Al Murray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Al Murray
Murray as "The Pub Landlord" in 2011
Born	(1968-05-10) 10 May 1968 (age 57) Stewkley, Buckinghamshire, England
Medium	Stand-up, television, radio
Alma mater	St Edmund Hall, Oxford
Years active	1991–present
Genres	Character comedy, political satire, insult comedy
Subject(s)	British culture, British politics, World history, current events
Spouse	Katherine Perry ​ ​ (m. 1995; div. 2000)​ Amber Hargreaves ​ ​ (m. 2002; separated 2008)​
Children	3
Notable works and roles	Al Murray's Happy Hour Time Gentlemen Please Multiple Personality Disorder Fact Hunt

Alastair James Hay Murray (born 10 May 1968) is a famous English comedian, actor, musician, and writer. He is best known for his funny character called "The Pub Landlord."

After finishing his studies at the University of Oxford, Al Murray started his comedy journey working with another comedian, Harry Hill. He often performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is a big arts festival. It was there that he created his popular "Pub Landlord" character. This character became so famous that it led to a TV show called Time Gentlemen Please and a chat show called Al Murray's Happy Hour.

In 2003, a newspaper called The Observer said Al Murray was one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. Later, in 2007, he was voted the 16th greatest stand-up comedian on a TV show called 100 Greatest Stand-Ups. He still performs stand-up comedy and appears regularly on British TV and radio.

Early Life and Education

Al Murray was born in Stewkley, a village in Buckinghamshire, England. His father was a high-ranking officer in the army and also worked for British Rail. Al Murray is related to the famous novelist William Makepeace Thackeray. His grandfather was a British ambassador, and his other grandfather sadly died in the Battle of Dunkirk during World War II.

Murray went to Bedford School. He was very musical and played percussion in the Bedfordshire County Youth Orchestra. He performed with them in different places, including Spain, France, and Scotland.

He once said about his school days: "When I was nine I was sent to boarding school, which I despised. The first five years were hideous because I wanted to be at home. I guess I resented my parents a little and it put tons of distance between us. One of the things I took from boarding school is that it made me emotionally self-sufficient." This means he learned to be independent.

Later, Al Murray studied Modern History at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. While there, he joined a comedy group called the Oxford Revue.

Comedy Career and Famous Characters

Al Murray started his comedy career by touring with well-known comedians like Harry Hill and Frank Skinner. He won the important Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1999, after being nominated several times before. His early acts included making funny sound effects. He first appeared on TV in 1991.

In the mid-1990s, Murray was the drummer in a band called Evangelista. This band was part of an experimental comedy show in London.

The Pub Landlord Character

Al Murray's most famous character is an English pub owner. This character has very strong, traditional British opinions and often makes jokes about other countries, especially Germany and France. He loves the 1970s rock band Queen and often asks musicians on his show to play their songs.

Murray describes his character as "a know-all know-nothing blowhard who knows the answer to every question even though he hasn't been asked any of them." This means the character acts like he knows everything, even when he doesn't!

The Pub Landlord first appeared in 1994 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Al Murray came up with the idea when a compere (host) for a show didn't turn up, and he pretended the barman would fill in.

The Pub Landlord character became the main star of the TV series Time Gentlemen Please. He also hosted three series of Al Murray's Happy Hour on ITV. His theatre shows, like My Gaff, My Rules, have been very popular.

The Pub Landlord has also hosted TV shows like Fact Hunt and has "written" four books, including The Pub Landlord's Book of British Common Sense. In 2024, the Pub Landlord character went on a new tour around the UK and Ireland called "Guv Island."

Other Work and Interests

Al Murray is also a talented drummer. He played in a big band at school and in the county youth orchestra. He plays drums for a rock cover band called T-34 and has performed at the Download Festival, a big music event. He enjoys progressive rock bands like Genesis and King Crimson.

In 2013, Al Murray appeared as a guest star in the popular children's TV show Horrible Histories.

He presented a show called Al Murray's Road to Berlin on the Discovery Channel. In this series, he explored the final stages of World War II, driving a restored jeep and interviewing people who lived through the war. He even parachuted with veterans to remember a famous battle.

Murray also starred in Al Murray's Multiple Personality Disorder, a sketch comedy show. Later, he made a documentary for BBC Four called Al Murray's German Adventure, where he showed a different, more positive side of German culture than his Pub Landlord character usually does.

In 2011, Al Murray created his own potato crisp flavour, "Steak and Al Pie," for a competition to raise money for Comic Relief.

He has also performed in plays, including playing Nick Bottom in Shakespeare Live in 2016 and King Charles II in The Crown Jewels in 2023. In 2018, he starred in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk and won an award for it. He also appeared on the TV show Taskmaster in 2016.

In 2018, Murray presented a TV series called Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate The English on the History channel. He explored historical rivalries between England and its neighbours with other comedians. In 2021, he presented Why Do the Brits Win Every War? on Sky History, looking at conflicts against different nations.

Since 2019, Al Murray has co-hosted a popular podcast called 'We Have Ways of Making You Talk' with historian James Holland. They discuss battles and events from World War II, interviewing veterans and historians.

Running for Parliament

In 2015, Al Murray, as his Pub Landlord character, announced he was running for a seat in Parliament. He created a fake political party called the "Free United Kingdom Party" (FUKP). He ran in the area of South Thanet against UKIP leader Nigel Farage.

His agent confirmed it was really happening. The party's logo was an upside-down pound sign. Murray joked that he had "no idea where South Thanet is," but that shouldn't stop him from trying to help the country.

Other politicians running in the election seemed to welcome him, saying he would make things "interesting." When the election results were announced, Al Murray received 318 votes. When it was revealed that Nigel Farage had lost, Murray's surprised reaction on stage was widely reported in the news. He even invited Farage for a drink in his "pub" to cheer him up!

Views and Activism

Murray with Paul Chambers (centre) and Stephen Fry (right) outside the Royal Courts of Justice, London on 27 June 2012

Al Murray has supported causes he believes in. In 2012, he, along with Stephen Fry, supported Paul Chambers in his legal case. Chambers had been arrested for a joke he posted on Twitter that was seen as a threat. Chambers later won his appeal.

In 2014, Al Murray was one of 200 public figures who signed a letter to a newspaper. They expressed their hope that Scotland would vote to stay part of the United Kingdom in the referendum that year.

Personal Life

Al Murray married Amber Hargreaves in 2002. They had two daughters together but separated in 2008. He now lives in Chiswick, London. He later had a third daughter, Daisy, with his partner Eleanor Relf in 2018.

Murray is a big fan of cricket. He was invited to a special lunch for the England cricket team before they went on a tour in 2013.

He has also received special honorary degrees from the University of Bedfordshire in 2014 and the University of Wolverhampton in 2017.

Stand-up Shows

DVD Releases

Books Written by Al Murray

See Also

• Clan Murray