As an undercover journalist with bugging devices strapped to his chest, he and his hidden camera delved into the worlds of football hooliganism, care homes and modelling.

The subsequent media storm whipped up by his roving reports on MacIntyre Undercover ensured that he became a household name.

Viewers saw him wince as he was tattooed in order to pose as a wealthy drug dealer to impress the Chelsea Headhunters football hooligan gang.

After he infiltrated the thugs' network, his evidence in court led to the jailing of two men exposed as hooligans planning football violence.

He used complex bugging devices for Macintyre Undercover

In his 1999 film about top model agency Elite, he assumed the identity of a fashion photographer, going behind the scenes at the catwalk.

Although the programme initially saw the resignation of two senior executives at the agency, Elite took legal action over disputed allegations of under-age sex and drugs in the programme.

Elite settled its High Court libel action last year, reaching a confidential settlement with the BBC.

But perhaps the biggest furore was raised when the reporter began libel proceedings against Kent Police over remarks made about his investigation into a care home in the county.

Kent Police have apologised for comments

Brompton Care Home in Gillingham was shut down by social services after a 1999 episode of MacIntyre Undercover unearthed what the TV reporter claimed was a "culture of neglect".

A police investigation later took place and two people were cautioned for minor assaults.

Mr MacIntyre felt that police comments saying his programme was "misleading" damaged his reputation as a journalist.

As well as his reputation being on the line, he has also been subject to death threats during his high-profile career.

He began as a journalist in his native Ireland, where as a keen sportsman he canoed full time with the Irish team.

The reporter specialised in undercover reports

He joined Channel 4's Transworld Sport before moving to the BBC's investigative sports series, On The Line.

His reporting went on to win journalism awards in the US and Ireland, and he secured seven convictions for animal cruelty in the biggest animal cruelty case in Irish legal history.

His next big step was with ITV's World in Action, when a probe exposing the drugs trade won him two Royal Television Society awards - but with it came two death threats and a price on his head.

After finishing work on 1999's MacIntyre Undercover he announced he was quitting as his work was becoming increasingly dangerous and he wanted to return to everyday life.

New series

But three years later he was back on TV screens with a second investigative series, MacIntyre Investigates, which included an exploration of street crime.

It led to a conviction and a four-year jail sentence for a thief exposed in the programme.

His latest BBC One venture, Wild Weather, explores how the world's weather systems work, seeing him travel the globe to experience the worst the weather can offer.

He is now working on four new MacIntyre Investigates programmes.