Majella O’Donnell Surprises Viewers With Candid Stories on Angela Scanlon’s “Ask Me Anything”
When Majella O’Donnell, wife of Irish music legend Daniel O’Donnell, appeared on the debut episode of Angela Scanlon’s Ask Me Anything, viewers may have expected lighthearted anecdotes and stories from her well-known life in the public eye. What they got instead was a refreshingly candid, humorous, and at times surprising conversation that revealed a different side of Majella — one marked by honesty, independence, and a mischievous wit.
Sitting alongside Keith Duffy and Jarlath Regan, Majella opened up about her early years in Thurles, her journey to London as a teenager, and how she and Daniel have kept their marriage strong over the years. But the conversation quickly took a more unexpected turn when Scanlon introduced a cheeky format to the interview. “Right, where will we start?” Angela asked with a smile. “I’m going to give you a choice, okay? Sex, drugs, or rock ’n’ roll?”
The 63-year-old did not hesitate to play along. “Don’t be bold now,” Majella teased, before picking the most eyebrow-raising option of the three. “I think I’ll go with the sex,” she said, prompting laughter and applause from the audience. Scanlon leaned in with mock seriousness: “How is it?”
Majella, unfazed, broke into laughter. “Jesus, what is she like? It’s grand,” she replied, her humor and down-to-earth manner immediately disarming the moment. It was a glimpse of the warm, unpretentious personality that has made her such a relatable figure, despite her life alongside one of Ireland’s biggest stars.
The conversation continued with Majella recalling her rebellious streak as a young woman. Growing up under the watchful eye of a strict father, she described herself as feeling confined in her hometown. But moving to London at the age of 18 opened new doors. “I was a free spirit but had a very strict father, so I could do nothing,” she explained. “But once I left school, I was an adult and could do anything. When you’re 17, you’re a child — you can’t go to the disco and be home at midnight. But when you’re 18, you’ve left school, you fend for yourself, off you go.”
Her time in London allowed her to explore new freedoms, and she admitted with a grin that she had experimented with what she jokingly called “wacky tobaccy.” Angela, clearly amused, pressed the subject: “You were a little bit wild, no? I was surprised to read that Majella loved a bit of the wacky tobaccy. Your words, not mine!”
Majella laughed again, embracing the moment. “I think we all had a go at the old wacky tobaccy. You’re really getting an exclusive here tonight,” she said. She went further, revealing her belief that cannabis should be legalized. “I’m definitely one for legalising it. It’s great for making you zen. It makes the music sound better.”
What made the exchange so memorable was not simply the subject matter but the way Majella handled it — with humor, honesty, and without pretension. At a time when public figures often filter themselves through carefully curated images, her openness stood out. She reminded viewers that behind the fame she shares with Daniel is a woman with her own stories, experiences, and opinions, unafraid to laugh at herself and speak her mind.
By the end of the segment, it was clear that Majella had charmed both the studio audience and viewers at home. The interview revealed her as more than the supportive partner of one of Ireland’s most famous singers. She is a storyteller in her own right — playful, honest, and unashamedly herself.
For Angela Scanlon’s new show, it was a perfect opening note: candid, entertaining, and a little bit unpredictable. And for Majella O’Donnell, it was another reminder of why she continues to resonate with the public — not just as Daniel’s wife, but as a woman unafraid to live, laugh, and tell her truth.