Patrick Kielty studied psychology at Queen’s University in Belfast. Whilst studying, he co-opened Belfast’s first stand-up comedy club The Empire, which spawned a one-off BBC television special The Empire Laughs Back, winner of an RTS Award.

Other early television appearances include Loose Talk (BBC2) and The Stand-Up Show (BBC1). In 1993, Patrick presented the teenage magazine show SUS TV for UTV, and in 1995 he presented the Northern Ireland part of Comic Relief, sharing the stage with top names such as Jo Brand and Lenny Henry.

Patrick earned huge acclaim in Northern Ireland, hosting his own live show PK Tonight, which won him a Royal Television Society Award for ‘Best Regional Presenter’.

Patrick became a household name across the United Kingdom with the Channel Four show Last Chance Lottery. He then went on to present BBC1's Saturday night programme The National Lottery Big Ticket with Anthea Turner.

In 1999, BBC executives spotted Patrick’s talent and he was given his own network-prime time chat show, Patrick Kielty Almost Live. The show proved a ratings success and established Patrick’s relationship with the BBC leading to a further five series. Summer of 2001 saw his chat show changing to a live format on BBC1. Guests on Patrick Kielty Live from Belfast (Green Inc) included Bridget Neilson, Ruby Wax and Emma Bunton.

In March 2002 Patrick hosted a new BBC2 quiz show Stupid Punts – a celebrity panel betting quiz show made by CHX productions. A second series has just been broadcast on BBC3.

The fourth series of Patrick’s BBC1 chat show was on our screens in Summer 2002. Patrick went straight from the chat show to co-hosting BBC1’s Fame Academy. This was followed by Celebrity Fame Academy in 2003 in aid of Comic Relief.

Patrick's completed two further seasons of Almost Live, and presented the second series of BBC1’s Fame Academy.