Talk:Terry Wogan

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Common forklore in Limerick suggests Terry was from Elm Park (the street off the Ennis Road, not the one in Castletroy) - is this true? --Zilog Jones 11:43, 27 July 2005 (UTC)

Contents 1 Should it be "Sir"? 2 toupee? 3 Removed Criticisms section 4 ESC 2006 5 Marital Status 6 moved citation 7 Probably not a naturalised British citizen 8 Offended Swedes? 9 Children in Need Fee

[edit] Should it be "Sir"?

It was my understanding that as Terry bears Irish citizenship, he isn't actually referred to as "Sir" even though he has a KBE/OBE (can't remember which!). Could anyone clarify this, or is the article correct?

I think that he has British citizenship too so can be Sir Tel Robdurbar 20:18, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

He had an OBE (honorary) first, then that was subsumed in his KBE (honorary), then that became a substantive KBE when he became a British citizen. Hence 'Sir Terry'. This is a direct quote from the article:

• "As an Irish citizen he was initially only able to use the post-nominal letters KBE, however he is now entitled to use the title "Sir Terry" since he has since taken dual British and Irish citizenship. JackofOz 23:48, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Is he a British subject or a British citizen? British nationality law explains the distinction. Persons born in the Republic of Ireland before 1949 can usually reclaim British subject status by declaration, but if they want to become full British citizens they need to apply to the Home Office for registration or naturalisation (after fulfilling residence requirements). A citizenship ceremony (since 2004) is also required. JAJ 15:13, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

According to List of honorary British knights, becoming a British subject is all that is necessary to be entitled to a substantive knighthood:

• "The term "British subject" in this context refers to a subject of Her Majesty in right of the United Kingdom. Since 1983, this includes British citizens, British overseas territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British Nationals (Overseas) and British subjects under the British Nationality Act 1981. See British nationality law. Between 1949 and 1982 the term referred to Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies together with British subjects under the British Nationality Act 1948. See History of British nationality law." JackofOz 20:25, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Terry now has dual citizenship between Ireland and the UK, so he can officially use his title of Sir. Garethpeate

I heard that he was entitled to use "Sir" because when he was born, Ireland was still in the commonwealth. Of course, that could be rubbish. --81.154.180.221 09:43, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

This wouldn't be true, in order to use the title "Sir" you must be a British national or citizen of a Commonwealth country which has the Queen as Head of State. Being born in a Commonwealth country is meaningless in this context. Not every Commonwealth country has the Queen as head of state, and many of them do not give automatic citizenship to those born on their territory. JAJ 18:12, 27 May 2006 (UTC)

He took up dual British/Irish citizenship to allow himself to upgrade to a full KBE and use "Sir". British subject status is available to any Irish people born before 1949 - it's just an administrative exercise (section 31 British Nationality Act 1981). Given his long standing residence in the UK, it is likely that he was offered full citizenship status automatically once he regained his subject status (Commonwealth citizens and British subjects need to show 5 years residence with some other criteria to be offered full British citizenship).BaseTurnComplete 09:40, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

Non-Commonwealth citizens can also be naturalised British citizens, like anyone else, after meeting normal residence requirements. However, I would suspect Terry Wogan has not upgraded to full British citizenship - even for British subjects, this now requires a citizenship ceremony (since 2004) and that would surely have been reported in the media. JAJ 16:46, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, however the process and requirements are slightly different for non-Commonwealth citizens, the end-point is the same.BaseTurnComplete 09:56, 25 June 2006 (UTC)

Since 1983 there is absolutely no difference between how Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth citizens become naturalised British. See British nationality law. The only distinction that remains is that persons holding another form of British nationality, such as British subject or British Overseas citizen, can be registered as British citizens based on UK residence, which is a simpler process than naturalisation. JAJ 16:17, 25 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] toupee?

Can we mention that he wears a wig, he is quite well known for it?

He's well known for allegedly wearing a wig. Buf if so it's a wig that fails to cover the bald spot at the back of his head. See also - http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,1179351,00.html Jooler 10:47, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Removed Criticisms section

==Criticisms== ===Wogan's Wig=== Terry Wogan may or may not wear a [[toupee]]. However there has been intense speculation over the years as to how Wogan's unique hairstyle is constructed. Wogan's [[wedding]] photo as published in his [[autobiography]] shows Wogan with a slightly receding hairline, however in the famous photo of the first Radio 1 disc jockeys taken outside [[Broadcasting House]], his hairline appears much fuller.

I've removed this as it has no references and only offers speculation as to the existence or otherwise of his hair. Plus I don't see how him having a toupee or not counts as criticism... --Richmeister 16:54, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] ESC 2006

During the presentation of the Dutch televote in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, Terry Wogan called the Dutch televote presenter, Paul de Leeuw, a "idiot", as de Leeuw started to make comments and gave his mobilephone number and lengthened the Dutch results.

