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 humour satire
Children	1

James Anthony Patrick Carr (born 15 September 1972) is a famous Irish-British comedian, TV host, writer, and actor. He is well-known for his quick, serious delivery of one-liner jokes. These jokes are sometimes seen as funny by many, but can also upset some people. He started his comedy career in 1997. Since then, he has often appeared on TV. He hosts popular Channel 4 shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.

Early Life and Education

James Anthony Patrick Carr was born on 15 September 1972. His birthplace was Hounslow, London, England. He was the second of three sons. His parents, Nora Mary and Patrick James "Jim" Carr, were from Ireland. His father was an accountant.

Jimmy grew up mostly in Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire. He went to Farnham Common School and Burnham Grammar School. Later, he studied at the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe.

In 2001, Jimmy's mother passed away. After this, his relationship with his father became difficult. Jimmy has said he hasn't spoken to his father since 2000.

His parents kept in touch with their family in Ireland. The Carr family often visited Limerick and Kilkee. After school, Jimmy went to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He studied social science and political science. He finished his degree in 1994 with top grades.

After college, he worked in marketing at Shell. However, he left in 2000 because he felt unhappy there. He then took a course in neuro-linguistic programming. He says this course helped him understand how to follow his dream of becoming a comedian. Within a month, he started performing stand-up comedy. His first paid show was that same month.

Comedy Career

Jimmy Carr has had a very busy career in comedy. He is known for his stand-up shows and his many TV appearances.

Television Work

Jimmy Carr has hosted many TV shows. He has also been a guest on several popular programs.

Hosting TV Shows

Carr has hosted game shows on Channel 4. These include Distraction and Your Face or Mine?. He also presented a series of "100s" shows for Channel 4. These covered topics like "100 Worst Pop Records" and "100 Greatest Cartoon Characters."

Since 2005, Carr has hosted the comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats. This show first aired on Channel 4. It later moved to More4 and then to E4. Since 2012, he has also hosted 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. This show combines his panel show with the quiz show Countdown.

In 2010, Carr hosted A Comedy Roast on Channel 4. This was the first British version of a comedy roast show. He also co-hosted Channel 4's Alternative Election Night in 2010. He joined other presenters for 10 O'Clock Live, a comedy news show that started in 2011.

In 2014 and 2015, Carr was a guest host for Sunday Night at the Palladium on ITV. In 2018, he hosted The Fix, an American comedy panel show on Netflix. From 2018 to 2020, he hosted the Comedy Central series Roast Battle. Since 2021, he has hosted the Channel 4 quiz show I Literally Just Told You.

Guest Appearances on TV

Carr has appeared in sketches for The 11 O'Clock Show. He has also been a guest on panel shows like A League of Their Own and QI. On the car show Top Gear, he set a new lap record for celebrities. The show's test driver, the Stig, called him "the worst driver we've ever had."

Jimmy Carr has been a contestant on celebrity versions of many game shows. He won money for charities on shows like Deal or No Deal and The Chase. He also appeared on Benchmark, Tipping Point, Catchphrase, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

He was a guest host for one episode of Have I Got News for You. In 2007, he joined Ian Hislop's team on an episode hosted by Ann Widdecombe.

Radio Work

In 2006, Carr made a joke on Radio 4's Loose Ends. The BBC apologized for it, but Carr continued to use the joke. He appeared in two episodes of the radio series Flight of the Conchords in 2005.

Carr has been on BBC Radio 4's Museum of Curiosity seven times since 2011. He was the Museum Curator for five episodes in 2012. He was also a guest on a Christmas special in 2018.

Podcasts

Carr's podcast appearances began around 2010. He had a special podcast called Jimmy Carr and Frankie Boyle: Meet the Comedians. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he appeared on many more podcasts. These included The Betoota Advocate Podcast, You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes, and The Comedian's Comedian.

Stand-up Comedy

Carr performs stand-up comedy tours almost all year round. He used to take only five weeks off between tours. For his "Terribly Funny Tour," he wrote new material during every show. This led to his next tour, "Jimmy Carr Laughs Funny," which started in April 2024.

His very first stand-up performance was unpaid. It happened at an Islington pub in December 1999. From 2000 to 2003, he performed regularly in London. He played at clubs like Up The Creek and The Banana Cabaret.

His first successful show was "Rubbernecker" at the Café Royal. This was part of the 2001 Edinburgh Fringe. Other comedians like Ricky Gervais were also in this show.

