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| {{Short description|English comedian}}
| | #REDIRECT [[w:Paul Merton]] |
| {{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
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| {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
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| {{Infobox comedian
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| | name = Paul Merton
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| | image = Paul Merton R4.jpg
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| | caption = Merton in 2010
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| | pseudonym =
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| | birth_name = Paul James Martin
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| | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|7|9|df=yes}}
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| | birth_place = [[Parsons Green]], [[London]], England
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| | medium = [[Stand up comedy|Stand-up]], [[television]], [[radio]]
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| | nationality = [[British nationality law|British]]
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| | genre = [[Surreal humour]], [[observational comedy]], [[Improvisational theatre|improvisational comedy]], [[physical comedy]], [[satire]], [[deadpan]]
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| | subject = [[Politics]], [[everyday life]], [[Celebrity|celebrities]], [[Popular culture|pop culture]], [[Major depressive disorder|depression]], [[marriage]], [[self-deprecation]], [[human interaction]], [[World news|current events]]
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| | years_active = 1982–present
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| <!-- Infobox comedian does not support the following parameters:
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| | influences = [[Buster Keaton]], [[Charlie Chaplin]], [[Tony Hancock]], [[Spike Milligan]], [[Wallace and Gromit]], [[Peter Sellers]]
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| | influenced = [[Ricky Gervais]], [[Dara Ó Briain]], [[Jimmy Carr]], [[Neil Mullarkey]], [[Daniel Kitson]], [[Sean Lock]], [[Noel Fielding]]
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| -->
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| | notable_works = ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway? (UK TV series)|Whose Line Is It Anyway?]]'' (1988–1993)<br />''[[Just a Minute]]'' (1989 onwards)<br />''[[Have I Got News for You]]'' (1990 onwards)<br />''[[Paul Merton: The Series]]'' (1991–1993)<br />''[[Room 101 (British TV series)|Room 101]]'' (1999–2007) <br />''[[Paul Merton in China]]'' (2007)<br />''[[Paul Merton in India]]'' (2008)<br />''[[Paul Merton in Europe]]'' (2010)
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| | spouse = {{marriage|[[Caroline Quentin]]<br />|1990|1998|end=divorced}}<br />{{marriage|[[Sarah Parkinson]]<br />|2003|2003|end={{abbr|d.}}}}<br />{{marriage|Suki Webster<br />|2009}}
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| | website =
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| | footnotes =
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| }}
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| '''Paul James Martin''' (born 9 July 1957), known under the stage name '''Paul Merton''', is an English writer, actor, comedian and radio and television presenter.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Guide|first=British Comedy|title=Paul Merton|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/paul_merton/|access-date=2021-01-28|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128003725/https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/paul_merton/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| Known for his [[improvisation]] skill,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/27/itv.broadcasting|title=Merton plans ITV improv show|work=[[The Guardian]]|author=Tara Conlan|access-date=9 December 2009|location=London|date=27 July 2007|archive-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919130217/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/27/itv.broadcasting|url-status=live}}</ref> Merton's humour is rooted in [[deadpan]], [[surreal humour|surreal]] and sometimes [[Black comedy|dark]] comedy. He has been ranked by critics, fellow comedians and viewers to be among Britain's greatest comedians.<ref name="observer" /><ref name="channel4" /><ref name="guardian" /> He is well known for his regular appearances as a team captain on the [[BBC]] panel game ''[[Have I Got News for You]]'', and as the former host of ''[[Room 101 (British TV series)|Room 101]]'', as well as for several appearances on the original British version of the improvisational comedy television show ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway? (UK TV series)|Whose Line Is It Anyway?]]''
