View source for Darryn Lyons

{{for|the Scottish footballer|Darren Lyon}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = Darryn Lyons
|image        =
|caption      =
|office       = [[Mayor of Geelong]]
|deputy           = Bruce Harwood<br />Michelle Heagney
|term_start       = 26 November 2013
|term_end         = 16 April 2016
|predecessor      = [[Keith Fagg]]
|successor        = Bruce Harwood
|birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1965|08|19}}
|birth_place  = [[Geelong]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]
|nationality  = [[Australian]]
|residence    = Geelong
|party        = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (since 2018)
|otherparty    = [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal]] (until 2018)
|education    = Geelong East Technical School
|occupation   = {{nowrap|[[paparazzi|Paparazzo]], [[entrepreneur]], [[mayor]], [[celebrity]]}}
}}
'''Darryn Lyons''' (born 19 August 1965) is an Australian [[infotainment|media personality]], [[entrepreneur]] and [[politician]], who rose to prominence in Australia and the [[United Kingdom]] as a [[paparazzo]]. He held the position of [[Mayor of Geelong]] from 2013 to 2016.
==Early life==
Born in [[Geelong]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia on 19 August 1965, Lyons grew up the youngest of three children in the suburb of [[Herne Hill, Victoria|Herne Hill]], and later [[Leopold, Victoria|Leopold]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Grant Broadcasters Digital & New Media|title=Darryn Lyons|url=https://www.bay939.com.au/406-geelong-lifestyle/51870-darryn-lyons|website=[[93.9 Bay FM]]|accessdate=7 October 2018}}</ref> His father was an architect and the choirmaster of the Aberdeen Street Baptist Church, and designed the family's "cathedral-like" house.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/caught-on-camera-darryn-lyons-london-home-892454.html|title=Caught on camera: Darryn Lyons' London home|location=London|work=[[The Independent]]|date=13 August 2008|accessdate=7 October 2018}}</ref> Lyons's passion for photography started at a young age, and he attended Geelong East Technical School, where he was regularly [[Dux#Education|dux]] of school.<ref name="Mandy">{{cite news|author=Squires, Mandy|title=Meet Geelong's new mayor, Darryn Lyons|url=https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/meet-geelongs-new-mayor-darryn-lyons/story-fnjuhovy-1226772365352?nk=65ddddd8e7454a0ec45762d18909e35d-1538876552|accessdate=7 October 2018|newspaper=Geelong Advertiser|date=1 December 2013}}</ref>
==Photography career==
After completing his schooling, Lyons began work as a professional photographer at the ''[[Geelong News]]'' and ''[[Geelong Advertiser]]''. At the age of 22, he moved to [[London]], where he gained a job at the ''[[News of the World]]'' after a chance meeting with [[Rupert Murdoch]]. Two years later, he left to take a position with the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', for whom he provided coverage of the [[Bosnian War]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/geelong-boy-comes-to-the-party-20040417-gdxozc.html|title=Geelong boy comes to the party|work=[[The Age]]|date=17 April 2004|accessdate=7 October 2018}}</ref>
In 1993, Lyons founded the picture company Big Pictures, which supplied paparazzi-style photography for news organisations. Big Pictures was run by his wife Melanie Lyons and Kevin Anstey, while Lyons worked as a photographer for the ''Daily Mail'' newspaper. During 1996, Darryn Lyons left the ''Daily Mail'' to work full-time at Big Pictures alongside Melanie Lyons.