In 2004, he had a disagreement with comedian Jim Davidson. Carr thought Davidson used one of his jokes. However, it turned out to be an old joke used by many comedians. Carr toured with his show A Public Display of Affection from 2005 to 2006. He also performed his "Off The Telly" show at the Edinburgh Festival in 2005.

In 2006, he started his "Gag Reflex" tour. For this, he won the 2006 British Comedy Award for "Best Live Stand-Up." He released his third DVD, Jimmy Carr: Comedian, in 2007. In 2003, the Observer newspaper listed him as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. A 2007 poll on the Channel 4 website ranked him 12th among the "100 Greatest Stand-Ups." His "Repeat Offender" tour began in autumn 2007.

On 3 February 2007, Carr's show in London was also broadcast live in the virtual world Second Life.

His "Rapier Wit" tour opened in August 2009. He released a DVD called Jimmy Carr: Telling Jokes in November 2009. In July 2009, Carr was the warm-up act for the band the Killers at their DVD recording gigs.

In October 2009, Carr received some criticism for a joke he made. He defended his joke as "totally acceptable."

Carr's sixth live DVD, Jimmy Carr: Making People Laugh, came out in 2010. His 2010–11 tour, "Laughter Therapy," started at the Edinburgh Festival.

In November 2011, Carr was criticized for another joke. He defended himself by saying that no topic should be off-limits for comedy.

A 2012 article in The Guardian called him "one of the nation's most popular stand-up comedians." It also described him as "the undisputed king of deadpan one-liners."

Carr released the Jimmy Carr: Laughing and Joking DVD in 2013.

In June 2019, Carr's "Terribly Funny" tour received criticism for some of its jokes.

On 17 April 2024, Netflix released a recording of his "Terribly Funny 2.0" tour. It was called Natural Born Killer. This special was in the Top 10 in 29 countries.

In September and October 2024, Carr will perform with Australian comedian Jim Jefferies. Their shows are called "The Charm Offensive Tour."

Edinburgh Festival Appearances

The Edinburgh Festival / Fringe is a big arts festival in Scotland. It has been a place for comedians to perform since the 1970s. Carr often says how important the Fringe is for new comedians.

Carr first visited Edinburgh around 2000 to see the festival. He later returned every year as a paid comedian. At first, he sometimes slept in his car to save money.

His first appearance at the Fringe was in August 2001. This was a two-week show called "Rubbernecker." His name was in the official program for the first time.

In 2002, Carr had his first solo show called Bare Faced Ambition. He was nominated for the Perrier Award that year. He performed in the Dining Room of the Gilded Balloon. The room was small, so fewer than 50 people attended each show.

By 2003, Carr had become more famous from touring and TV shows. This allowed him to perform in a larger venue, the Pleasance Courtyard. However, because he was now a "star," he could not be nominated for the Perrier Award again.

In 2004, after another hit TV show, Carr's tour show was called Public Display of Affection. He performed six shows at the EICC. This venue could hold 1,200 people.

2005 was Carr's fifth Fringe appearance. He performed eight shows at the EICC with new material called "Off The Telly."

In August 2006, he tried out new material for his "Gag Reflex" tour. He performed these new jokes in Edinburgh for six nights at the EICC.

Carr made a brief appearance at the 2007 Fringe. It was a fundraising event at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. He was still writing material for his "Repeat Offender" tour.

In 2008, Carr's shows were not listed in the Edinburgh program. However, his presence and his "Joke Technician" tour were mentioned in newspapers.

Edinburgh 2009 marked Carr's eighth solo show. He returned to the EICC for eight nights with his new show, "Rapier Wit." He also judged a "Britain's Got Talent" spoof at the Edinburgh International Television Festival.

In 2010, Carr debuted his new show, "Laughter Therapy," at the EICC for eight nights.

He did not attend the Edinburgh Festival in 2011. But in 2012, he returned with his new show, "Gagging Order," for six nights at the EICC.

In 2014, Carr returned for his 11th solo Edinburgh show, "Funny Business." He played four nights at the EICC. This was his last Fringe appearance with a comedy show for a while.

In August 2017, Carr returned for the Edinburgh International Television Festival. He interviewed Comedy Central President, Kent Alterman.