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| Merton appears as a panellist regularly on [[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]]'s ''[[Just a Minute]]'', first appearing in 1989, and becoming the only remaining regular panellist in 2009 following the death of [[Clement Freud]]. He has also appeared as one of the [[The Comedy Store, London|Comedy Store]]'s [[The Comedy Store Players|Comedy Store Players]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Comedy Store Players|url=https://comedystoreplayers.com/|access-date=2021-01-28|website=Comedy Store Players|language=en-US|archive-date=10 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210222011/https://comedystoreplayers.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| == Early life ==
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| Paul James Martin was born on 9 July 1957<ref>{{cite web|title=Merton, Paul (1957–)|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/499514/|work=[[Screenonline]]|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=2 September 2011|archive-date=4 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004235716/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/499514/|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Parsons Green]], west London,<ref>{{cite news|title=Paul Merton: My family values|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/17/paul-merton-my-family-values|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 October 2014|author=Angela Wintle|access-date=24 February 2016|archive-date=29 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829105345/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/17/paul-merton-my-family-values|url-status=live}}</ref> to an English Anglican father, Albert Martin (a [[train driver]] on the [[London Underground]]), and an Irish Catholic mother, Mary Ann Power.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|author=Barratt, Nick|title=Family detective|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/familyhistory/3354759/Family-detective.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126083235/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/familyhistory/3354759/Family-detective.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2009|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=2 September 2011|location=London|date=6 October 2007}}</ref> It was revealed on ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'' that Merton's maternal grandfather, James Power, was from [[Passage East]] in [[County Waterford]] and served in the British Army in the First World War but left to join the [[Irish Republican Army]] during the [[Irish War of Independence]]. As a volunteer in the IRA he served as a 1st lieutenant in the East Waterford Brigade. <ref>{{Cite web|url = https://timeline.ie/who-do-you-think-you-are-paul-merton/|title = Who do You Think You Are? Paul Merton -|date = 29 August 2019|access-date = 25 February 2021|archive-date = 26 February 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210226194128/https://timeline.ie/who-do-you-think-you-are-paul-merton/|url-status = live}}</ref> On ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'' Merton revealed that he lived in the [[London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham]] until 8 years old. Merton attended St Thomas's School, [[Fulham]] and St Teresa's, [[Morden]]. He then went to [[Wimbledon College]], a [[Jesuit]]-run secondary school that was formerly a [[grammar school]] and had just become a [[comprehensive school|comprehensive]], in a stream for boys who had failed the [[11-plus]],<ref name="Autobiography">{{cite book|date=25 September 2015|author=Paul Merton|isbn=978-0-09-194935-8|title= Only When I Laugh: My Autobiography |publisher=Ebury Press}}</ref> and he passed [[GCE Advanced Level|A-levels]] in English and History.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/tell-us-another-one-or-just-tell-us-the-same-one-all-over-again-paul-merton-the-comedian-with-the-dry-south-circular-delivery-is-probably-the-funniest-man-on-television-where-did-he-come-from-1541587.html|title=Tell us another one. Or just tell us the same one all over again|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=31 August 2010|first=Jim|last=White|location=London|date=21 August 1992|archive-date=12 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512155738/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/tell-us-another-one-or-just-tell-us-the-same-one-all-over-again-paul-merton-the-comedian-with-the-dry-south-circular-delivery-is-probably-the-funniest-man-on-television-where-did-he-come-from-1541587.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After leaving school, Merton worked at the [[Tooting]] employment office as a clerical officer<ref name="Autobiography" /> for three years, quitting in February 1980.<ref>{{Cite episode|title= Paul Merton, Sledgehammer Confession, Long Distance Relationship Hacks|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b9zf74|access-date= 23 July 2018|series= Jo Whiley & Simon Mayo|first= Paul|last= Merton|network= BBC|station= Radio 2|date= 18 July 2018|time= 1:36:31|archive-date= 15 October 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181015015927/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b9zf74|url-status= live}}</ref>
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| == Career ==
