One of our foremost comedians shares his passion for the greats of the silent comedy era
Paul Merton was born in 1957, long before such things were
fashionable. He spent his first eight years living within cheering
distance of Fulham Football ground at Craven Cottage although he
can't remember any cheering. Upon leaving school with two ropey A
Levels and a CSE Grade 5 Maths, Paul enlisted in the Civil Service
where he survived for two and a half years. He made his stand-up
debut at London's Comedy Store in 1982 where his policeman on acid
routine regularly stopped the show. In 1985 he joined the Comedy
Store Players, an improvised comedy group which led, in 1988, to
him appearing on Whose Line is it Anyway? for the first few series
before he couldn't stick it anymore.
He has appeared on Have I Got News For You as a team captain since
1990 and is also proud of his other long running gig, Radio 4's
Just a Minute. Other TV highlights include his eponymous surreal
sketch series from 1991-3; interviewing Spike Milligan in what was
to be his last major television appearance as host of Room 101; and
making several programmes about early cinema, including The Birth
Of Hollywood which he co-wrote with his wife, Suki Webster.
He still performs with the Comedy Stores Players every Sunday.
Silent Comedy is a terrific history of props and pratfalls...I'm a
better person for having read this
*The Times*
***** Such is Merton's enthusiasm that his story grips
throughout.
*Mail on Sunday*
An awestruck and knowledgeable introduction to Hollywood's earliest
funsters...lovingly researched
*Daily Telegraph*
Penned with genuine passion...both well crafted and carefully
researched
*Film Review*
He makes some striking biographical connections the rest of us have
missed ... he certainly knows his subject.
*Spectator*
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