He gained widespread media attention when his company sold a photograph to the ''News of the World'', which was used to support a claim that [[association football|football]] star [[David Beckham]] was having an affair with his [[personal assistant]] [[Rebecca Loos]].<ref>"{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/geelong-snapper-who-took-a-bite-of-beckhams-image-20040417-gdir7n.html|title=Geelong snapper who took a bite of Beckham's image|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=17 April 2004|accessdate=7 October 2018}}</ref>
On the night of the fatal [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|car crash]] involving [[Princess Diana]] in 1997, Big Pictures received photographs from its Paris agent Laurent Sola of Diana's final moments. Lyons still own these photos which have never been published, and has stated that he never would sell them. Lyons gave evidence at the [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales#Inquests|2007 inquest]] into Diana's death.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lawson, Valerie|title=Geelong photographer to give evidence at Diana inquest|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/geelong-photographer-to-give-evidence-at-diana-inquest-20080229-ge6sa9.html|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=The Age|date=29 February 2008}}</ref>
The company often faced legal action relating to invasion of privacy and harassment, from celebrities including [[Sienna Miller]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Sweney, Mark|title=Sienna Miller settles with Big Pictures|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/21/sienna-miller-big-pictures-privacy|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=The Guardian|date=22 November 2008}}</ref> [[Lily Allen]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Dowell, Ben|title=Lily Allen given legal protection from paparazzi harassment|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/mar/16/lily-allen-given-legal-protrection-from-paparazzi|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=The Guardian|date=17 March 2009}}</ref> [[JK Rowling]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Dyer, Clare|title=JK Rowling wins ban on photos of her son|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/may/08/privacy.medialaw|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=The Guardian|date=8 March 2008}}</ref> [[Hugh Grant]] and [[Elizabeth Hurley]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Adams, Stephen|title=Liz Hurley and Hugh Grant get £58,000 damages over photographs|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1958074/Liz-Hurley-and-Hugh-Grant-get-58000-damages-over-photographs.html|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=The Telegraph|date=15 May 2008}}</ref>
Big Pictures also ran a ''Mr Paparazzi'' website and YouTube channel from 2007 to 2013, featuring celebrity news, photos and videos<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.mrpaparazzi.com/about-us/|website=Mr Paparazzi|accessdate=15 May 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825183237/http://www.mrpaparazzi.com/about-us/|archivedate=25 August 2013}}</ref>
In 2012, Big Pictures was placed into administration after facing financial difficulties, with all staff members of the company being made redundant.<ref>{{cite news|author=O'Carroll, Lisa|title=Big Pictures paparazzi agency goes into administration after 20 years|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/05/big-pictures-paparazzi-administration-darryn-lyons|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=The Guardian|date=5 October 2012}}</ref> Lyons subsequently established the Mr Paparazzi Celebrity Deals company and became a shareholder of another firm called BPGG Limited, facilitating the purchase of Big Pictures' assets for £164,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/darryn-lyons-buys-big-pictures-assets-for-164k/|title=Darryn Lyons buys Big Pictures assets for £164k|date=17 October 2012 }}</ref> Big Pictures went into liquidation in 2013, owing more than £82,000 to photographers and picture agencies.<ref>{{cite news|author=Halliday, Josh|title=Big Pictures goes into liquidation|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/jan/16/big-pictures-goes-into-liquidation-paparazzi|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=The Guardian|date=17 January 2013}}</ref>
In 2013, Lyons announced plans to launch an online celebrity stock photographic agency called Celebstock, however these plans did not eventuate.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dundas, Greg|title=Mayor silent on pay row|url=https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/mayor-silent-on-pay-row/story-fnjuhovy-1226951506801|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=Geelong Advertiser|date=12 June 2014}}</ref>
==Media personality==
Lyons has frequently appeared on radio and television programmes, including the [[Sky News]] ''[[Sunrise (Sky News)|Sunrise]]'' programme, ''[[LK Today]]'', Australian radio shows ''[[Kyle and Jackie O Show]]'' and ''Hughsey and Kate'', and a role as a weekly commentator on [[ITV1|ITV1's]] [[Alan Titchmarsh Show]]. Lyons has also written for the ''Geelong Advertiser'' newspaper and ''[[NW (magazine)|NW]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Darryn Lyons|url=https://www.celebagents.co.uk/clients/darryn-lyons/|website=Celeb Agents|publisher=Touchstone Media Group|accessdate=7 October 2018}}</ref>
He was one of the five [[venture capitalist]]s on the 2005 Australian version of the [[reality television]] programme ''[[Dragons Den#Australia|Dragons' Den]]'', which ended after one season after poor ratings.<ref name="ICMI">{{cite web|url=http://www.icmi.com.au/darryn-lyons-mr-paparazzi|title=Darryn Lyons - Mr Paparazzi|publisher=ICMI|accessdate=7 October 2018}}</ref>
In 2007, Lyons appeared on the British reality television shows ''[[Tycoon (TV series)|Tycoon]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last1=Weaver|first1=Iain|title=Weaver's Week 2007-07-08|url=http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Weaver's_Week_2007-07-08|website=UKGameshows|accessdate=7 October 2018}}</ref> and ''[[Deadline (2007 TV series)|Deadline]]'', as a picture editor and camera instructor. Lyons also appeared on the British panel show ''[[Through the Keyhole]]''.