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| Merton often claims that he was inspired to go into comedy at an early age watching clowns at a circus, remembering, "I don't think I'd seen clowns before. I'd certainly never seen adults behave like this...From that evening, I wanted to be part of the process that was making all those people laugh."<ref>{{cite web |author1=Oxford Union |author-link1=Oxford Union |title=Paul Merton: Full Q&A |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fijsyWOLbw |website=YouTube |access-date=23 October 2020 |archive-date=26 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126161109/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fijsyWOLbw |url-status=live }}</ref> He gained his earliest professional credits under his birth name, including an appearance as a [[yokel]] in ''[[Time (The Young Ones)|Time]]'', an episode of ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]'' in 1984.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BFI Screenonline: Young Ones, The (1982-84)|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/476396/index.html|access-date=2021-01-28|website=www.screenonline.org.uk|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225030745/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/476396/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On joining [[British Actors' Equity Association|Equity]] he found that the name Paul Martin was already taken by a juggler in [[Leeds]], so he renamed himself after [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]], the district of London where he grew up.<ref name=telegraph /><ref name="telegraph2">{{cite news|author=Gordon, Bryony|title=Paul Merton: 'I couldn't have written about my father while he was alive'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11142151/Paul-Merton-I-couldnt-have-written-about-my-father-while-he-was-alive.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=8 December 2019|location=London|date=6 October 2014|archive-date=8 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208032936/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11142151/Paul-Merton-I-couldnt-have-written-about-my-father-while-he-was-alive.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| === Stage ===
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| [[File:Merton2008.JPG|thumb|right|Merton in 1998]]
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| Though he had harboured serious ambitions of becoming a performing comedian since his school days, it was not until April 1982, at the [[The Comedy Store, London|Comedy Store]] in [[Soho]], that his dream was realised.<ref name=jam>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/feb/16/paul-merton-manages-28-years-without-hesitation-repetition-or-deviation|title=Paul Merton on Just a Minute: 'Our worst contestant? Esther Rantzen'|author=Stuart Jeffries|date=16 February 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=17 February 2016|archive-date=17 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217065829/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/feb/16/paul-merton-manages-28-years-without-hesitation-repetition-or-deviation|url-status=live}}</ref> Merton commented that he made his professional debut in [[Swansea]] in 1982 which led to having an "affection for Wales".<ref name="Owens">{{Cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/comedy-gigs/paul-merton-wales-thank-launching-6307885|title=Paul Merton on why he has Wales to thank for launching his comedy career|last=Owens|first=David|date=2013-11-15|work=walesonline|access-date=2018-04-17|archive-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192048/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/comedy-gigs/paul-merton-wales-thank-launching-6307885|url-status=live}}</ref> "What we did over the course of two weeks was perform 10 shows and it meant that our first time on stage if we made a mistake on the Monday we wouldn't repeat that mistake the next day."<ref name="Owens"/>
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| Merton recalls that on only his second or third night he found the dour role that has informed his comic approach ever since. After performing on the London [[Alternative Comedy]] circuit at places like [[The Comedy Store]] and [[Jongleurs (comedy club)|Jongleurs]], in 1985 his first foray to the [[Edinburgh Fringe Festival]] was with the show Have You Been on Telly where he shared the bill with [[Morris Minor and the Majors]] and [[Mark Steel]]. He has been a member of the London improvisation group [[The Comedy Store Players]] since 1985, and still regularly performs with them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://comedystoreplayers.com/ |title=Comedy Store Players |publisher=Comedy Store Players |access-date=3 March 2010 |archive-date=23 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923180009/http://comedystoreplayers.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| Merton has performed in [[Paul Merton's Impro Chums]] at [[The Pleasance|Pleasance]] as part of the [[Edinburgh Comedy Festival]] every year from 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Edinburgh Comedy Festival kicks off|url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/leisure/showbiz/3558048.edinburgh-comedy-festival-kicks-off/|access-date=2021-01-28|website=Bucks Free Press|language=en}}</ref>
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| Merton was due to make his [[West End theatre|West End]] debut in the 2021 revival of [[Hairspray (musical)|''Hairspray'']] at the [[London Coliseum]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/paul-merton-hairspray-west-end_50762.html|title=Paul Merton to make West End musical debut in Hairspray with full casting announced {{!}} WhatsOnStage|website=www.whatsonstage.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-24|archive-date=3 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303133643/https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/paul-merton-hairspray-west-end_50762.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, after several delays to the show it was confirmed that Merton would not be joining the company.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Les Dennis replaces Paul Merton in West End Hairspray {{!}} WhatsOnStage|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/les-dennis-paul-merton-west-end-hairspray_53979.html|access-date=2021-05-08|website=www.whatsonstage.com|language=en-GB|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508093331/https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/les-dennis-paul-merton-west-end-hairspray_53979.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| === Television ===
