Comic Details

Al Murray

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Videos

Fat Blokes

From his Barrel of Fun DVD


More Al Murray videos

Fat Blokes
It Was Our Idea
The Romans
On Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow - BBC One
You need an upgrade
The P.C. PC's on drugs
An intruder! with John Barrowman
The greatest music in the world
The Guv on Jobs
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Biography

Murray's grandfather Sir Ralph Murray was a diplomat, working at the Political
Warfare Establishment propaganda unit. And his great-great-great-grandfather was William Makepeace Thackeray.

Al was a boarder at Bedford School and went on to read modern history at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, where he started performing comedy.

His break came in 1994, when he was invited compere in Harry Hill's Edinburgh show Pub Internationale, and created the pub landlord character.

Nominated for the Perrier more often than anyone else, Murray was ruled out the running in 1999 for being 'too popular', until organisers relented.

Murray was also nominated for best theatre tour in the 2008 Chortle awards.

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Reviews

Gregg Jevin Memorial Concert
Live Review

Gregg Jevin Memorial Concert

Farewell Gregg Jevin, we hardly knew ye. ‘Legendary’ is a term used far too liberally in comedy, but never has that adjective been more apt than in his case.

He was a character of his time. Were it not for  Twitter, news of his death a fortnight ago, would never have spread so fast. After his passing was announced by comic Michael Legge, the news was picked up across the blogosphere, becoming a trending topic and being relayed by the likes of Charlie Brooker, BBC World Chris Addison, the Radio Times and Sarah Millican. Surely only a cynic would suggest these luminaries never really knew Jevin at all.

Then, through the spirit of community that binds comedians, this memorial gig was hastily arranged, attracting an impressive bill of comics all lining up to pay tribute to The Jevster. The man. The myth,

Legge had apparently been offered the Royal Albert Hall for the show – an ambitious potential booking considering it didn’t quite sell out the wonderfully intimate downstairs room of the Soho Theatre. But then in his all-too-brief time with us, Jevin was never of the mainstream.

Many of the comics tonight had personal memories of him that they put together especially for the show. A remarkably high number of them seemed to have been intimate with the man – a fact skilfully brought to attention by Shappi Khorasandi, when she frankly admitted her embarrassment that she had had the same idea for her witty eulogy as so many others on the bill.  Rachel Parris, for example, put her erotic memories to music, performing elegant comedy about inelegant topics, while her stand-up sections demonstrated perfect timing of wryly funny lines.

More memories came from Ian Rankin. Yes, that one. ‘He’s someone with better things to do,’ Legge stated in amazement before reading what the the bestselling novelist had written about his  memories of Jevin, and how he got on so famously with one Detective Inspector John Rebus.

Nick Doody shared some intelligent one-liners about the phenomenon tat was Jevin before his impressively sharp stand-up set; while Mitch Benn was the Elton John of the gig, literally singing Jevin’s praises in an emotional ballad. Elsewhere Al Murray’s desperate beer-fuelled grief added an appealing layer of pathos to his usually boorish Pub Landlord, though he was still as commandeering as ever.

It was not only memories of Jevin that took Murray back. He also reprised his largely forgotten role from the mid-Nineties as drummer with the world’s first Jewish heavy metal band, Guns N Moses, alongside Dave Cohen, aka Ax’l Rosenberg.

Not everyone shared personal memories, some just did their act by way of tribute. Simon Evans sneered at the Welsh in his archly supercilious way, while Tony Law was delightfully bonkers in the opening slot, making no bones about his lack of so-called ‘material’, hilarious through his honesty.

But if that seemed insane, it was nothing as to Bridget Christie in her new guise of Louise Mensch, the Tory MP for East Norhamptonshire, complete with ridiculous mask, vividly bright wig, wartime tin hat, Richard III stoop and coal-eating baby. ‘Underplayed’ clearly isn’t in her vocabulary. The destruction of the politician’s supposed feminist ideals was as complete as it was shambolic – though that, Christie is eager to assure us, is entirely planned.

The rasping pensioner Barry From Watford is a character in roughly the same mould, and though his ancient gags fell on stony ground, his take on the creepily rubbish ventriloquist act is a delight. Soon afterwards, in just two imaginative, brilliantly executed skits, The Trap reminded us why they are one of the funniest and most inventive sketch groups ever. Broadcasters should hang their head in shame not to have them on air.

Among all the veterans, Twitter wit Moose Allain made his stand-up debut – and although his nerves were obvious as he read his tribute, the writing, honed by the discipline of sticking to a 140-character limit, was impressive, full of unexpectedly twisting punchlines and sharp turns of phrase.

