Jimmy Carr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jimmy Carr
Carr in 2024
Birth name	James Anthony Patrick Carr
Born	(1972-09-15) 15 September 1972 (age 52) Hounslow, London, England
Medium	Stand-up television
Nationality	Ireland United Kingdom
Alma mater	Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (BA)
Years active	1997–present
Genres	Dark humor Satire
Children	1

James Anthony Patrick Carr (born 15 September 1972) is an Irish-British comedian, writer, and television host. He is famous for his unique style of comedy, which includes a deadpan delivery (saying funny things without changing his facial expression) and quick, clever one-line jokes.

Carr started his comedy career in 1997. He is well-known in the UK for hosting popular TV shows on Channel 4, such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.

Early Life and Schooling

James Anthony Patrick Carr was born in Hounslow, London, on 15 September 1972. His parents were from Limerick, Ireland. He is the middle of three brothers. Carr grew up in a village called Farnham Common in Buckinghamshire.

As a child, Carr had dyslexia, which made reading and writing difficult for him. He worked hard and overcame these challenges by the time he was about eleven. He went on to get excellent grades in school.

After his mother passed away in 2001, Carr's relationship with his father became difficult.

Carr studied social and political sciences at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, a very famous university. He graduated in 1994 with top honors. After university, he worked in marketing for the company Shell. However, he felt unhappy in his job and decided to leave in 2000 to follow his dream of becoming a comedian.

Comedy and Television Career

Carr's career took off quickly after he left his office job. He became famous for his stand-up comedy and for hosting many popular television shows.

Hosting TV Shows

Carr in 2007

Carr is the face of several well-known TV shows in the UK. Since 2005, he has hosted the comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats. In 2012, he also began hosting 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, which mixes the comedy of his other show with the classic quiz show Countdown.

He has also hosted many other shows, including:

• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, a yearly special where celebrities answer questions about the year's events.
• Distraction, a game show where contestants had to answer questions while being distracted.
• I Literally Just Told You, a quiz show where the questions are about things that have just happened on the show itself.
• Roast Battle on Comedy Central, where comedians tell jokes about each other.

In 2018, he hosted an American comedy show on Netflix called The Fix.

Stand-Up Comedy

Carr in 2012

Stand-up comedy is a huge part of Carr's career. He is known for touring almost constantly, often trying out new jokes for his next tour while performing his current one. His comedy style is often described as "edgy" because he tells jokes about difficult or controversial topics.

He performed his first unpaid show in a pub in December 1999. His career grew, and he began performing at famous comedy clubs in London.

Carr has released many successful stand-up shows on DVD and Netflix. His 2021 special, His Dark Material, and his 2024 special, Natural Born Killer, were very popular worldwide. Natural Born Killer reached the Top 10 on Netflix in 29 countries.

Performing in America

Carr has also become popular in the United States. He has appeared many times on American talk shows like The Tonight Show. He was the first British comedian to have a stand-up special on Netflix with his 2016 show, Funny Business.

He often performs at famous American comedy venues like The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. He has also worked with well-known American comedians like Dave Chappelle and Jeff Ross. Carr supports American charities, including the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which helps military veterans.

Personal Life

Carr in 2015

When Carr was 26, he said he had an "early midlife crisis" and his views on religion changed. He has said that he is now an atheist, which means he does not believe in God.

Carr has dual British and Irish citizenship and is proud of his Irish roots. In 2013, he was given a certificate of Irish heritage in Limerick, the city where his parents were from.

He lives in North London with his Canadian partner, Karoline Copping. They have been together since 2001 and have one son, who was born in 2019.

Books

In 2006, Carr co-wrote a book with Lucy Greeves about the history and art of joke-telling.

In 2021, he published a book called Before & Laughter. It is part memoir (a story about his own life) and part self-help book.

Awards and Recognition

Carr has won many awards for his comedy, including:

• Time Out Award for Best Stand Up (2002)
• Royal Television Society Award for Best On-Screen Newcomer (2003)
• British Comedy Award for Best Live Stand Up (2006)
• Loaded Legend Award (2011)

Stand-up Shows

DVD and Netflix Specials

Filmography

Film

Television