In 2011, he appeared in the British ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' television show, representing Australia in a double-decker car race in the theme of [[The Ashes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVjDaGDVkzE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/EVjDaGDVkzE |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=The Ashes Part 1: Double Decker Race - Top Gear Series 16 Episode 2 - BBC Two|publisher=[[YouTube]]|date=1 February 2011|accessdate=7 October 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
He also became a housemate in the UK version of ''[[Celebrity Big Brother (British series 8)|Celebrity Big Brother]]'' on [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]], entering the house in August 2011. Within a few days of entering the Big Brother house, Lyons unveiled his cosmetic "six-pack", which caused a high volume of media coverage for being a "sculpted six pack seemingly implanted atop his generous gut".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/entertainment/2011/08/23/13/00/big-brother-celeb-mocked-over-fake-abs|title=Big Brother celeb mocked over fake abs|publisher=ninemsn|date=23 August 2011|accessdate=7 October 2018}}</ref> He finished in sixth place.
In 2012, Lyons was a contestant in the Australian show ''[[Excess Baggage (Australian TV series)|Excess Baggage]]''. The show was transferred to digital channel [[Go! (Australian TV channel)|GO!]] shortly after its premiere due to poor ratings. Following the show's completion, it was deemed a failure, with numerous people identifying the contestants as the reason for the lack of success.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lessons we learned from Excess Baggage|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-of-gambling-on-celebrities/news-story/49e316ab1a0442493d388256f37f4709|accessdate=7 October 2018|newspaper=News.com.au|date=21 March 2012|author=Colin Vickery}}</ref>
==Mayor of Geelong==
In 2013, Lyons announced his candidacy for the [[City of Greater Geelong]] [[2013 Geelong mayoral election|2013 mayoral election]]. At the start of the election he was quoted as saying "As I have learnt from my time in the UK every election needs a comedy candidate and also as I've seen from Tony Abbott's example the electorate respects a man with great abs".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/old-school-ties-and-six-packs-20131112-2xefo.html|title=Old school ties and six packs|work=The Age|date=13 November 2013|accessdate=7 October 2018}}</ref> Despite this he then campaigned heavily for the position with a "presidential-style mayoral campaign", including having a plane tow a banner across the sky in the city.<ref name="Mandy"/> He was declared elected after the distribution of preferences on 25 November 2013; Lyons garnered almost 30 per cent of the first preference votes, more than double the primary votes than the second-placed candidate.<ref name=mayor>{{cite news|author=Dow, Alisha|title=Entrepreneur Darryn Lyons declared Geelong mayor|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/entrepreneur-darryn-lyons-declared-geelong-mayor-20131125-2y5c1.html|accessdate=7 October 2018|newspaper=The Age|date=25 November 2013}}</ref> Lyons was sworn into office on 26 November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Councillors|url=https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/council/councillor/article/item/8cdd948eeef6bae.aspx|website=City of Greater Geelong|accessdate=15 May 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427235832/http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/council/councillor/article/item/8cdd948eeef6bae.aspx|archivedate=27 April 2015}}</ref>
As mayor, Lyons has focussed on lobbying for the city, creating publicity and lifting the city's profile to attract tourism and investment.<ref>{{cite news|author=Paul, Margaret|title=Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons makes long list for world mayor competition|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-03/geelong-mayor-darryn-lyons-makes-long-list-for-world-mayor/5295174|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=ABC News|date=3 March 2014}}</ref>
Lyons has advocated for building a cruise ship pier on the [[Waterfront Geelong|Geelong waterfront]] to boost the city's economy with tourism.<ref>{{cite news|author=Best, Cameron|title=Geelong ups ante for new cruise ship pier to boost tourism jobs|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-26/geelong-ups-ante-for-new-cruise-ship-pier-to-boost-tourism-jobs/5284664|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=ABC News|date=26 February 2014}}</ref> The pier would also incorporate a convention centre and cultural centre.