This is the sort of night – more normally found at the Edinburgh Fringe – that showcases the best stand-up can be – an inventive, playful one-off, taking a simple gag stupidly far, but with creative flair. The only misstep, really, was The Beatles – a booking that must have been made for the gag of having that name on the bill. But playing five or six cover versions, perfectly straight, meant this tribute act outstayed their welcome on a comedy bill, as the increasingly apathetic call-and-response sections attested.

But that was the only hiccup in a fantastic, never-to-be-repeated night. To paraphrase a joke of Doody’s, had Jevin been here, he would surely have been made up.

Date of live review: Thursday 8th Mar, '12
Review by Steve Bennett
April Fool for Mencap
April Fool for Mencap

Monday 4th Apr, '11-
Al Murray: Barrel Of Fun
Al Murray: Barrel Of Fun

Monday 11th Oct, '10- Hammersmith Apollo
Al Murray The Pub Landlord: Compete For The Meat
Al Murray The Pub Landlord: Compete For The Meat

Sunday 22nd Aug, '10-
Al Murray: The Pub Landlord - Fringe 2009
Saturday 29th Aug, '09-
Al Murray: The Pub Landlord’s Beautiful British Tour
Al Murray: The Pub Landlord’s Beautiful British Tour

Show - Tour -
Ha Ha Hammersmith II
Ha Ha Hammersmith II

Show - Misc live shows -
BBC London Children in Need benefit
BBC London Children in Need benefit

Show - Misc live shows -
Comedy HayDay
Comedy HayDay

Show - Misc live shows -
Al Murray: Who Dares Wines
Al Murray: Who Dares Wines

Show - Tour -
Al Murray: Giving It Both Barrels
Al Murray: Giving It Both Barrels

Show - Tour -
Secret Policeman's Ball 2006
Secret Policeman's Ball 2006

Show - Misc live shows -
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Comments

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I went to see Al in Edinburgh for the 1st time and it was fantastic. I loved how he involves the audience and encourages them to take part in his act. Two hours of non stop comedy... brilliant. Can't wait till he comes back to Scotland.

Lynne, January 2011


Murray is a one-trick pony. His one idea has become a millstone around his neck but he seems content to plough the same, dull furrow. There is a hazy, ill-defined line between irony and the real thing. Most of the time it's hard to tell. As with Alf Garnett, he was saying things that people were already thinking.

Riera, March 2010


When is Al Murray going to open for Jim Davidson, or Roy 'Chubby' Brown? You can call 'The Pub Landlord' an ironic character all you want, but at the end of the day there is nothing between these comedians, they're all lazy bigots playing up prejudice.

Andrew, January 2010


Hmm, methinks John (posting here in April 2008) is being ironic and pretending not to realise that Al Murray's Pub Landlord character is, er, a character. You might just as well "hate" actors for the soap opera characters they portray. That said, I've heard that some do sometimes receive abuse from nitwits who cannot separate fantasy from reality. Sigh.

Ben, August 2008


Al Murray is a fat English lout, a thug and he isn't funny, at all.

John, April 2008


Al Murray is rubbish.

Sophie Walker, April 2007


I have seen Al live six times now and each time he was fantastic. He is a comic genius and the best comedian in modern times. He is not racist he is funny. The whole point of his character is that he is completely out of touch with reality! We've all met someone like him at the pub and disagree with all the rubbish that they spout! That is what the pub landlord is all about. We are not supposed to agree with him, we're supposed to laugh at him. It's called comedy!

Dave Terry, September 2006


What can you say? Al Murray - finger on the pulse of the nation. Urban poet. A veritable font of modern wisdom. True genius. The best thing since sliced bread - another great British invention, I might hasten to add. Laahrvely!

Karim, July 2006


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Where can I see Al Murray next?

Where can I see Al Murray next?

