Sunday Brunch Hosts Left Speechless by Death in Paradise Star's Unusual Confession
During a lively appearance on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, beloved actor and comedian Ardal O'Hanlon managed to stun both hosts and fellow guests with a revelation about his highly peculiar personal hobby.
A Bizarre Admission That Stopped the Show
The Irish star, best known for his roles in Father Ted and as DI Jack Mooney in Death in Paradise, joined presenters Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer on the programme's 1st February edition. The conversation took an unexpected turn when O'Hanlon casually mentioned that he collects his own beard trimmings.
"I genuinely do, I collect my beard trimmings," O'Hanlon confirmed after host Tim Lovejoy expressed disbelief, questioning whether he was being serious. Both Lovejoy and Rimmer appeared visibly perplexed by the admission, with the atmosphere in the studio shifting to one of amused bewilderment.
The Origins of an Eccentric Collection
Pressed for further explanation by the curious hosts, O'Hanlon elaborated on how this unusual practice began. "It started when I was doing a play a number of years ago and I had this huge bushy beard," he explained. "I'm not that manly, it took me a long time to grow it, and I felt it would be an awful waste when I finished the play to just discard the filings."
The actor revealed that he began by keeping the trimmings from that particular theatrical role in a small, labelled vial as a memento of his character. This initial act of preservation apparently sparked what has become an ongoing collection. "Since then, when I have a decent beard... it seems like such a waste!" O'Hanlon added, suggesting he now maintains this practice regularly.
Studio Reactions and Playful Banter
The revelation prompted immediate reactions from both the hosts and fellow guests, including Louise Thompson, Seann Walsh, and Fury from Gladiators. Comedian Seann Walsh quipped, "You should use it to stuff pillows!" which drew laughter from the entire panel.
O'Hanlon himself seemed enthusiastic about the potential uses for his collection, mentioning various applications and even speculating about what his children might do with it in the future. However, his train of thought was interrupted by the panel's continued hysterics at the sheer oddity of the concept.
Tim Lovejoy eventually envisioned a scenario where O'Hanlon's children might discover the collection and brand their father a "psychopath" before the show moved on to other topics. Simon Rimmer, still catching his breath from laughter, could only remark "That's amazing" before returning his attention to the cooking segment.
A Career Spanning Comedy and Crime Drama
Ardal O'Hanlon first rose to prominence playing the endearingly naive Father Dougal McGuire in the classic sitcom Father Ted. He later took on the role of DI Jack Mooney in the BBC's popular tropical crime drama Death in Paradise between 2017 and 2020, becoming a familiar face to millions of viewers.
His appearance on Sunday Brunch provided a rare glimpse into the actor's personal eccentricities, demonstrating that even television icons have their peculiar habits. The programme continues to air every Sunday morning at 10am on Channel 4, regularly featuring surprising revelations from its celebrity guests.
