While Dermot O’Leary has been on our TV screens for decades, via TV juggernauts such as The X Factor and This Morning, his wife has also been quietly making a name for herself – becoming one of the most sought-after British film producers/directors.
Dee Koppang, who shares a son, Kasper, with O’Leary – the couple marked their 12th wedding anniversary yesterday – has been on the rolling credits as producer on countless British exports in recent years, and has increasingly been making waves as a director too.
Most recently, the 45-year-old has been plying her trade on the upcoming Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s bonkbuster Rivals, directing several episodes of the racy eight-part series.
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Power couple: While Dermot O’Leary is one of the biggest names in British TV, his wife, film producer Dee Koppang, has also carved out a highly successful career
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Kopppang, 45, who shares son Kasper with O’Leary, recently shared a snap of her on the set of Rivals, which is set to be a huge hit for Disney+ when it’s released in October
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Aidan Turner will take on one of his raciest roles yet in Rivals, released October 18th
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And back in 2020, the film producer worked on another British export Bridgerton
Set to air from October 18 with an all-star cast, including David Tennant and Aidan Turner, it’s likely to be the TV hit of the autumn. Koppang’s previous work? Other British bonkbusters of a different sort, the talented producer has also worked on The Crown and Bridgerton
She made her directional debut on The Split, BBC One’s much loved divorce drama. And before that, Koppang helped mark the 60th birthday of Coronation Street.
The talented director producer started life as a lowly runner though, working on popular noughties TV shows.
In 2022, she told Directors UK: ‘I was a runner, coordinator, researcher, AP, Shooting AP, DV Director, PD, series director etc.
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The mother-of-one keeps a low profile but has now been on set on three big budget British productions: Bridgerton, The Crown and Rivals
‘I spent the next 15 years working my way up in the exciting worlds of music shows, observational documentaries, live breakfast TV, and reality shows like Big Brother and Shipwrecked.’
As her career progressed, she became more than comfortable with the world of celebrity, directing documentaries about Justin Bieber’s world tour, and working with other big name stars including Rihanna and Lady Gaga.
And her star has been in the ascendance ever since, making her one half of possibly the biggest power couple currently in TV.
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Dermot and the film producer eventually tied the knot a year later at St Mary’s Church in Chiddingstone in September 2012 with a private list of guests for their big day
Yesterday, O’Leary surprised fans by sharing an emotional tribute to his wife on Instagram as he celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary.
The This Morning star, 51, took to his Instagram page on Saturday with a rare snap from their wedding day as they danced the night away together.
The couple met when they were both working for the same television corporation and started dating in 2002 when they began a nine-year relationship.
O’Leary got down on one knee during a trip in New York in 2011 and the couple eventually tied the knot a year later at St Mary’s Church in Chiddingstone in September 2012.
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Dermot O’Leary surprised fans by sharing an emotional tribute to his wife Dee Koppang on Instagram as he celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary
Speaking to The Times last year, O’Leary described how juggling two successful careers with raising a young son was ‘full-on’.
He said: ‘I turned 50 this year and being a dad to a three-year-old can be full-on. A mate who had twins just before Kasper arrived told me, “Don’t worry about how old you are, just make sure you stay in shape.” And he’s right. I took Kasper to the RAF Museum the other week and it was like an Olympic sprint, dashing from one exhibit to the next. As soon as we came out he said: “Can we go round again?”’
The This Morning star also offered a glimpse into how their careers can mean long periods apart.
He explained: ‘Dee’s work means that we’re not always together but, those evenings when we are, we make the most of spending proper time together as a family. I can’t understand those parents who don’t enjoy changing nappies or crawling around on the carpet pretending to be a racing car. Isn’t that the absolute joy of being a parent?’
The couple welcomed Kasper into the world in June 2020.
Posting a sweet photo of a personalised babygrow, O’Leary wrote: ‘Welcome to the world baby Koppang O’Leary… We’re delighted to announce that we’ve had a baby.
‘A little boy born on Tuesday 23rd June 2020 (Sankthansaften / Midsummer for you Norwegians) at 8.19am, weighing in at 6lb 13oz.
‘Enjoying the cuddles in the newborn bubble… cats yet to be 100% convinced. Lots of love, Dermot & Dee x.’
