Born into a circus family Martin had an early career as a juggler, unicyclist, knife thrower, fire-eater, and magician. As the result of an accident in the big top, in which he sustained a shattered ankle, he was forced to retire from performing his freestanding ladder/tall unicycle/ basketball juggling/pyrotechnic act and became a stand-up comedian.

His picture is featured on Trivial Pursuits. The Genus Edition. He is on one of the arts and entertainments squares, wearing a leotard

Martin Mor: The Call of the Golden Frog
Live Review

Banter doesn’t get much better than this. Martin Mor has an ease with the audience only 25 years of performing can bring, constantly dipping in and out of the room, sparking pockets of energy and spreading it around, staving off any threat of lull.

By the end every man jack of us has been included, and given personality traits he can keep calling back to: The older guy in the second row dubbed a pervert, the moustachioed chap to one side being portrayed as some sort of Gene Hunt-style 70s copper; the fresh-faced young couple in the middle as pious, clean-living Christians….

Although his tall frame and impressive bread ought, by rights, to be intimidating, he has the charm that means he can be pretty brutal with his insults, but still leave his victim smiling. It all goes to make the entire hour seem like a natural conversation among mates.

This control has all been learned in some of the rowdiest rooms in Britain – as well as some of the nicer ones – but there are also bad habit associated with being a long-term club act, too. And, true enough, Mor’s writing away from the banter isn’t particularly strong or exciting.

He takes issue with one critic who said his show lacked structure. ‘That’s the structure right there,’ he says mock-indignantly, pointing to a laminated card with a chapter heading on it. The chapters are The Road to Excess, This Mortal Coil and The Beast With Two Backs – which translate as tales about booze and drugs, ageing and sex. Basically the big topics every stand-up tackles.

Mor doesn’t add much new to any of them, with observations such as suggesting that every man’s fantasy is a threesome – but not two guys, one girl. Mor found himself in that position once, one of the many first-hand anecdotes that comprise the show. It’s all entertaining stuff, and Mor’s such good company you can’t help but enjoy the hour, but whether it’s substantial enough to stay with you longer than it takes to get home is a moot point.

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I saw him supporting Frankie Boyle on tour last year and he was absolutely terrible in my opinion, only with the exception of a cracking opening ad-lib about the lack of people on the front-row. Saying that though, my friend found him outstandingly hilarious along with a great part of the audience. Admittedly his set is primarily audience interaction, so it's likely to ebb and flow, but his standard material was terribly cliched. Hack topics, pedestrian gags which I could see coming a mile off. He seemed to bang on about Ireland despite most people feeling completely indifferent to his passionate rage. I assume that he divides an audience; those who like quick punchy obvious gags and those who search for something more original instead. It just comes down to a matter of personal taste I suppose.

Marcia Connor, May 2009

Totally brilliant comedy. Very funny. Great night

Rachel, March 2009

I once saw this man juggle a dwarf, while downing a yard of ale.

Alison Mac., March 2008

Saw this man last night, most of his act is based on audience observation, but without being offensive, which keeps his act fresh. He is one of the funniest comics I've seen for a long time. Would recommend to anyone.

Fi, July 2007

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