Baz Ashmawy has said he and his long-term partner Tanja Evans married in secret in April, according to RTE.ie.
The television presenter shared the news during an appearance on Friday's edition of The Late Late Show, where he spoke with host Patrick Kielty. RTE.ie reports that Ashmawy described how the couple slipped away to tie the knot after two decades together.
He joked to Kielty that after roughly twenty years, they simply decided they wanted to be certain, RTE.ie reports.
Why it matters
Ashmawy is one of the better-known faces on Irish television, and his personal life has rarely been kept out of view. His decision to keep the ceremony out of the public eye, and to explain that choice on a national chat show, puts a spotlight on how people in the public eye try to carve out private moments for themselves and their families.
The interview also served as a platform for the return of his flagship programme. RTE.ie notes that a new run of DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland begins on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player this Sunday, with volunteers assisting families across the country.
A private ceremony kept under the radar
Ashmawy told Kielty that he and Evans wanted something small and away from attention, according to RTE.ie. He said life in the public eye means everything is visible all the time, and that he and his family preferred to mark the occasion quietly.
He described the wedding as something they did for their children, and said they managed to keep it out of sight, RTE.ie reports.
The presenter did not offer further details about the location or the guests, and RTE.ie's account of the interview does not include any.
Faith in people, and a new series
The conversation also turned to the work behind DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland. Ashmawy said the experience of meeting people who give their time to help others has a strong effect on him, RTE.ie reports.
He said it can be easy to assume that the world is mostly negative, but that this is not the case. According to RTE.ie, he said there are good people around, more than many would expect, and that the series restores his faith and leaves him feeling better.
The new series airs on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from Sunday, with volunteers helping families around the country.
Viewers can watch the new series of DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland from Sunday on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
