Paul Tonkinson

Paul Tonkinson

Date of birth: 30-11-1968
Paul Tonkinson started stand-up in 1992, when he won the Time Out New Act of the Year Award. The same London magazine named him stand-up comic of the year in 1997. He is now a circuit stalwart, and regularly entertains the troops.

He gained more exposure as presenter of BBC Two's The Sunday Show in 1996; and in 2001 he landed the job as Johnny Vaughan's replacement on The Big Breakfast. However, he lasted only two months before he was fired.

He was the first breakfast show presenter on Xfm Manchester when it launched in March 2006, before moving to Xfm London the following year. He left the station in early 2008.

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A running joke

Paul Tonkinson to release a book about running the London Marathon

Stand-up Paul Tonkinson is writing a book about trying to run the London Marathon in under three hours.

The 50-year-old comic has long been a keen runner and co-hosts the podcast Running Commentary with Rob Deering (both pictured above).

Publishers Bloomsbury Sport say the book is ’not simply a story about beating "the wall"; this is a story to show runners and non-runners alike how one of life’s simple pleasures really can make everything better.’

The volume – entitled 26.2 Miles To Happiness: A Comedian’s Quest for a Sub 3-Hour Marathon  – also includes ‘wit and wisdom’  from celebrity names such as Russell Howard, Roisin Conaty and journalist Bryony Gordon.

It also details a trip he and Michael McIntyre – for whom he often writes – took to the exclusive Mayr Centre in the Austrian Alps. The clinic, on the banks of Lake Wörthersee, is famous for its ‘detox’ process that’s been used by the likes of Uma Therman and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Bloomsbury add of the book: ‘Ultimately, Paul is one of us. He is our consoling friend. The everyman who goes through extreme pain and battles with his own personal demons but comes out the other side smiling. This book will show you why.’

It is due to be released in February. Click here to order.

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Published: 5 Sep 2019

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