Philip Doyle - Mad Hatter Q&A: Biggest thrill? "It would be rude if I didn’t have winning an Olympic medal as the answer"

Who would be the last person you would invite to your birthday party?
The worst person ever is up for discussion, but I feel there is a long list of dictator-like characters I wouldn’t be too keen on seeing – Hitler, Pol Pot, Gaddafi and so on.

Who would be the first person you would invite to your birthday party?
My darling girlfriend Tiffany, and then ask her to arrange everything.

Favourite saying?
‘Don’t water dead plants.’

Favourite record?
I love ‘Patiently Waiting’ and ‘Many Men’ by 50 Cent.

Favourite book?
I Am Pilgrim is one of the best thrillers I’ve read recently. When Breath Becomes Air is the best factual book alongside Black Box Thinking.

Favourite film?
Coach Carter and Gladiator.

Favourite author?
Matthew Syed and Sarah J. Maas.

Favourite actor/actress?
I’ve a lot of time for Morgan Freeman. Judi Dench is hard to beat from growing up with the Bond films.

Favourite musician?
At the moment, Amble, The Coronas and Kingfishr.

Amble at 3Arena on December 11th, 2025. Copyright Jason Doherty/ hotpress.com

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
I was once racing to make the home internationals team and I was winning, taking it into the line. But it was very rough on the lake – I hit a buoy and fell in. It was the last 200m and right in front of the crowd. I then had to swim ashore and have them help me back into the boat.

Favourite food/drink/stimulant?
Coffee – I would be very particular about it.

TV programme?
I love Suits.

Favourite item of clothing?
A beautiful Irish wool coat that I was gifted from a Belfast shop.

Most desirable date?
A day out doing something active, then a lovely romantic dinner.

Favourite method of relaxation?
Sauna and an evening watching nonsense on a screen.

If you weren’t pursuing your present career, what other career might you have chosen?
A café owner. I could use it as a great excuse to spend my time drinking and serving coffee.

Biggest thrill?
It would be rude if I didn’t have winning an Olympic medal as the answer.

 

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Biggest disappointment?
Not winning an Olympic medal in Tokyo, only because I genuinely believe we had the talent and ability to do it.

Your concept of heaven?
I hope it’s warm and everything is free and no one is ill up there.

Your concept of hell?
Having to do something over and over and always being bad at it. Not improving or understanding how to get better, but stuck in a loop of losing all the time.

What would be your dying words?
“I forgot to tell you, but all the cash is hidden under the…” There would be no cash.

Greatest ambition?
Olympic gold medal while also keeping contact with work as a doctor in a brutal endurance sport.

Period of history you’d most like to have lived in and why?
I would love to experience the ‘70s/’80s in my twenties and thirties, when the world was just exploding with new things.

If you weren’t a human being, which animal would you have chosen to be?
A wolf for strength alone.

If you were told that the world was ending tomorrow morning, how would you react/what would you do?
I’d drive home and see my family, and just be there with them and wait for it.

Your nominee for the world’s best-dressed person?
Blake Lively was a big one for a fashion statement, but there is a fella I met at a La Roche-Posay gig called William Wade, and he’s a dapper gent.

Favourite term of abuse?
Hallions. I’m not sure where it derives from, but it can be delivered as an endearing remark or not so much. It’s a versatile one.

Biggest fear?
Sharks in deep water.

Humanity’s most useful invention?
Has to be either antibiotics or the defibrillator.

Humanity’s most useless invention?
I have seen a two-person toilet on Instagram and also dissolvable swimming trunks.

• Watch Philip Doyle on Dancing With The Stars, Sundays on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

 

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