Other initiatives introduced by Lyons include improving the [[Geelong city centre|city centre]] by making street parking free on weekends and planting plants in the streets.<ref>{{cite news|author=Squires, Mandy|title=Addy reader survey: Community split over Darryn Lyons' performance as mayor|url=https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/addy-reader-survey-community-split-over-darryn-lyons-performance-as-mayor/story-fnjuhovy-1227130900715|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=Geelong Advertiser|date=22 November 2014}}</ref>
On 16 April 2016,<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Vic|act|lggcca2016430|Local Government (Greater Geelong City Council) Act 2016|2}}</ref> the [[Victorian Government]] dismissed Lyons along with the rest of the [[City of Greater Geelong#Council|Greater Geelong City Council]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Dismissal of Greater Geelong City Council|url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/dismissal-of-greater-geelong-city-council/|website=Premier of Victoria|accessdate=7 October 2018|date=12 April 2016}}</ref> following a Commission of Inquiry which found that the council was riven with conflict, unable to manage Geelong's economic challenges, had dysfunctional leadership and had a culture of bullying.<ref>{{cite news|website=State Government of Victoria|title=Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Greater Geelong City Council|url=https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/council-governance/independent-reports/inquiry-into-greater-geelong-city-council|accessdate=7 October 2018|date=12 April 2016}}</ref> The government appointed administrators to run the council until council elections were held on 27 October 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Geelong Council officially sacked, elections to be held in 2017, as bill passes Parliament|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-14/geelong-council-elections-could-be-held-as-early-as-next-year/7326368|website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=7 October 2018|date=14 April 2016}}</ref>
Lyons ran as an [[Independent (politics)|Independent]] candidate in the [[2018 Victorian state election]] but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|title=Victorian Election 2018 guide - Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/vic-election-2018/guide/geel/|website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=24 November 2018|date=24 November 2018}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Lyons resides in the Western Beach area of Geelong. His fiancée was Elissa Friday, a former model and a student who now lists herself as single on her Instagram account. He was formerly married to Melanie Whitehead, who left him in 2000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-emperor-of-geelong-20140217-32uom.html|title=The Emperor of Geelong|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|department=[[Good Weekend]]|date=22 February 2014|accessdate=7 October 2018}}</ref> Lyons is a friend of former Melbourne mayor [[Robert Doyle]], who supported Lyons during his 2013 electoral campaign.<ref name="Mandy"/> Lyons has acknowledged drug abuse, binge drinking and heavy gambling during his life abroad.<ref>{{cite news|author=Masanauskas, John|title=Mohawk Mayor of Geelong Darryn Lyons admits he abused drugs but vows to revitalise the town|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/mohawk-mayor-of-geelong-darryn-lyons-admits-he-abused-drugs-but-vows-to-revitalise-the-town/news-story/352ab2f4482e40879f75f74a8176eed2|accessdate=7 October 2018|work=Herald Sun|date=26 November 2013}}</ref>
On 9 March 2023 the UK [[First-tier Tribunal]] dismissed an appeal by Lyons against an assessment to [[Capital gains tax in the United Kingdom|capital gains tax]] of £1,087,413.68 in respect of the sale of various UK properties during the tax year 2012-2013 issued by [[HM Revenue and Customs|HMRC]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Lyons v Revenue and Customs (Residence of an individual - application of Gaines-Cooper and common law principles) [2023] UKFTT 294 (TC) |date=9 March 2023 |url=https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKFTT/TC/2023/TC08765.html |access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430100423/http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/council/councillor/item/darrynlyons.aspx|date=30 April 2015|title=Cr Darryn Lyons - Mayor (City of Greater Geelong)}}
*{{IMDb name|2098070}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyons, Darryn}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Australian expatriates in England]]
[[Category:Australian photographers]]
[[Category:Mayors of Geelong]]