19:30 - Wednesday 20th Jun, '12
Venue: Folkestone Quarterhouse
Prices: £15
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
19:30 - Thursday 21st Jun, '12
Venue: Folkestone Quarterhouse
Prices: £15
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Sunday 24th Jun, '12
Venue: Stratford-upon-Avon Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Prices: £12.50 to £20
Comics: Al Murray, Roisin Conaty, Russell Kane
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
20:00 - Wednesday 27th Jun, '12
Venue: Maidenhead Norden Farm Centre For The Arts
Prices: £15
Info: Work in progress
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
21:45 - Friday 6th Jul, '12
Venue: The Bedford
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 21:45 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
20:00 - Tuesday 17th Jul, '12
Venue: West Bromwich The Public
Prices: £15
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Wednesday 18th Jul, '12
Venue: Chorley Little Theatre
Prices: £15
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:55~21:55 - Monday 13th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
20:55~21:55 - Tuesday 14th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
20:55~21:55 - Wednesday 15th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
20:55~21:55 - Thursday 16th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
21:45~22:45 - Thursday 16th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray The Pub Landlord: The Guv’s Olympic Pub Quiz
Show starts: 21:45
20:55~21:55 - Friday 17th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
21:45~22:45 - Friday 17th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray The Pub Landlord: The Guv’s Olympic Pub Quiz
Show starts: 21:45
20:55~21:55 - Saturday 18th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
21:45~22:45 - Saturday 18th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray The Pub Landlord: The Guv’s Olympic Pub Quiz
Show starts: 21:45
20:55~21:55 - Sunday 19th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
20:55~21:55 - Monday 20th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
20:55~21:55 - Tuesday 21st Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
20:55~21:55 - Wednesday 22nd Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
20:55~21:55 - Thursday 23rd Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
20:55~21:55 - Friday 24th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
20:55~21:55 - Saturday 25th Aug, '12
Venue: Assembly George Square
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 20:55
Recommended
19:30 - Saturday 8th Sep, '12
Venue: Hereford Courtyard Theatre
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Wednesday 19th Sep, '12
Venue: Porthcawl Grand Pavilion
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Thursday 20th Sep, '12
Venue: Carmarthen Lyric
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 21st Sep, '12
Venue: Newtown Theatr Hafren
Prices: £25.50
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Saturday 22nd Sep, '12
Venue: Monmouth Savoy Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Sunday 23rd Sep, '12
Venue: Cheltenham Everyman
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Monday 24th Sep, '12
Venue: Nottingham Playhouse
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Thursday 27th Sep, '12
Venue: Dartford Orchard Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 28th Sep, '12
Venue: Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Monday 1st Oct, '12
Venue: Beck Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Tuesday 2nd Oct, '12
Venue: Birmingham Alexandra Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 5th Oct, '12
Venue: Southampton Guildhall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Saturday 6th Oct, '12
Venue: Wimborne Tivoli Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Wednesday 10th Oct, '12
Venue: Newport Riverfront Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 12th Oct, '12
Venue: Wolverhampton Civic Halls
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Monday 15th Oct, '12
Venue: Newcastle City Hall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Tuesday 16th Oct, '12
Venue: Middlesbrough Town Hall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Thursday 18th Oct, '12
Venue: Dorking Halls
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 19th Oct, '12
Venue: Oxford New Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:00 - Saturday 20th Oct, '12
Venue: Watford Colosseum
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 2nd Nov, '12
Venue: Chelmsford Waterfront
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Saturday 3rd Nov, '12
Venue: Reading Hexagon
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Monday 5th Nov, '12
Venue: Sheffield City Hall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Tuesday 6th Nov, '12
Venue: Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 9th Nov, '12
Venue: Grimsby Auditorium
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Saturday 10th Nov, '12
Venue: Hull City Hall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Sunday 11th Nov, '12
Venue: Buxton Opera House
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Monday 12th Nov, '12
Venue: York Grand Opera House
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Tuesday 13th Nov, '12
Venue: Blackpool Opera House
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 16th Nov, '12
Venue: Skegness Embassy
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Monday 19th Nov, '12
Venue: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Tuesday 20th Nov, '12
Venue: Bradford St George's Hall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Wednesday 21st Nov, '12
Venue: Preston Guildhall & Charter Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Saturday 24th Nov, '12
Venue: Salford Lowry
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Sunday 25th Nov, '12
Venue: Lancaster Grand Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Tuesday 27th Nov, '12
Venue: Lowestoft Marina Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Wednesday 28th Nov, '12
Venue: Bedford Corn Exchange
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Thursday 29th Nov, '12
Venue: Ipswich Regent
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 30th Nov, '12
Venue: Cambridge Corn Exchange
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Wednesday 5th Dec, '12
Venue: Tewkesbury Roses Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show: Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Thursday 6th Dec, '12
Venue: Coventry Warwick Arts Centre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 7th Dec, '12
Venue: Worcester Huntingdon Hall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Saturday 8th Dec, '12
Venue: Swansea Grand Theatre
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Wednesday 12th Dec, '12
Venue: Bristol Colston Hall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Thursday 13th Dec, '12
Venue: Treorchy Parc and Dare
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Friday 14th Dec, '12
Venue: Aberdare Coliseum
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Recommended
19:30 - Saturday 15th Dec, '12
Venue: Cardiff St David's Hall
Prices: £25.50
Show:
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
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