Ed Byrne (comedian) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ed Byrne
Byrne in 2023
Birth name	Edward Cathal Byrne
Born	(1972-04-16) 16 April 1972 (age 53) Dublin, Ireland
Medium	Actor, comedian
Years active	1993–present
Genres	Observational comedy, social satire
Spouse	Claire Walker (m. 2008)
Children	2

Edward Cathal Byrne, born on April 16, 1972, is a well-known actor and comedian from Ireland. He has hosted TV shows like Just for Laughs and Uncut! Best Unseen Ads. You might also have seen him as a guest on many TV game shows and even on cooking shows!

Early Life of Ed Byrne

Ed was born in Dublin, Ireland, on April 16, 1972. He grew up in a nearby town called Swords. His dad worked with metal and later became a supervisor. His mom was a radiographer, which means she worked with X-rays, and she also taught others.

Ed Byrne's Comedy Career

Starting Stand-Up Comedy

Ed first went to the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow to study horticulture, which is about growing plants. In his second year, he became the person in charge of entertainment at the Students' Union. He also helped out at the Student Association Welfare Office in his first year.

Ed started a comedy night called The Comedy Cellar in a pub basement in Glasgow. Many funny people performed there, like Ford Kiernan and Phil Kay. After a few months, Ed decided to stop studying and moved to London to focus on comedy.

Becoming a Famous Comedian

Ed became known for his observational comedy, where he makes jokes about everyday life. In 1998, he was nominated for the important Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

In 2006, he toured the UK and recorded a DVD called Pedantic and Whimsical. He also appeared in the TV show Father Ted and did voice-overs for adverts. Ed has performed many sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has done four big UK tours. He has also performed in Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

He has been on many TV shows, including five times on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in the US. In 2009, he recorded another live DVD called Different Class in Glasgow. Ed was a very frequent guest on the BBC stand-up comedy show Mock the Week, appearing in 73 episodes.

Ed Byrne's Television Work

Early TV Appearances

Ed's first TV appearances were on shows like The Big Big Talent Show and Blind Date. He also had a small part in an episode of Father Ted.

He has hosted TV shows like Uncut! Best Unseen Ads and Just for Laughs. He has also been a regular guest on many popular panel shows, including The Panel, HeadJam, Mock the Week, and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. You might have seen him on Have I Got News for You and The Graham Norton Show too.

Adventures and Cooking Shows

Ed appeared in a BBC2 show called Three Men Go to Scotland in 2010. He was trying to climb all the mountains in Scotland that are over 3,000 feet tall. In 2012, he was a guest on The One Show and presented parts of Volcano Live.

In 2013, Ed was a contestant on The Great Comic Relief Bake Off for charity. He even won a challenge with his lemon meringue pie! In 2014, he hosted an episode of The Great Sport Relief Bake Off.

In 2015, Ed and his best friend, fellow comedian Dara Ó Briain, went on a journey by car down the Pan-American Highway for a TV series called Dara and Ed's Great Big Adventure. In 2021, Ed was a contestant on Celebrity Best Home Cook, where he cooked his special smoked pork ribs.

Ed Byrne's Acting Roles

Ed Byrne at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in 2013

In 2000, Ed played the main character, Aladdin, in an ITV pantomime. He also had a small role in the comedy film Rat that same year. In 2001, he was the main character in an Irish TV show called The Cassidys.

In 2005, Ed starred in the film Zemanovaload. He played John Davies, a character with obsessive compulsive disorders. In 2006, he played Luke Dyson in the comedy film Are You Ready For Love, and he won an award for best supporting actor at the Monaco Film Festival for this role.

Ed also played an Irish radio presenter named Dylan Dale in the film Round Ireland with a Fridge, which came out in 2010.

Ed Byrne's Writing

Since 2011, Ed has written a column for TGO, a magazine about hillwalking. In his column, he tries a different outdoor activity each month with an expert. He also used to write a column for the Metro newspaper.

Ed Byrne's Personal Life

Ed Byrne married Claire Walker, who works in theatre, in 2008. They live in Essex and have two sons. His good friend, comedian Dara Ó Briain, was his best man at the wedding. Ed had also been Dara's best man in 2006.

In February 2022, Ed shared that his younger brother, Paul, had passed away at 44 years old. Paul also worked in comedy as a writer, producer, and director. Ed is an atheist, which means he does not believe in a god, and he supports Humanists UK.

Ed Byrne's Stand-Up Shows

DVD Releases

Ed Venturing Videos

Ed Byrne's Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Radio Shows

Books by Ed Byrne

• Sit-Down Comedy (Ed contributed to this collection of stories, edited by Malcolm Hardee & John Fleming) Ebury Press/Random House, 2003. ISBN: 0-09-188924-3; ISBN: 978-0-09-188924-1