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| Merton's breakthrough as a television performer came in 1988 with Channel 4's improvised comedy show ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway? (UK TV series)|Whose Line Is It Anyway?]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-25|title=Josie Lawrence: 'Of course I don't think I'm sexy!'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/feb/25/josie-lawrence-of-course-i-dont-think-im-sexy|access-date=2021-01-28|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=6 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206085339/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/feb/25/josie-lawrence-of-course-i-dont-think-im-sexy|url-status=live}}</ref> which moved to TV from [[BBC Radio 4]], though he had previously performed on the channel's ''[[Saturday Live (UK TV series)|Saturday Live]]'' and compered its series Comedy Wavelength in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Guide|first=British Comedy|title=Comedy Wavelength - C4 Sketch Show|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/comedy_wavelength/|access-date=2021-01-28|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|archive-date=28 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228041328/https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/comedy_wavelength/|url-status=live}}</ref> He remained on ''Whose Line'' until 1993. ''[[Have I Got News for You]]'' began in 1990, and two series of his own [[sketch show]], ''[[Paul Merton: The Series]]'', followed soon after.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-01|title=Paul Merton, The Series|url=https://www.britishclassiccomedy.co.uk/paul-merton-the-series|access-date=2021-01-28|website=British Classic Comedy|language=en-GB|archive-date=6 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206230446/https://www.britishclassiccomedy.co.uk/paul-merton-the-series|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1995 he presented a documentary series celebrating the history of the [[London Palladium]], entitled ''[[Paul Merton's Palladium Story]]''. In 1996, Merton performed updated versions of fifteen of [[Ray Galton]] and [[Alan Simpson (scriptwriter)|Alan Simpson]]'s old scripts for an ITV series, ''[[Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's...|Paul Merton in Galton & Simpson's...]]''. Six of these scripts were previously performed by [[Tony Hancock]]. These were very badly received by critics, and although a selection of episodes was initially released on VHS, it was not until June 2007 that the complete series was released on DVD.
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| Also in 1996, Merton took a break from ''Have I Got News for You'' during its eleventh series, making only one appearance as a guest on fellow captain [[Ian Hislop]]'s team. Merton later said that at the time he was "very tired" of the show and that he thought it had become "stuck in a rut". Nevertheless, he added that he felt his absence gave the programme the "shot in the arm" it needed and that it had been "better ever since".<ref>''The Very Best of Have I Got News for You'' (2002): DVD commentary</ref> In 2002, following allegations in the UK tabloids linking the show's chairman, [[Angus Deayton]], with prostitutes and drug use, the host was asked to resign from the show. Merton hosted the first episode after Deayton's departure and was described as "merciless" in his treatment of his former co-star.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2384165.stm |title=Show goes on after Deayton exit |work=BBC News |date=1 November 2002 |access-date=3 March 2010 |archive-date=19 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519073450/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2384165.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| In 1999 Merton replaced [[Nick Hancock]] as host of ''[[Room 101 (British TV series)|Room 101]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/499514/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Merton, Paul (1957-) Biography|access-date=27 August 2021|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115720/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/499514/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a chat show in which guests are offered the chance to discuss their pet hates and consign them to the oblivion of [[Room 101]]. His first guest was Hancock. He hosted 64 editions. In 2007, his final guest was Ian Hislop (who became the first interviewee to appear twice, having also been on an edition with Hancock). Hislop's selections deliberately included items that Merton was known to like, such as [[The Beatles]] and the films of [[Charlie Chaplin]].<ref>{{cite news|title=No Room for Merton|work=Chortle|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2006/12/09/4793/no_room_for_merton|date=2006-12-09|access-date=9 December 2006|archive-date=30 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155146/http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2006/12/09/4793/no_room_for_merton|url-status=live}}</ref> Hislop's final choice was Merton himself, done to represent his departure from the show. Merton cast himself in the room to end the show, although on the condition that Hislop would go in with him.
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| Merton is one of the recurring stars from the 4 [[ITV Panto]]s. His best role came in 1999, where Merton starred alongside [[Ronnie Corbett]] as one of the ugly sisters in [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s Christmas [[pantomime]] of Cinderella. His other co-stars were [[Julian Clary]], [[Samantha Janus]], [[Ben Miller]], [[Harry Hill]], [[Frank Skinner]] and [[Alexander Armstrong (comedian)|Alexander Armstrong]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cinderella|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/cp72r/cinderella/|access-date=2021-01-28|website=Radio Times|language=en|archive-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207155623/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/cp72r/cinderella/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the same year – to coincide with the launch of his first stand up tour in 10 years, ''and this is me...Paul Merton –'' he was given his own one hour ''[[South Bank Show]]'' special. The show charted his beginnings in the comedy business, to the development of his improvisational skills, his mental breakdown, and the popularity of ''Have I Got News For You''.
