Latest news with #JenniferZamparelli
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Calm, cool and collected with Dulux Heritage
Unafraid of change and breaking the rules, presenter and actor Jennifer Zamparelli's South Dublin home captures the essence of her spirited style. From the moment you step through the front door and into the light filled hallway decorated with pop artwork, there is something wonderfully inviting about Jennifer Zamparelli's house. Her home is resolutely unprecious in attitude. 'I think you can tell if someone has a show home or a home that truly reflects their personality and energy,' says Jennifer. 'I want people to come in and feel relaxed, and to think, 'this is lovely'. It's very much a family home.' For the last seven years, Jennifer has shared this cool but cosy nest with her Italian husband, Lau, and their children Florence, 10, and Enzo who is seven years old. The 45-year-old, originally from Baldoyle, Dublin, first made her name appearing in the UK reality show, The Apprentice, in 2008. Upon her return to Ireland, some of her notable TV jobs have included Fáilte Towers, Republic of Telly and the hugely successful sitcom, Bridget & Eamon. Of course, she's also been co-presenting Dancing With The Stars since 2019. Regular listeners to her show on RTÉ's 2FM will know that last year she finished a decade as a radio presenter. So what's life like after the mic? 'I miss the show,' says Jennifer. 'I miss the team. I miss the intimacy of radio. I miss the on-air crack; I miss speaking to listeners and I miss the liveness. But I have two small kids and I've sacrificed a lot over the years, family-wise, for my career. I just needed a break from that and they needed me.' Jen loves the calming effect of her Dulux Heritage Eggshell Copenhagen Blue wall It was time also, she says, to let Lau, who has been holding the parenting reins, to fly with his own stunt movie career. And, her gut was telling her she had something else to do. Jennifer's next steps have been as creatively varied as you would imagine. Earlier this year she worked on a short film, A Quiet Ocean, with director Katy McNiece, which allowed her to explore a more serious acting experience. While upcoming TV credits include a new RTÉ comedy, Showkids, which airs in October. This August she reunites with her hero Jason Donovan on the Bord Gáis stage as the narrator on The Rocky Horror Show – where she'll also sing and dance (including the infamous Time Warp). Are you excited? 'I'm equally thrilled and terrified,' she says. 'I'm looking forward to working with Jason again (her last outing was in Priscilla Queen of the Desert) but I have to be perfect – the audience of this cult show is merciless!' She's also writing material with comedic pals Norma Sheehan and Sharon Mannion. 'It's a process', she says, 'so we don't know what it will all be yet. What's this they say happens in your 40s? – oh yes, you have a melt down or you start a podcast ... So we'll see!' she laughs. Her TV unit, painted in Dulux Heritage Rosemary Leaf Entering her 40s has allowed her to feel more relaxed, and she's enjoying this decade far more than she did her 30s. 'There's less of looking at other people, and there's more just focusing on the lane you're in. It's a breath of fresh air,' she says. Officially in her era of only saying yes to things that spark joy, Jennifer is lending her voice, her legs and her support to Coolmine Therapeutic Community, which empowers people to overcome addiction and rebuild their lives. As part of her ambassadorship, she ran the Dublin Mini Marathon in June to raise awareness and funds. 'I absolutely hate running so it was torture,' she says with a faux grimace. Adding, 'but if these gutsy women can go into recovery, I can run a 10k.' The island she painted in Dulux Heritage Setting Stone, while cabinets are Fresh Flour Happiest in a full home, she says, 'I never want to have a house where people don't feel like they could put their feet up on the table. That's the thing about interiors – they are so personal and they have to work for your family. I don't think there's a right way to decorate your home, whatever the experts say. Decorating your home as a reflection of the life you really live will make your parties more fun, kids happier, relaxing easier, chats more intimate, guests more at ease.' Throwing a party is one of the first things Jen is planning to do in her spruced up kitchen The spacious open plan kitchen and dining room, featuring huge bifold doors leading out to the garden, is the indisputable heart and soul of the house. 'It's where we cook, hang out with the kids, chill with friends and host parties,' she says 'but it was getting really gloomy and tired looking so I jumped at the chance of a vibrant update.' Keen to go for something less conventional for the space than one shade, Jennifer wanted to experiment with different colour pairings from the Dulux Heritage range. 'Let's face it, the colour scheme was never going to be all grey,' she laughs. Full credit, she says goes to Jane, her Dulux Heritage colour consultant who gave great advice on complementary shades. 'We went for Copenhagen Blue on the dining room wall, Rosemary Leaf on the media unit, Setting Stone on the island, Fresh Flour on the kitchen cabinet units, and the doors and ceiling were painted with Piano White.' If it sounds busy, it is. But there's a purposefulness and precision to it that works to deliver an uplifting, joyous energy. An abundance of plants, art, photographs and books make the overall effect cosy, yet somehow paradoxically calm. Jennifer Zamparelli, photographed at her home in Dublin 'I'm thrilled with the transformation,' says Jennifer, 'the room feels lighter and bigger but above all it's comforting and welcoming. We love it.' The best part? 'It's lit a fire under me now about more painting projects,' she says with a laugh. 'I'm going to do the young guy's bedroom next – he's very excited!' Explore the full range of colours and recommended colour schemes on the Dulux Heritage website
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
My money: ‘I got my car on a PCP – so basically I'm renting a rapidly depreciating couch that moves'
Comedian Bernard O'Shea The Laois native made his name on the satirical sketch RTÉ show 'Republic of Telly' and its spin-off series 'Bridget & Eamon', in which he and Jennifer Zamparelli played a unhappily married couple living in the Midlands in the 1980s, with their six-to-eight children. The pair then reunited as co-hosts on 2FM's Breakfast Republic, with Keith Walsh.
