Jimmy Carr
Template:Pp-pc Template:Short description Template:Other people Template:Copy edit Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox comedian James Anthony Patrick Carr (born 15 September 1972) is a British-Irish comedian.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He began his career in 1997 with a series of successful stand-up performances. He has regularly appeared on television as the host of Channel 4 panel shows such as The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (since 2004), 8 Out of 10 Cats (2005–2021), and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (since 2012). Carr is known for his rapid-fire deadpan delivery of one-liners.
Early life and education
James Anthony Patrick Carr was born on 15 September 1972,<ref name="birth">Template:Cite web</ref> in Isleworth, London.<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Groskop">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Fletcher">Template:Cite web</ref> He is the second of three sons<ref name=corrections/> born to Irish parents Nora Mary (née Lawlor; 19 September 1943 – 7 September 2001)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Patrick James "Jim" Carr (born 1945), an accountant who became the treasurer for computer company Unisys. His parents were married in 1970 and separated in 1994, never divorcing.<ref name=corrections>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carr spent most of his early life in the village of Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, where he attended Farnham Common School and Burnham Grammar School.<ref name=Indy /> Carr was diagnosed with dyslexia and could not read or write at his expected level until around ten or eleven years old.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> He completed sixth form at the Royal Grammar School in nearby High Wycombe.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="auto">Jimmy Carr, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4 (Mar 2017)</ref>
After earning four A grades at A-level,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Carr studied social science and political science at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge,<ref name="auto"/> graduating with first-class honours<ref name=GuardianUK>Template:Cite news</ref> in 1994.<ref name=Indy>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He went on to work in the marketing department at Shell, but took voluntary redundancy in January 2000 as he felt "miserable" there.<ref name="auto"/> He performed his first paid stand-up gig later that month, having done his debut pub show unpaid only the previous December.<ref name=Indy/> He said a course in neuro-linguistic programming helped him realize how his mind was working to hold him back from following his dreams of becoming a comedian.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2001, Carr's mother, Nora Mary, died of pancreatitis, at age 57. Following her death, Carr's relationship with his father became "severely strained". In 2004, his father was arrested and accused of harassing Carr and his brother Colin, but was cleared and won an apology from the Metropolitan Police.<ref>"Standard pay out to Jimmy Carr's estranged father", Press Gazette, 21 September 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2022</ref> In 2021, Carr said he had not spoken to his father since 2000 and had not seen him in person, with the exception of an autograph signing after a gig in 2015, where they saw each other but did not speak.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
Television
Hosting
Carr has hosted Channel 4 game shows Distraction and Your Face or Mine?. He presented the 100s series of programmes for Channel 4: 100 Worst Pop Records, 100 Worst Britons, 100 Greatest Cartoon Characters, 100 People Who Look Most Like Jimmy Carr (a spoof) and 100 Scary Moments.
Since 2005, Carr has presented the comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats. The show aired on Channel 4 until 2016, when it moved to More4. It later went to E4. Since 2012, Carr has also presented over 150 episodes of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, a combination of his panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats and daytime quiz show Countdown.
In April 2010, Carr hosted the first British version of a comedy roast show, Channel 4's A Comedy Roast. On 6 May 2010, he was a co-host of Channel 4's Alternative Election Night, with David Mitchell, Lauren Laverne and Charlie Brooker. He joined the three presenters again for 10 O'Clock Live, a Channel 4 comedy current-affairs show, which started airing in January 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2014 and 2015, Carr guest-presented two episodes of Sunday Night at the Palladium on ITV.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018, he presented American comedy panel show The Fix on Netflix. From 2018 to 2020, Carr hosted the Comedy Central series Roast Battle. From 2021 he has hosted the Channel 4 quiz show I Literally Just Told You.