I wrote this, as I thought it would make a good trivia. My source is in the main article ((European Song Contest 2006|ESC 06]]). If you guys don't like it, you can always take it away. Dr.Poison 08:05, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Marital Status

In the infobox, it says he is 'single'. As far as I was aware, he has a wife named Helen. The last I heard was about three years ago, but I have not heard anything to suggest otherwise. Would somebody please clarify this. Maramotus 23:14, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

I've taken it out - since the article speaks of his grandchildren, "single" would hardly be appropriate anyway - he'd either be "married", "divorced" or "widowed". I've also taken the "age" entry out of the infobox as it's absolutely insane to have to maintain the article every year when we already have his date of birth in the infobox. -- Arwel (talk) 00:55, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

Maramotus is correct, his wife, the present Mrs Wogan, is called Helen, jguk 18:54, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] moved citation

Re the change I just made : http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Terry_Wogan&diff=76179238&oldid=76140584 I moved the citation to the sentance it was actually appropriate for, also, the Telegraph article (april 2006) states Wogan earned £800,000 a year, the Wikipedia article states £850,000, (citing "british newspapers in april 2006" so I'll alter the wikipedia article to 800,000 now as well --RickiRich 05:44, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

In Mustn't Grumble, Terry confirms the £800,000 figure, jguk 18:54, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Probably not a naturalised British citizen

It's unlikely that Terry Wogan is a naturalised British citizen. Had he acquired British citizenship in 2005 this would have required his attendance at a citizenship ceremony which would have been reported.

It's much more likely he reclaimed his pre-1949 British nationality by declaration to the Home Secretary (being born in the Republic of Ireland pre-1949 allows this) but this only confers the status of British subject and is not full British citizenship. Although it does allow a substantive knighthood. JAJ 01:34, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

Media articles stating that Wogan holds British "citizenship" cannot be accepted as authoritative evidence that he became naturalised British, as opposed to making a declaration of British subject status under section 31 of the British Nationality Act 1981. The article British nationality law and the Republic of Ireland explains the distinction between British subject status and British citizenship as it applies to those from the ROI. JAJ 03:57, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

The article I included had a quote from a palace spokeswoman. While I accept reporters can get something wrong you would expect a spokeperson to be properly briefed. Also Irish news is reporting the same thing [1] and the Irish Independent states that he took part in a citizenship ceromony earlier in the year [2] (free registration). josh (talk) 15:00, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

I wouldn't necessarily expect a "palace spokesperson" to be properly briefed either. If Wogan really did become a British citizen, how come there are no reports of his citizenship ceremony (compulsory for all new citizens)? JAJ 22:59, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

If Terry Wogan didn't make the information public then the media wouldn't have nessasraly known about the ceromony. They didn't report anything of his change of status, which was important due to the pending knighthood. It would virtually inconcivable that the whole of the media in both the UK and Ireland would incorrectly report his status (with he irish independent fabricating a line about him attending a citizenship ceromony earlier in the year) and for no correction from either Terry Wogan or the Government to be subsequently published. Given the evidence, I i'm restoring the statement about his citizenship and you will need to provide contradictory evidence to back up your argument. josh (talk) 23:33, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

My apologies. I missed the reference in the Irish Independent article to a citizenship ceremony. On that basis the evidence points to him being a full British citizen. JAJ 00:27, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

As an aside, the Irish Independent article is wrong when it says that dual citizenship has been permitted since 1986. The date is actually 1956. JAJ 00:30, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

His recent autobiography, Mustn't Grumble, supports what JAJ said originally. Since Terry was born when Ireland was still in the Commonwealth, he could claim dual Irish-British nationality. He checked with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who said yes. He later got an Additional Knighthood, and a visit to Buck House, as a result: two gongs for the price of one, jguk 18:51, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

It is true that birth in Ireland prior to 1 January 1949 (incidentally the country was still in the Commonwealth until 18 April 1949) allows one to claim British subject status. But the reference to a citizenship ceremony in the reports above suggests that Terry Wogan chose to become a full British citizen by naturalisation or registration. As for "two gongs" I believe it's considered to be the substantive honour replacing the honorary award, not adding to it. JAJ 23:46, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Offended Swedes?

Wasn't it the Danes he offended? After all, that's where the song contest was being held, and that's what he says in Mustn't Grumble. Is the reference to Swedes just incorrect? jguk 18:57, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Children in Need Fee

The recent edit to the qutation of Wogan's fee for Children In Need has been restored to a neutral tone for the second time in a week. Does anyone know if Wogan has said he will repay any of this? Paul210 11:28, 24 March 2007 (UTC)