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Paul Merton (born January 17, 1957) is a British actor, deadpan comedian and writer, who is best known as a panellist on Have I Got News For You and Just a Minute on BBC Radio 4.
Born Paul Martin in the Parsons Green area of London, he gained his earliest professional credits under that name. On joining Equity he found that the name Paul Martin was already taken, so he renamed himself after Merton, the district of London where he grew up.
His style is characterised by describing extremely improbable scenarios with a straight - even mournful looking - face. He rapidly grabs hold of any chance to expand on a subject and stretch its credibility to snapping point. This works beautifully in improv and exceptionally well when he's played off against more straight-laced guests on panel shows. Where it has been less successful is when Merton uses this form of high-fantasy in a scripted form, as with his sketch shows: here the image of a man with a dolphin head, for no particular comedic purpose other than to have a man with a dolphin head, lingers.
His breakthrough as a television performer came as on the improvised comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? from 1988 onwards. Have I Got News For You started in 1990, and two series of his own sketch show Paul Merton: The Series followed soon after. Since 1999 he has been the host of Room 101, a chat show in which guests are offered the chance to discuss their pet hates and consign them to the oblivion of Room 101.
Shortly before becoming a household name on HIGNFY, Merton had suffered a mental breakdown, about which he has since talked frankly.
He has been a member of the London improv group The Comedy Store Players since 1985, and still regularly performs with them.
After seven nominations for a BAFTA award for Best Entertainment Performance, Paul Merton finally won the award in April 2003.
Merton married the actress Caroline QuentinCaroline Quentin (born June 11, 1961, in Reigate) is a British actress. She is known for appearances in Men Behaving Badly playing Dorothy, and Jonathan Creek playing Maddy Magellan. She has appeared in such series as Whose Line Is It Anyway Room 101 and in 1990Events January January 3 Former leader of Panama Manuel Noriega surrenders to American forces. January 7 The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public due to safety concerns. January 9 Lt Gen Bazilio Olara Okello The man who led the coup aginst Dr Apo, but they separated in 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t. Merton's second wife, Sarah Parkinson , died on September 23, 20032003 is a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar), and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Summary Perhaps the defining global event of the year 2003 was the Invasion of Iraq launched by the U, of breast cancer.
In 20032003 is a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar), and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Summary Perhaps the defining global event of the year 2003 was the Invasion of Iraq launched by the U, he was listed in The ObserverThe Observer is a broadsheet newspaper of the United Kingdom published on Sundays. It takes a liberal/ social democratic line on most issues. History The first issue (published on December 4, 1791), was the world's first Sunday newspaper. In 1911, William as one of the 50 funniestIn December 2003 The Observer newspaper printed its list of the 50 people it considered funniest and/or most influential in British comedy. The list was not ranked but presented alphabetically. List 3 Non-Blondes Caroline Aherne Rowan Atkinson Bill Bailey people in British comedy.
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