After a 10-year break, Carr returned for his 12th solo show, "Laughs Funny," in August 2024. He performed five shows over three nights at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

Comedy in America

In recent years, Carr has made many trips to the USA. He spends about a week on each trip, performing across the country. He toured in October, November, and December 2023. He also toured in March and April 2024, performing new material for his "Laughs Funny" tour.

American TV Appearances

Conan O'Brien was an early supporter of Carr. Jimmy appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien several times between 2002 and 2009. He also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and The Late Late Show with James Corden.

His first US TV show was The Strategic Humour Initiative in 2003. It was a joint UK/USA/Canada production. Carr was chosen as the UK comedian.

In 2005, Carr hosted the American version of the game show Distraction. He hosted 12 episodes, and a second series was made in 2006.

Comedy Central (US) produced two specials called Comedy Central Presents: Jimmy Carr in 2005 and 2009.

Netflix produced 10 episodes of The Fix in 2018, hosted by Carr. It was an attempt to bring the UK panel show style to America.

Carr was the first British comedian to have a Netflix stand-up special. His show Funny Business was released on Netflix in March 2016.

American Stand-up Shows

Jimmy Carr often works with American comedians. Neal Brennan credits Carr with the idea for his podcast. Jeffery Ross often invites him to his "Roast" events.

Carr was a support act for Dave Chappelle at the Hollywood Bowl in April and May 2022. During the "Netflix is a Joke Festival," Carr also performed his own tour gig at the Palace Theatre. He also performed at the Hollywood Palladium for a Netflix special called "Bill Burr Presents Friends Who Kill."

As a Netflix comedian, he was invited to a special event at the home of Netflix co-CEO, Ted Sanderos.

The Comedy Store in Los Angeles is a famous venue for stand-up comedy. Carr has performed there for many years. In 2018, his name was painted on one of the club's walls, an honor for alumni.

Since 2015, Carr has appeared on the US live comedy show Kill Tony.

In May 2024, Carr performed at the "Netflix is a Joke Fest" in Los Angeles. He also attended the Netflix live stream of "The Roast of Tom Brady."

Charity Work in America

Carr supports the Bob Woodruff Foundation. This group helps military members, veterans, and their families. He performed at the "Stand Up for Heroes" event at Madison Square Gardens in 2018 and at the Lincoln Center in 2023.

Carr was also one of the British comedians who supported Amnesty International at the 2012 Secret Policeman's Ball in New York.

Books Written

In 2006, Carr co-wrote a book with Lucy Greeves. It was called The Naked Jape: Uncovering the Hidden World of Jokes.

In December 2021, Carr published his own book, Before & Laughter. It is a memoir and a self-help book.

Personal Life

In his late 20s, Jimmy Carr had a personal turning point. He changed his views on Catholic faith and organised religion. He has said that writers like Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins helped him change his mind. He also said that he had therapy, which helped him cope with these changes. He is even qualified as a therapist himself.

Carr has dual British and Irish citizenship. He travels using an Irish passport. He is proud of his Irish background. In 2013, he received a certificate of Irish heritage in Limerick, his parents' home city.

Carr lives in North London with his partner, Karoline Copping. She is a commissioning editor for Channel 5. They have been together since 2001. Their son was born in 2019.

Awards and Recognition

Jimmy Carr has won several awards for his comedy.

• Time Out Award: Best Stand Up (2002)
• Perrier Award Nomination (2002)
• Royal Television Society Award: Best On-Screen Newcomer (2003)
• LAFTA Award: Best Stand Up (2004)
• Rose D'Or Nomination: Best Presenter, Distraction (2004)
• LAFTA Award: Funniest Man (2005)
• British Comedy Award: Best Live Stand Up (2006)
• LAFTA Award: Funniest Man (2007)
• LAFTA Award: Best Stand Up (2008)
• LAFTA Award: Loaded Legend (2011)

Stand-up Shows List

DVD and Netflix Specials

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Other Guest Appearances

Books by Jimmy Carr

• 2004, Distraction Quiz Book (he wrote the introduction)
• 2006, with Lucy Greeves, The Naked Jape: Uncovering the Hidden World of Jokes (UK), or Only Joking: What's So Funny About Making People Laugh (USA)
• 2020, Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You, edited by Adam Kay (Carr wrote one story)
• 2021, Before & Laughter: A Life-Changing Book

Music Appearances

• Ed Sheeran, 2021 – backing vocals on "Visiting Hours"

See also

In Spanish: Jimmy Carr para niños