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| [[File:Paulmerton.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Merton at [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]] Maltings in 2007, after giving a talk on his book ''Silent Comedy'']]
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| He was rumoured to be a possible new host of ''[[Countdown (game show)|Countdown]]'' to replace both [[Richard Whiteley]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Pickard |first=Anna |url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2005/09/05/moustache_9_let.html |title=Filling Richard's shoes from Guardian Unlimited: Culture Vulture |work=Blogs.guardian.co.uk |access-date=3 March 2010 |location=London |date=19 August 2008 |archive-date=23 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523084724/http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2005/09/05/moustache_9_let.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and his successor, [[Des Lynam]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5402246.stm |title=Holmes and Aspel lead Lynam race |work=BBC News |date=3 October 2006 |access-date=3 March 2010 |archive-date=7 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107110504/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5402246.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> but decided not to pursue this.
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| Merton is a keen student of comedy, particularly the early silent comedians<ref>{{cite news|author=Jury, Louise|title=Paul Merton: Have I got laughs for you|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/paul-merton-have-i-got-laughs-for-you-681874.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907034743/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/paul-merton-have-i-got-laughs-for-you-681874.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 September 2010|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=31 August 2011|location=London}}</ref> and in 2006, [[BBC Four]] broadcast ''Paul Merton's Silent Clowns'', a four-part documentary series on the silent comedy craft of [[Buster Keaton]], [[Charlie Chaplin]], [[Laurel and Hardy]] and [[Harold Lloyd]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/cinema/features/silent-clowns.shtml | title=BBC Four: ''Paul Merton's Silent Clowns'' | publisher=BBC | access-date=21 May 2007 | archive-date=30 October 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030201942/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/cinema/features/silent-clowns.shtml | url-status=live }}</ref> He examined their respective careers, interspersed with moments from a live show in which he presented clips of their work. Among the audience were many children, who were seeing the performers for the first time. Merton took a stage version of this show to the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in late 2007 took the show on a UK tour. A tie-in book, ''Silent Comedy'', was written by Merton and published by RH Books in late 2007. ''[[The Independent]]'' described it as "clearly a labour of love" but criticised the exhaustive and overly-thorough plot synopses of the films discussed.<ref>{{cite news|first= William|last= Cook|title= Silent Comedy, by Paul Merton|url= http://arts.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/article3164441.ece|archive-url= https://archive.today/20081226135029/http://arts.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/article3164441.ece|url-status= dead|archive-date= 26 December 2008|work= [[The Independent]]|date= 15 November 2007|access-date= 12 January 2008|location= London}}</ref>
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| Also in 2007 Merton presented a four-part travel documentary, ''[[Paul Merton in China]]'', which was broadcast on [[Channel 5 (UK)|Five]] from 21 May 2007. His second travel series, ''[[Paul Merton in India]]'' was transmitted from 8 October 2008 on the same channel. A third series, ''[[Paul Merton in Europe]]'' began broadcasting on 11 January 2010, again on Five.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.five.tv/programmes/documentaries/paul-merton-in-europe |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804174928/http://www.five.tv/programmes/documentaries/paul-merton-in-europe |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2012 |title=Paul Merton in Europe |publisher=Five.tv |access-date=3 March 2010 }}</ref> In 2015 he was commissioned by [[More4]] to present ''[[Paul Merton's Secret Stations|Paul Merton’s Secret Stations]]'', a travel documentary series about some of Britain's little-used [[request stop]] railway stations inspired by travel writer [[Dixe Wills]]' book ''Tiny Stations''.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Paul Merton, station master: Comic takes to the railways for new documentary |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2015/07/08/22799/paul_merton%2C_station_master |website=www.chortle.co.uk |date=8 July 2015 |access-date=11 July 2015 |archive-date=10 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710184448/http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2015/07/08/22799/paul_merton%2C_station_master |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| In 2009, Paul wrote and presented ''Morecambe and Wise: The Show What Paul Merton Did''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}