The Irish Sun
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘They just have a sixth sense', fumes RTE star Jennifer Zamparelli after ‘nightmare' 12 hours before big radio comeback
RTE star Jennifer Zamparelli's comeback to the airwaves did not go as planned after she endured a "sleepless" night. The 2 Jennifer Zamparelli had a 'sleepless' night just before her Today FM show 2 Jen told how her kids were to blame for the lack of sleep But before she kicked off her first show this morning , social media to reveal the "nightmare" she had just 12 hours before going live. While walking along Grafton Street in coffee and said: "Cheers guys, this is absolutely needed this morning ." The mum-of-two explained how she had "zero sleep " the night before, but claimed it wasn't due to nerves. The popular presenter told how her daughter, Florence, 10, and son, Enzo, six, ended up in her bed. READ MORE IN JEN ZAMPARELLI She laughed: "The two kids and the dog were in the bed last night, yeah, like, even the 10-year-old." The Irish star shook her head in disbelief and added: "They just have a sixth sense, they just know they need a full night's sleep. "They just f***ing know, they just know when I need." In her opening segment on Today FM this morning, Jen joked: "It's not Dave Moore because he's on his holidays . It's me Jennifer Zamparelli in the hot seat and I'm trying my best." Most read in News TV The in May 2024 after ten years hosting her 2FM show. Jennifer made the tough decision to leave 2FM to spend more time with her husband Lauterio and their two kids. Jennifer Zamparelli returns on air And after over a year off air, the 45-year-old made her comeback on a . Jennifer and RADIO RETURN Zamparelli told fans: "He's off on his holidays (I know the cheek) and myself and @bprdowling will take a week each and hopefully take care of Dave's lovely listeners while he has a much deserved break!" Now, Jennifer has described her new gig as "going over to the dark side". She told the "And because I've never worked in that organisation. I'm doing seven shows in total. I can't do any more." When asked if she'd ever consider taking on a full-time radio role again, Jen admitted: "Ah, listen, right now? No. I don't think so. I don't think I'm in that head space ."
Irish Daily Mirror
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
RTE star says nixers outside of station was 'probably getting a bit out of hand'
Ex-2FM host Jennifer Zamparelli has said some RTE stars doing nixers outside of the station was 'probably getting a bit out of hand'. Jennifer left 2FM after 10 years in May 2024. Her departure shocked fans with many believing that talent was exiting 2FM because of new rules announced by RTÉ, which meant presenters would have to seek approval to work on external activities. But the Dubliner said that had nothing to do with her leaving. 'Sure I never did a lot,' she said of the sponsored content and other none-RTÉ work. Speaking about how she felt about the new rules, the Dancing With The Stars co-host said: 'I knew it would iron itself out. I knew that the right thing would be done in the end, whatever that was, and yes, we should always have to go and ask for permission for what we have to do, a conflict of interest and all this kind of stuff, absolutely.' 'And it was probably getting out of hand a little bit. There was no rule book. But I left on really good terms. I actually had lunch with my old team last week. And I miss it so much. 'But I don't have any regrets. It was the right thing to do. And I did 10 years in 2FM. And it was just the time to go,' she told the Sunday Independent's Life magazine. Jennifer is set to take over Dave Moore's Today FM radio show this week alongside Brian Dowling, while Moore takes annual leave. Jennifer jokingly described the new gig as 'going over to the dark side.' She continued: 'But it's going to be fine. There's enough listeners for all of us. Everybody. We all have lovely bottoms and all that. I'm excited to go in and do that for a bit.' 'And because I've never worked in that organisation. I'm doing seven shows in total. I can't do any more.' But when asked if they offered her a full-time gig, would she take it, she confessed: 'Ah, listen, right now? No. I don't think so. I don't think I'm in that head space.'
Irish Independent
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘I miss it so much. But I don't have any regrets': Jennifer Zamparelli on family life, finances and what's next after leaving full-time radio
Feeling the benefits of a year-long hiatus, broadcaster, businesswoman and advocate Jennifer Zamparelli talks about her upcoming role in The Rocky Horror Show with childhood crush Jason Donovan, a new comedy podcast and why she will never stop working Today at 00:30 Jennifer Zamparelli arrives straight from the gym. 'I need it for the perimenopausal rage,' she laughs, as she sits down opposite me in our booth at The Devlin hotel. Her husband Lauterio, a stuntman and stunt co-ordinator, had jumped in with her on the session. Yes, she tells me drily, we are that couple who work out together. She's competitive, she elaborates, his presence makes her lift more and refuse to back down when it is possible she has taken on too much. 'Life is good,' she smiles, then adds of being perimenopausal, 'I'm pretty sure I am. I mean, the internet tells me I am.'
