Tim McGarry
Comedian / Actor
Tim McGarry is a comedian, writer and broadcaster with over 30 years’ experience across television, radio and stage. A former lawyer, he left the legal world behind to pursue comedy full-time and hasn’t looked back since. He is known for his quick wit, sharp writing, and strong connection with audiences.
As one third of the creative team behind comedy group, Hole In The Wall Gang, Tim is best known for co-writing and starring as “Da” in Give My Head Peace, the long-running BBC Northern Ireland sitcom. Since first airing in 1998, the show remains a local favourite, with a new Christmas special coming in December 2025. Tim also produces the hugely popular Give My Head Peace stage tour, which plays to packed theatres across Northern Ireland every year.
Tim is the long-time host of The Blame Game, BBCNI’s hit comedy panel show. He is joined by regular panellists Diona Doherty, Colin Murphy and Neil Delamere. The show returns in November 2025.
He also co-writes, produces and performs in A Perforated Ulster, the award-winning sketch show on BBC Radio Ulster, known for its fast-paced, topical humour.
Outside of comedy, Tim co-presents The Long and the Short of It, a history series for BBC Radio Ulster and BBCNI. Presenting alongside historian and Orangeman Dr David Hume, the show explores controversial aspects of Irish history. The show won an IMRO Award for Best Specialist Speech Programme in 2021 and is currently filming its third television series. Tim is also the co-host of The Irish History Boys, a podcast on Irish history with historian Cormac Moore, supported by The Irish News.
From sketch shows to sitcoms, panel shows, and stand-up, Tim brings a wide range of experience as a performer, and a deep understanding of Northern Irish life, to everything he does.
For more on Tim, follow him on Instagram @timmcgarry1