| Paul Merton | |
|---|---|
 Merton in 2010 | |
| Birth name | Paul James Martin |
| Born | 9 July 1957 Parsons Green, London, England |
| Medium | Stand-up, television, radio |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Genres | Surreal humour, observational comedy, improvisational comedy, physical comedy, satire, deadpan |
| Subject(s) | Politics, everyday life, celebrities, pop culture, depression, marriage, self-deprecation, human interaction, current events |
| Spouse | Suki Webster
(m. 2009) |
| Notable works and roles | Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1988–1993) Just a Minute (1989 onwards) Have I Got News for You (1990–1995, 1996 onwards) Paul Merton: The Series (1991–1993) Room 101 (TV) (1999–2007) Paul Merton in China (2007) Paul Merton in India (2008) Paul Merton in Europe (2010) Room 101 (radio) (2023 onwards) |
Paul James Martin (born 9 July 1957), known by the stage name Paul Merton, is an English comedian.[1]
Known for his improvisation skill,[2] Merton's humour is rooted in deadpan, surreal and sometimes dark comedy. He has been ranked by critics, fellow comedians and viewers to be among Britain's greatest comedians.[3][4][5] He made his breakthrough in the late 1980s as a regular performer on the original British version of the comedy improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and has been a team captain on the comedy panel show Have I Got News for You since it began in 1990. He was also the host of Room 101 from 1999 to 2007, replacing original host Nick Hancock.
Merton appears as a panellist regularly on Radio 4's Just a Minute, first appearing in 1989, and became the only remaining regular panellist in 2009 following the death of Clement Freud. He has also appeared as one of the Comedy Store's Comedy Store Players.[6]
- ^ "Paul Merton". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Tara Conlan (27 July 2007). "Merton plans ITV improv show". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
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guardianwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Comedy Store Players". Comedy Store Players. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.