say I had it done) and spend the night watching the telly. When I was about 10 years old my parents were called into the school because I wasn’t doing very well, I was actually dyslexic but that wasn’t a thing back then. I remember the teacher saying to me in front of my parents “all you do is watch the television, what good is that going to do for you?”. That was the day I decided I was going to work in TV.

It wasn’t an easy road to take and you mentioned you were encouraged to find another career path?

In school I was often told to have a backup career. In transition year when we had work experience I was sent to work in an accounts department and hated it, I just couldn’t sit down for the day looking at numbers dancing around the pages.

I was desperate to get a placement at RTE but I didn’t have any contacts there. So one day I got on the bus into town, then the bus to Donnybrook, walked into RTE reception and asked for The Den office!

They sent me to the Young People’s Department and I literally walked in and asked for work experience. I think they were too shocked to say no. It really was a different time; I remember the first person I asked was smoking at her desk!

LIFE Billy Halpin with Andrea McLean

What did you do after college?

After college, I got a job working in Windmill Lane, which at the time was a post-production company in the building U2 used to record in. While working there I was always asking advice off my peers, one question I asked a lot was if I should stay in Ireland.

A producer who was working there said I needed to decide if I wanted to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond. I decided I wanted to be a BIG fish in a BIG pond and moved to London.

What was your first big break into TV?

When I moved to the London I got my first big break when I got a job on Loose Women, one of the UK’s biggest daytime TV shows, at ITV where I worked my way up from a runner to producer.

I spent about eight years on the show and loved it. Whilst working on the show I got to produce interviews with some huge stars like Lionel Richie, Lady Gaga, Julia Roberts, Britney Spears and Dolly Parton. However, what I’m most proud about with my time on Loose Women was producing Britain’s first ever mammogram on TV.

It was with Denise Welch who would only agree to do it if it they didn’t blur anything for the show, and we didn’t.

The response was huge and lots of viewers wrote in saying it gave them the courage to undergo the procedure themselves. We even got a few who said it saved their lives, which is so humbling.

You’ve went on to produce some of the biggest shows on TV, what has been your favourite and why?

Other shows I worked on at ITV included The Paul O’Grady Show, Today with Des and Mel, The Sharon Osbourne Show and Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. However my favourite show to produce was The Voice UK for the BBC.

I loved working on this show, the talent was always incredible – as were the coaches: Danny O’Donoghue, will.i.am, Tom Jones and Jessie J.

For the first series I was Danny’s producer, the first thing he said to me when he heard me speak was “I see they put the Paddies together!”

The second series was by far my favourite job ever as I got to produce Kylie Minogue. Growing up I was always a massive Kylie fan so to go from having posters of her on my bedroom wall to now producing her was a dream come true.

How did the move to the States happen?

While working on The Voice UK, I was given an amazing opportunity; I was asked to come to the US to work for an American production company.

It had always been my dream to come here so I jumped at the chance. And since I have been here I’ve produced some of the world’s biggest shows including America’s Got Talent and Dancing with the Stars (the US version of Strictly Come Dancing).

I also launched the daytime show FABLife, which starred supermodels Tyra Banks and Chrissy Teigen.

LIFE Billy Halpin 1

You’re currently working with will.i.am on a new show, can you give us any teasers on what the show will be about?

After working with will.i.am on The Voice UK, I am now back producing a new show with him in LA. The show is still in production and I know people are going to love it.

Will is bringing singers and songwriters to his studios in Hollywood and teaching them not only to be recording artist but entrepreneurs. This format is so good, that in the near future there I’m sure there will be a UK and Irish version soon too.

Other than a show you’re involved in, what are you watching right now?

Because I’m working such long hours in studio and on location, I love to just chill out to reality TV – the ‘Real Housewives’ (of anywhere…!) are my guilty pleasures. I’m still able to watch a lot of UK and Irish TV shows online: The Irish Gogglebox is brilliant and makes me homesick.

What are you listening to?

At the minute I’m listening to The 1975 – which just happens to feature Denise Welch’s son Matt Healy as the lead singer – and earlier this year went to see them in concert with Denise in Hollywood.

What do you miss most about living in Dublin?

What I miss most about Dublin is the people, and Tayto. Luckily there is an Irish shop around the corner from will.i.am’s studio so I can get my fix there! (She even sells her version of Superquinn sausages!)

I’m really looking forward to coming home for Christmas and spending time with my family in Firhouse. Nothing better than coming home and opening my Mam’s full-to-the-brim fridge.

When you look back over your career, what traits do you believe supported you in making your dreams come true?

Looking back, I think determination has helped me make my dream come true. I wasn’t going to give up and I am determined to go further with my career, there are some really exciting projects coming up in 2017.

Also being a hard worker is something that has helped me to succeed. People think that working in TV is glamorous, which it can be.

But, it is really hard work; sometimes you’re doing 18-hour days, seven days a week for weeks on end. But the end result makes me so proud.

What advice would you give to other young people who want to follow their dreams?

My advice to anyone who wants to follow their dreams is go for it, if you don’t you will always wonder, “what if?” If people are thinking of getting into TV – both in front of the camera and behind the scenes – get yourself out there, know how to film yourself, how to edit and get your stuff online.

We are in a digital era now, you can make a great career from blogging and posting videos online. Get followers and the jobs will come looking for you.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received actually came from two people – years apart. Sir Terry Wogan and Daniel O’Donnell were both my guests on Loose Women – and both told me, “Never lose your Irish accent!” And it’s got me a long way! Wherever I’ve been in the world, people always have a connection with the Irish.

Follow Billy Halpin on Twitter HERE.

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