Alan Carr on The Graham Norton Show

BBC Two, November 2008

More Alan Carr videos

Alan Carr, the son of football manager Graham was born in Weymouth and grew up in Northampton and Blackpool.

He studied drama and theatre studies at Middlesex University, after which he took on a series of dead-end jobs, from toilet cleaner to call-centre worker, before turning his hand to stand-up.

In 2001, he won the BBC New Comedy Award and the following year made his solo Edinburgh debut, returning in 2003 and 2005, where he came to the attention of Channel 4 executives looking for new presenters for The Friday Night project.

He has co-hosted the show (which later moved to Sundays) with Justin Lee Collins since 2006, and in 2008 landed his own Channel 4 game show, Alan Carr’s Celebrity Ding Dong.

He has also appeared on BBC One's Live At The Apollo, and was in the line up for the 2005 Royal Variety Performance. Guest appearances include FAQ U, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Countdown's dictionary corner and Never Mind The Buzzcocks

In 2007, he embarked on a major UK tour, Tooth Fairy Live, the DVD of which was a Christmas bestseller; and in 2008 his autobiography Look Who It Is! was published by HarperCollins.

Described as 'the spiritual son of Frankie Howerd, Carr was named best live stand-up at the 2007 British Comedy Awards and best comedy entertainment performer the following year. He was named circuit comic of the year in the 2005 North West Comedy Awards and nominated for best theatre tour in the 2008 Chortle awards.

Original Review:

It doesn’t take much to spot Carr’s comic influences, but then again he hardly does much to hide them. He deals in that peculiarly British form of suburban camp pettiness; two parts Larry Grayson to one part Frankie Howerd.

Conspiratorially, he gossips as if over a garden fence, prissily bitching about the people and places he encounters. He’s far too good for every last one of them, of course.

There’s a charming Northern homeliness to it all, but it’s only a front. Behind the non-threatening façade lies a tongue that can be ferociously sharp, sneering cutting, acidic asides while confiding his undisguised distain to the audience.

Alongside the effete bitchiness and nicely-realised observations lie some fine lines - including an untoppable gag about those annoying 'You don't have to be mad to work here’ signs – but essentially this is a delicious slice of old-fashioned variety hall camp. Not groundbreaking, but very well done.

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Morrissey said he was a fan of Alan Carr on Russell Brand's show on Saturday night. Thats quite wrong.

Ed S, April 2008

Thank god, a comedian who shows up this website and its reviews for the pointless waste of time they truly are. Well done Alan, you have a superb natural talent and I'm sure you are laughing as much as your audiences do!

Sarah Ahman, December 2007

Alan is absolutely suberb, I just love him, he is hilarious - I have seen him a few times and never been disappointed

Jodie, December 2007

He's fantastic. Love him love him - keep up the good work

hope, November 2007

Saw Alan in Port Talbot this evening and he was awesome.

kaye, September 2007

He's OK. I didn't find him especially funny; though I think many people find his act of ultra camp delivery, hammy bitchiness along with the facial mannerisms and escalating hysteria over the trival, funny in itself. But really its a prop for average material.

Jack, July 2007

Alan Carr is fantastic - he doesn't have to say anything at all; just his face is enough. But I don't mean that in a horrid way. He gives value for money and for a comic this is a good appraisal. He deserves his success.

Joe, June 2007

Saw him in Cardiff last night and was great. Naturally just a funny guy. Don't know what the comment underneath is on about

Paul, May 2007

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