The Shape I’m In: Rory O'Neill

IT’S 10.30am and Rory O’Neill is struggling. He was up at 5am to catch a red eye to London for a 9am meeting. Adding insult to dawn flight, he only managed to get three-and-half hours sleep due to a performance the night before.

Known the length and breath of the country by his stage name, Panti Bliss, there isn’t a trace of the drag-queen diva when we talk. Regardless of the cruel early start, he patiently answers my questions over a poor telephone line, even managing to rise to the odd wry observation.

Working flat out in the run up to Christmas, he’s looking forward to heading west to celebrate the season of good will with his family. “I go down to Mayo to my parents. We have a very traditional family Christmas every year. I don’t like the whole build up to Christmas — the craziness around it — but I like Christmas Day.