Born in Dublin in 1969, Jonathan Philbin Bowman, the son of the historian and broadcaster John Bowman, and was educated at Sandford Park School and at Newpark Comprehensive School in Dublin. He chose to leave formal education in his early teens, a decision he announced to the nation on RTÉ's premier chat show The Late Late Show.

Bowman was precocious, articulate and controversial, and was a nationally-known figure while still in his teens. He co-presented an irreverent radio show The Rude Awakening on Dublin's FM104 for two years between 1993 to 1994 before joining the Sunday Independent newspaper as a columnist. He later presented television programmes on RTÉ, such as the quiz show Dodge the Question.

He died in a domestic accident at his home in Harolds Cross, Dublin on 3rd March 2000. He was paid tribute to by the then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Bowman is survived by his son Saul Philbin Bowman.

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