Ivan’s successful acting career has run in tandem with his other high-profile role as one of Northern Ireland’s best-known journalists in radio, television and newspapers, covering The Troubles for 29 years for Ulster Television and ITN and latterly working as an award winning freelance writer and author of eight books including his 2005 memoir.

Ivan began his professional career with Theatre Ulster in Joseph Tomelty’s play Is the Priest at Home? He followed that up with the lead in Owen McCafferty’s first play, Winners Losers and Non-Runners before creating the role of Gerry Courtney in Martin Lynch’s play The History of the Troubles (accordin’ to my Da) which set box office records in Belfast, Dublin and London over 12 years.

Other theatre work has included Educating Rita (Willie Russell, Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Scenes from the Big Picture (Owen McCafferty, Waterfront, Belfast), Dealer’s Choice (Patrick Marber, Grand Opera House, Belfast), Summertime (David Ireland, the MAC, Belfast), God’s Country (Colin Bell, Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast), The Clean Room (John McCann, Crescent, Belfast), The Evangelist (Sam Thompson, Arts Theatre, Belfast), and Pride of the Shore (Gary Mitchell, the MAC).

Screen work includes Hidden Agenda (directed by Ken Loach), The Fall (directed by Allan Cubitt), Jumpers (directed by Konrad Jay), Mo (directed by Philip Martin), as the ITN reporter in Black Mass, starring Johnny Depp, and four episodes as four different characters in Give My Head Peace (BBC, Northern Ireland)

Ivan has also done voice-overs for documentaries including self-produced programmes on 9/11; the tsunami in Thailand and on the life of Irish musician Rory Gallagher. Has also voiced a range of advertisements, most notably The Drummer for Black Bush whiskey for television in North America.