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| Merton hosted the British version of ''[[Thank God You're Here (UK TV series)|Thank God You're Here]]'', which aired on ITV in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thank God You're Here - UKGameshows|url=http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Thank_God_You%27re_Here|access-date=2021-01-28|website=www.ukgameshows.com|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120135450/http://ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Thank_God_You%27re_Here|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, Merton directed and presented a documentary on the British films of [[Alfred Hitchcock]], in a series of star-presented documentaries on [[BBC Four]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/sep/12/television Merton and Hislop extend their rivalry on BBC4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308210212/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/sep/12/television |date=8 March 2016 }}. The Guardian. 12 September 2008</ref> In May 2010, Merton temporarily co-presented ''[[The One Show]]'' after [[Adrian Chiles]] left the show.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Conlan |first1=Tara |title=Paul Merton and Matt Allwright to be guest hosts on The One Show |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/apr/27/paul-merton-the-one-show |access-date=23 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=27 April 2010 |language=en |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026221029/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/apr/27/paul-merton-the-one-show |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| His three-part documentary series ''[[Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood]]'' about the early history of Hollywood was broadcast in May 2011 on BBC2. In Merton's third TV series for 2011, ''[[Paul Merton's Adventures]]'', he travels around the world going on popular tourist trails, but still manages to find some extraordinary things.
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| In 2021, Merton returned to Channel 5 for a new travel show, ''Motorhoming with Merton & Webster'', a 6-part hour-long series which sees Merton travelling around Britain with his wife Suki Webster in a camper van.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://realscreen.com/2021/04/12/channel-5-hits-the-road-with-motorhoming-with-merton-webster/|title=Channel 5 hits the road with "Motorhoming with Merton & Webster"|access-date=29 July 2021|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729125516/https://realscreen.com/2021/04/12/channel-5-hits-the-road-with-motorhoming-with-merton-webster/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/paul-merton-and-suki-webster-head-to-the-lake-district-in-new-channel-5-motorhoming-show-3325163|title=Paul Merton and Suki Webster head to the Lake District in new Channel 5 motorhoming show|access-date=29 July 2021|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729125513/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/paul-merton-and-suki-webster-head-to-the-lake-district-in-new-channel-5-motorhoming-show-3325163|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.televisual.com/news/c5-hits-the-motorhoming-road-with-paul-merton-and-suki-webster/|title = C5 hits the Motorhoming road with Paul Merton and Suki Webster|date = 12 April 2021|access-date = 29 July 2021|archive-date = 29 July 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210729125514/https://www.televisual.com/news/c5-hits-the-motorhoming-road-with-paul-merton-and-suki-webster/|url-status = live}}</ref>
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| === Radio ===
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| In the late 1980s, Merton appeared on BBC Radio 4's ''[[The Big Fun Show (radio show)|The Big Fun Show]]''. After long-time ''[[Just a Minute]]'' panellist [[Kenneth Williams]] died in 1988, Merton (a fan of the show) contacted the producer at the suggestion of the host, [[Nicholas Parsons]]. He was invited to participate during the following year and has appeared regularly on the programme ever since.<ref>''Clement Freud on Just a Minute: A Celebration'', BBC Radio 4, 26 May 2009</ref> In 2016 Merton overtook Williams to become the second most regular panellist, surpassed only by [[Clement Freud]].<ref name=jam/>
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| Besides his work on ''Just a Minute'', Merton was a semi-regular guest on ''[[I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue]]'' from 1991 to 1998. Between 1993 and 1995, Merton was among the regular cast members on the Radio 4 improvisational comedy series ''[[The Masterson Inheritance]]''. In 2000 he presented ''Two Priests and a Nun Go into a Pub'', in which he interviewed British and Irish comedians who had (like Merton himself) been brought up as members of the Roman Catholic Church. In 2009, Merton started a Radio 4 series in which he reads [[Spike Milligan]]'s war memoirs in an audio-book fashion.
