Dunning attended a private school in London and a comprehensive school in Leicester. He actually went to Coppets Wood Primary School in North London, before going to Woodhouse Grammar in North Finchley in 1968, and from there, moved to Minchenden School in Southgate in about 1970.
Dunning has been married to Lise-Anne McLaughlin since 1992. Their children are Kitty and Phoebe. He lives in Dalkey, Dublin.
