Brian Dowling-Gourounlian

Brian Patrick Robert Dowling is an Irish television presenter and writer with a dynamic career in the media industry. He co-authored Brian and Arthur's Modern Family with Arthur Gourounlian in 2023.

Born in Rathangan, County Kildare, Ireland, Dowling first gained public attention as the winner of the second series of the reality show "Big Brother," a victory he repeated in "Ultimate Big Brother" in 2010. His early career included working as a flight attendant for Ryanair, and he publicly came out as gay just before his initial appearance on "Big Brother" in 2001.

Brian Dowling became the first openly gay children's television presenter, hosting "SMTV Live." His television presence expanded with shows like "Brian's Boyfriends" and narrating "The Salon." He also presented special events, including the Elle Style Awards and NOW Magazine Style Awards, where he was honored as the Most Stylish UK Personality.

In addition to presenting, Dowling has made appearances on various TV shows such as "Hell's Kitchen," "Fáilte Towers," and "Celebrity Salon." He won a special episode of "Come Dine with Me" and co-hosted the RTÉ2 series "Wagons Den." In 2011, he took over as the host of "Big Brother" on Channel 5, succeeding Davina McCall. Dowling also ventured into game shows with TV3's "Sitting on a Fortune" and hosted "The Real Housewives of Cheshire's" reunion specials.

Dowling's talents extend to the theater, where he starred in pantomimes at Dublin's Tivoli Theatre, including roles in Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast. His participation in the fourth series of the Irish edition of Dancing with the Stars in 2020 was notable for featuring the show's first male same-sex dance partnership.

His most recent endeavor, co-authored with Arthur Gourounlian, is the book Modern Family with Brian Dowling (2023). This memoir details the couple's journey towards starting their family, including their daughter Blake's birth through surrogacy in September 2022.

The book delves into Arthur's escape from war-torn Armenia, Brian's path to self-acceptance in the public eye, and the challenges they face, including the loss of Brian's mother.

Photo credit: IG @bprdowling