Dermot O'Leary: JAWS 50th anniversary interview

Listen to Dermot’s interview on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

In this heartfelt and hilarious 50th anniversary special, The Daily Jaws Podcast welcomes one of Britain’s most beloved broadcasters, Dermot O’Leary, to reflect on his lifelong connection to Jaws—a film he calls his favourite of all time.

Dermot is best known as the warm and quick-witted host of This Morning on ITV and his long-running BBC Radio 2Saturday breakfast show. Over a career spanning two decades, he’s become a national fixture, presenting everything from The X Factor to Comic Relief, and interviewing some of the world’s most recognisable figures. But underneath the polished broadcaster exterior? A full-blown Jaws superfan.

In this deeply personal conversation with The Daily Jaws founder Ross Williams, Dermot revisits the moment his obsession began—watching Jaws on television as a child in a Croydon flat, with his Irish grandfather smacking the TV with a walking stick to scare off the shark. From that moment on, Dermot was hooked.

Together, they explore how Jaws has evolved with him through every stage of life—from childhood awe and teenage thrill to adult reflection. Dermot speaks passionately about the ocean’s pull, the film’s sense of place and community, and the power of characters like Chief Brody, who he compares to Atticus Finch: “a good man having several bad days, trying to do the right thing.”

He praises the understated brilliance of Roy Scheider, the electric chemistry of Quint and Hooper, the subtle class tensions, and the unscripted magic of scenes like Brody’s dinner table moment with his son. And yes, he shares which lines from the movie he still quotes every single day—including a surprisingly accurate New York accent impression. And just when he thinks it’s safe to sit down for a podcast, a surprise guest crashes the interview to lay down the law.

This episode is a warm, witty tribute to a film that has become more than a movie for millions. For Dermot—and for many of us—Jaws is part of who we are.

Brought to you by our friends at Stern Pinball, creators of the official Jaws pinball machine.

In proud support of: Minorities In Shark Sciences (MISS) & Tourette Association of America

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For a press pack and media kit or to request an interview with Ross, please drop us a chum line at mail@thedailyjaws.com