Image Credit: Supplied picture Al Murray
Better known as The Pub Landlord, he comes with The Queen's stamp of approval
By Kelly Crane,
Senior Reporter for gulf News
Published: September 5, 2011
A successful string of comedy tours, published author, radio host, contestant on Hell's Kitchen, Discovery Channel presenter, guest on Top Gear, patron of The Cambodian Children's Charity and his own brand of crisps. Where does UK comedian Al Murray find the time?
"It sounds great when you say it like that, but all it actually means is I can tell you the exact price of every item in each of the service stations up and down the country," said Murray. "Reading has an M&S food court which ranks up there," he added dryly.
Complete with trademark brewery jacket, Murray will soon be sloshing his pint about a Dubai floor as he rants and raves about subjects including "how it used to feel to be British", "what can we learn from history", "what is love", "why it's time to bring back shame" and of course "The Royal Wedding".
"It's got to be done," he said. "Did anything else actually happen this year?"
A star from stage to screen, having appeared in shows including Time Gentlemen Please and Live Floor Show, Murray will get into character once again from Wednesday for three back-to-back, sell-out shows at the First Group Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah.
When he performed at the Royal Variety Show, The Pub Landlord discovered he had an unexpected fan as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth clapped from the royal box.
"She said I was most amusing," said the comic.
Murray has won the Perrier Award and twice been nominated for an Olivier. But don't think that makes him posh, as even he admitted he didn't tone down his routine (or language) for the Queen of England, so he certainly won't for anyone else.
Strangely, though, the landlord couldn't be further removed from his alter-ego. A sensitive, intelligent Oxford history graduate, Murray has a passion for learning and literature.
"I was studying modern history and had no idea what I wanted to do," he said. "And possibly still don't. I ended up on stage following a strong urge to show off. You have these performers and entertainers who say they are shy, nervous, throw up in buckets before they go on stage, but what they don't tell you is that they do what they do to show off. That has to be at the heart of it. Nobody says it out loud except me, but it's that simple."
tabloid! caught up with 42-year-old Murray ahead of his second visit to Dubai.
"The show is going to be great, because I've written two new ones which are packed with fresh stuff," he said. "Fifty per cent of the show is always unwritten, un-rehearsed and usually inappropriate. I just talk about things which inspire me, rubbish whirling around in my head, find someone to focus on in the audience. It all makes for a great night."
Murray has his own crisps named Steak and Al Pie, which he is entering in a crisp competition with former footballer and potato-crisp pundit Gary Lineker. He is up against Jimmy Con Carne (Jimmy Carr), Stephen Fry-Up (Stephen Fry) and Frank Roast Dinner (Frank Skinner).
So why the pub landlord character? "Pub landlords, like politicians, are so certain about things, which makes them great targets. I've always believed people who are so sure of things are unhinged. We all wished we knew the world as well as they do yet they rarely get things right."
With more and more stand-up comedians trying their luck on live talent shows like America's Got Talent and its British version, Murray was full of advice.
"They have 90 seconds to impress," he said, shocked. "Just don't do it. Comedy should be a long con, not a mugging. You have to befriend the person, buy them a coffee before you swipe their wallet. You have to work really hard; I used to do 450 gigs a year — and never copy."
Better known as The Pub Landlord, he comes with The Queen's stamp of approval
By Kelly Crane,
Senior Reporter for gulf News
Published: September 5, 2011
A successful string of comedy tours, published author, radio host, contestant on Hell's Kitchen, Discovery Channel presenter, guest on Top Gear, patron of The Cambodian Children's Charity and his own brand of crisps. Where does UK comedian Al Murray find the time?
"It sounds great when you say it like that, but all it actually means is I can tell you the exact price of every item in each of the service stations up and down the country," said Murray. "Reading has an M&S food court which ranks up there," he added dryly.
Complete with trademark brewery jacket, Murray will soon be sloshing his pint about a Dubai floor as he rants and raves about subjects including "how it used to feel to be British", "what can we learn from history", "what is love", "why it's time to bring back shame" and of course "The Royal Wedding".
"It's got to be done," he said. "Did anything else actually happen this year?"
A star from stage to screen, having appeared in shows including Time Gentlemen Please and Live Floor Show, Murray will get into character once again from Wednesday for three back-to-back, sell-out shows at the First Group Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah.
When he performed at the Royal Variety Show, The Pub Landlord discovered he had an unexpected fan as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth clapped from the royal box.
"She said I was most amusing," said the comic.
Murray has won the Perrier Award and twice been nominated for an Olivier. But don't think that makes him posh, as even he admitted he didn't tone down his routine (or language) for the Queen of England, so he certainly won't for anyone else.
Strangely, though, the landlord couldn't be further removed from his alter-ego. A sensitive, intelligent Oxford history graduate, Murray has a passion for learning and literature.
"I was studying modern history and had no idea what I wanted to do," he said. "And possibly still don't. I ended up on stage following a strong urge to show off. You have these performers and entertainers who say they are shy, nervous, throw up in buckets before they go on stage, but what they don't tell you is that they do what they do to show off. That has to be at the heart of it. Nobody says it out loud except me, but it's that simple."
tabloid! caught up with 42-year-old Murray ahead of his second visit to Dubai.
"The show is going to be great, because I've written two new ones which are packed with fresh stuff," he said. "Fifty per cent of the show is always unwritten, un-rehearsed and usually inappropriate. I just talk about things which inspire me, rubbish whirling around in my head, find someone to focus on in the audience. It all makes for a great night."
Murray has his own crisps named Steak and Al Pie, which he is entering in a crisp competition with former footballer and potato-crisp pundit Gary Lineker. He is up against Jimmy Con Carne (Jimmy Carr), Stephen Fry-Up (Stephen Fry) and Frank Roast Dinner (Frank Skinner).
So why the pub landlord character? "Pub landlords, like politicians, are so certain about things, which makes them great targets. I've always believed people who are so sure of things are unhinged. We all wished we knew the world as well as they do yet they rarely get things right."
With more and more stand-up comedians trying their luck on live talent shows like America's Got Talent and its British version, Murray was full of advice.
"They have 90 seconds to impress," he said, shocked. "Just don't do it. Comedy should be a long con, not a mugging. You have to befriend the person, buy them a coffee before you swipe their wallet. You have to work really hard; I used to do 450 gigs a year — and never copy."
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