Paul Merton

Paul Merton began performing professionally in 1982, making his debut at The Comedy Store in London and touring Swansea that same year with writing partner John Irwin. He appeared in the 1984 episode “Time” of The Young Ones. In 1985, he performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Have You Been on Telly and became a member of The Comedy Store Players, with whom he has continued to perform. From 2008, he has performed annually in Paul Merton’s Impro Chums at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival.

In the late 1980s, Merton appeared on BBC Radio 4’s The Big Fun Show. He joined Just a Minute in 1989 and became one of its most frequent panellists. From 1991 to 1998, he was a semi-regular guest on I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. Between 1993 and 1995, he was a regular cast member on The Masterson Inheritance. In 2000, he presented Two Priests and a Nun Go into a Pub. In 2009, he began presenting a Radio 4 series reading Spike Milligan’s war memoirs.

Merton’s television breakthrough came in 1988 with Whose Line Is It Anyway?, on which he appeared until 1993. In 1990, he became a team captain on Have I Got News for You. He starred in two series of Paul Merton: The Series in the early 1990s. In 1995, he presented Paul Merton’s Palladium Story. In 1996, he starred in Paul Merton in Galton & Simpson’s… for ITV. He voiced Dr. Dogg in Rex the Runt in 1998 and 2001. From 1999 to 2007, he hosted Room 101. In 1999, he appeared in ITV’s pantomime Cinderella and was the subject of a South Bank Show special.

In 2006, he wrote and presented the BBC Four documentary series Paul Merton’s Silent Clowns and toured a stage version of the show. In 2007, he presented the travel series Paul Merton in China, followed by Paul Merton in India (2008) and Paul Merton in Europe (2010). In 2008, he hosted the ITV series Thank God You’re Here. In 2009, he wrote and presented Morecambe and Wise: The Show What Paul Merton Did and directed and presented a BBC Four documentary on Alfred Hitchcock. In 2010, he temporarily co-presented The One Show. In 2011, he presented Paul Merton’s Birth of Hollywood and Paul Merton’s Adventures.

In 2015, he presented Paul Merton’s Secret Stations for More4. In 2021, he co-presented Motorhoming with Merton & Webster. In 2023, he appeared on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. In 2024, he appeared on Perfect Pub Walks with Bill Bailey. In 2025, Channel 4 announced he would present the six-part series Paul Merton: Driving Amazing Trains.