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| == Personal life ==
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| Merton married actress [[Caroline Quentin]] in 1990; they announced their separation in April 1997, which was followed by divorce in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/oct/29/features.magazine37|title=Paul Merton interview: fears of a clown|author=Lynn Barber|work=The Observer|date=29 October 2000|location=London|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921211041/https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/oct/29/features.magazine37|url-status=live}}</ref> Merton had a relationship with producer and actress [[Sarah Parkinson]]; they were married unofficially in a service in the [[Maldives]] in 2000. They were officially married three months before her death from [[breast cancer]] on 23 September 2003.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3137446.stm|title = Comic Paul Merton's wife dies|date = 24 September 2003|access-date = 27 August 2021|archive-date = 6 March 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120306041226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3137446.stm|url-status = live}}</ref> He married fellow improviser Suki Webster in 2009 and they live in [[Sudbury, Suffolk]].
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| Shortly before becoming a household name on ''Have I Got News for You'', Merton booked himself into the [[Maudsley Hospital|Maudsley psychiatric hospital]] for six weeks, because of psychiatric problems caused by the malaria medicine [[Mefloquine|Lariam]].<ref name="mirror">{{cite news |author=Kevin Maguire |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/inside-the-mind-of-paul-merton-ahead-774356 |title=Inside the mind of Paul Merton |work=Daily Mirror |date=28 March 2012 |access-date=25 September 2012 |archive-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701032753/http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/inside-the-mind-of-paul-merton-ahead-774356 |url-status=live }}</ref> In an interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'' he was reported to have been "hallucinating conversations with friends, and became convinced he was a target for the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]]".<ref name="guardian2">{{cite news |author=Barbara Ellen |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1386064,00.html |title=Barbara Ellen meets Paul Merton |work=The Guardian |date=9 January 2005 |access-date=3 March 2010 |location=London |archive-date=5 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205093659/http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1386064,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| He used his experiences at Maudsley as a key framework in his 2012 tour, ''Out of My Head''. He gave many examples of his misadventures there, conversations with staff and fellow patients were played out as sketches with his fellow performers, [[Richard Vranch]], [[Lee Simpson]] and Suki Webster. He stated that, during his time at the Maudsley, he was simultaneously appearing in ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?'' on Channel 4.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
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| == Acclaim and awards ==
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| In a 2007 public poll featured in ''[[The Guardian]]'', Merton was voted alongside the likes of [[Oscar Wilde]], [[Spike Milligan]], [[Noël Coward]] and [[Winston Churchill]] as one of the ten greatest wits of all time.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/oct/15/1/|title=Genius declared: Wilde tops the wit list|author=Aidan Jones|date=15 October 2007|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=17 February 2016|archive-date=19 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419075131/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/oct/15/1|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Comedian's Comedian'', a 2005 [[Channel 4]] poll of fellow comedians, saw him voted among the top twenty greatest international comedians in history,<ref name="channel4">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4141019.stm|title=Cook voted 'comedians' comedian'|date=2 January 2005|work=BBC News|access-date=17 February 2016|archive-date=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911235612/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4141019.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> with host [[Jimmy Carr]] crediting him for being "responsible for more great lines than [[Angus Deayton]]'s [[drug dealer|dealer]]".<ref>{{cite episode |title= The Comedian's Comedian|series=The Comedians' Comedian |network= Channel 4|airdate= 1 January 2005|number= 1/1}} Introduction by [[Jimmy Carr]].</ref> ''[[The Observer]]'s'' "The A–Z of Laughter", a 2003 special compiled by expert judges which featured the 50 funniest acts in British comedy by letter, applauded Merton for "bringing to ''Have I Got News for You'' a genuine surrealism that cuts through the clubbable smugness".<ref name="observer">{{cite news | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,1101525,00.html | title=The A–Z of laughter | publisher=The Guardian | work=Guardian Unlimited | access-date=10 September 2006 | location=London | date=7 December 2003 | archive-date=27 January 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127124724/http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,1101525,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
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| Merton has accumulated multiple awards and honours. After seven [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA Award]] nominations for "Best Entertainment Performance", he finally won the award in [[British Academy Television Awards 2003|2003]], defeating fellow ''Have I Got News for You'' star Angus Deayton, who had been dismissed from the show the previous October. He has since been nominated for a further three awards – a total of eleven nominations – including a nomination for his travel documentary ''Paul Merton in China''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/news/cranford-dominates-bafta-nominations-797274.html |title=Cranford dominates Bafta nominations |work=The Independent |date=18 March 2008 |access-date=3 March 2010 |location=London |first1=Sherna |last1=Noah |archive-date=30 May 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530154611/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/news/cranford-dominates-bafta-nominations-797274.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Merton's appearances on ''Have I Got News for You'' have seen him nominated for five [[British Comedy Award]]s, winning the [[British Comedy Awards#1992|1992]] "Top TV Comedy Personality" and [[British Comedy Awards#1999|1999]] "Best Comedy Entertainment Personality" awards. He has also shared a further three British Comedy Awards with the panel and crew of the show, winning "Best new TV comedy" in [[British Comedy Awards#1991|1991]], "Best comedy gameshow" in [[British Comedy Awards#1999|1999]] and "Best Comedy Panel Show" in [[British Comedy Awards#2009|2009]]. He received the 2004 [[Broadcasting Press Guild Awards|Broadcasting Press Guild Award]] for "Best Non-Acting Performer", also for his work on ''Have I Got News for You''.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
