Born in 1963 in Drapanias near Chania on the island of Crete, Theodorakis was raised in Agia Varvara, western Attica.

His career as a journalist started in 1984 at the radio stations 902 FM and Skai 100.3, as well as the newspaper Eleftherotypia.

On 26 February 2014, he announced his decision to quit both his show at Mega TV and his column at Ta Nea in order to launch a new party.

Striving to "create a new European policy to foster a broader Leftist movement",[1] he also stated that "the survival of a country cannot depend on the kindness of its creditors".

[2] On 14 June 2017, he underwent surgery to remove a tumour at the Metropolitan Hospital Urological Clinic, led by surgeon Vasilis Poulakis.