Pat Ingoldsby: 'I loved appearing on TV with a chicken on my head'

The TV presenter and poet has been hammered by polio-related health issues in recent years, but is delighted to be the subject of a new documentary, writes Esther McCarthy

The Particular Sensation of Being Pat Ingoldsby opens in cinemas on Friday, November 4. Picture: Moya Nolan

To an entire generation of Irish people, he will be forever remembered as the colourful TV presenter with a telephone on his head. In the 1980s, Pat Ingoldsby delighted young viewers of RTÉ shows like Pat’s Hat and Pat’s Chat with his offbeat sense of humour.

The poet and playwright has long since withdrawn from a TV career - but now returns to our screens in a new documentary about his remarkable life. The Peculiar Sensation of Being Pat Ingoldsby sees the Dubliner join forces with filmmaker Seamus Murphy as he reaches his 80th year.