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| In 2008, Merton presented [[Bruce Forsyth]] with a BAFTA Fellowship: Forsyth had given Merton his Best Entertainment Performance award in 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7357432.stm |title=Gavin and Stacey scoops TV BAFTAs |work=BBC News |date=20 April 2008 |access-date=3 March 2010 |archive-date=6 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406215308/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7357432.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| == Bibliography ==
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| Merton has written or co-authored five books:
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| *{{cite book |author1=Julian Clary |author2=Paul Merton |title=The Joan Collins' Fan Club |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YqNhNwAACAAJ |date=1989 |isbn=978-0-333-49926-9 }}
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| *{{cite book |author=Paul Merton |title=Paul Merton's history of the twentieth century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A1LuAQAACAAJ |date=1993 |isbn=978-1-85283-570-5 }}
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| *{{cite book |author=Paul Merton |title=My Struggle |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CeyJAQAACAAJ |date=1996 |isbn=978-0-7522-0353-9 }}
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| *{{cite book |author=Paul Merton |title=Silent Comedy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a3tXvxvIi6YC |date=2007 |publisher=Random House UK |isbn=978-1-905211-70-8 }}
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| *{{cite book |date=2014 |author=Paul Merton |isbn=978-0-09-194935-8|title= Only When I Laugh: My Autobiography |publisher=Ebury Press}}
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| == References ==
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| {{reflist|30em}}
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| == Further reading ==
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| *{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/familyhistory/3354759/Family-detective.html |title=Family detective – Telegraph |first= Nick|last=Barratt|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |issn=0307-1235 |oclc=49632006 |access-date=5 September 2013 |date=6 October 2007}}
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| *{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2007/oct/23/comedy.television |title=Sam Wollaston talks to Paul Merton | Stage | The Guardian |first=Sam|last=Wallaston |work=theguardian.com |access-date=5 September 2013}}
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| == External links ==
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| *{{IMDb name|id=0581615|name=Paul Merton}}
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| * [http://www.paulmerton.com/ Paul Merton Official Website]
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| * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/profiles/paul_merton.shtml Paul Merton] at [[bbc.co.uk]]
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| * [http://www.comedystoreplayers.com/ Paul Merton] at Comedy Store Players website
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| * [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tours/merton/tourmerton1.html Interactive video talk by Paul Merton on early British silent film comedy for the British Film Institute]
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| * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090122081156/http://www.edcomfest.com/shows/paul_mertons_impro_chums Paul Merton's Impro Chums at Edinburgh Comedy Festival]
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| {{Whose Line Is It Anyway?}}
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:Merton, Paul}}
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| [[Category:1957 births]]
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| [[Category:Best Entertainment Performance BAFTA Award (television) winners]]
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| [[Category:Comedians from London]]
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| [[Category:Edinburgh Comedy Festival]]
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| [[Category:English male comedians]]
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| [[Category:English male television actors]]
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| [[Category:English male voice actors]]
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| [[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
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| [[Category:English Roman Catholics]]
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| [[Category:English stand-up comedians]]
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| [[Category:Living people]]
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| [[Category:People from Parsons Green]]
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| [[Category:People from Fulham]]
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| [[Category:People educated at Wimbledon College]]
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| [[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
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| [[Category:21st-century English comedians]]
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| [[Category:British surrealist artists]]
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| [[Category:Surreal comedy]]
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