In March 2025, he hosted the first series of LOL: Last One Laughing UK with Roisin Conaty.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In October 2025, Carr hosted the first series of Am I The A******? with GK Barry and Jamali Maddix <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> on Comedy Central
Guest appearances
Carr contributed sketches to Channel 4 topical comedy TV programme The 11 O'Clock Show and has appeared on panel shows A League of Their Own and QI. During a guest appearance on the BBC motoring show Top Gear, Carr set a new celebrity test track lap record on the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' segment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was described as "the worst driver we've ever had" and "the luckiest man alive" by Top GearTemplate:'s test driver the Stig.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Carr has appeared as a contestant on celebrity editions of Deal or No Deal<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (won £750 for Helen & Douglas House), The Chase (won £1,000 for Variety Club), Benchmark<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (won £1,000 for Elton John AIDS Foundation), Tipping Point<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (won £7,000 for Blue Cross), Catchphrase, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, winning £1,000.
Carr was a guest presenter for one edition of Have I Got News for You;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in 2007 he joined Ian Hislop's team in the edition of the show chaired by Ann Widdecombe, with whom he "flirted" outrageously. Later in the episode, Widdecombe said: "I don't think I shall return to this programme."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Radio
In January 2006, Carr made a joke on Radio 4's Loose Ends, the punchline of which implied that Gypsy women stank.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The BBC issued an apology, but Carr refused to apologize and continued to use the joke. He appeared in two episodes of the radio series of Flight of the Conchords in 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carr has appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Museum of Curiosity a total of seven times since 2011. He was the Museum Curator (in his five appearances in 2012) and a guest on the 2018 Annual Stock Take Christmas special, alongside Lee Mack, Jo Brand and Sally Philips.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Podcasts
Carr's podcast appearances go back to at least 2010 with a one-off podcast called Jimmy Carr and Frankie Boyle: Meet the Comedians.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Carr's podcast appearances ramped up significantly during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with recent appearances during this period including The Betoota Advocate Podcast, You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes, The Comedian's Comedian, The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, and Dane Baptiste Questions Everything.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Stand-up comedy
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Carr performs stand-up tours continuously over most of the course of the year, originally taking only five weeks off between them. During his Terribly Funny Tour (which began pre-COVID lockdown and ended April 2024) he wrote his next tour by trying out new material in every gig.<ref>Template:Cite interview</ref> As a result of this Jimmy Carr Laughs Funny<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> started 17 April 2024.
His first five minutes of stand-up (unpaid) was at an Islington pub, the Tut 'n' Shive, in December 1999.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 2000 to 2003, he started appearing regularly, around London, at Up The Creek,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Banana Cabaret<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and The Bearcat Comedy Club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
He performed a revue at the Café Royal, as a part of the 2001 Edinburgh Fringe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Titled Rubbernecker, it also featured Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Robin Ince.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2004, he threatened to sue Jim Davidson for using a joke that Carr considered his own.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The matter was dropped when it became apparent that the joke in question was an old one used for decades by many different comedians. He toured the country with his show A Public Display of Affection, starting on 9 April 2005 at the Gulbenkian Theatre in Canterbury and ending on 14 January 2006 at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End. He also appeared at the EICC during the Edinburgh Festival in August 2005 with his Off The Telly show.
In August 2006, he commenced the tour Gag Reflex, for which he won the 2006 British Comedy Award for "Best Live Stand-Up". He released his third DVD, Jimmy Carr: Comedian, in November 2007. In 2003, he was listed in the Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. In 2007, a poll on the Channel 4 website for 100 Greatest Stand-Ups, Jimmy Carr was 12th. A national tour commenced in autumn 2007 named Repeat Offender, beginning at the Edinburgh Festival.
On 3 February 2007, Carr's performance in front of 50 people in London was broadcast simultaneously on the virtual platform Second Life.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
His Rapier Wit tour opened on 20 August 2009 eight shows at the Edinburgh Festival before touring the UK. He released a DVD entitled Jimmy Carr: Telling Jokes on 2 November 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also on 5 and 6 July 2009, Carr was the warm up act for Las Vegas band The Killers at their DVD record gigs (Live from the Royal Albert Hall).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In October 2009, Carr received criticism from Sunday tabloid newspapers for a joke he made about British soldiers who had lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying the UK would have a strong team in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Carr defended his own joke as "totally acceptable" in an interview with The Guardian.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He had met with staff and patients at the rehabilitation centre, Headley Court, in March 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carr's sixth Live DVD, Jimmy Carr: Making People Laugh, was released on 8 November 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Carr's 2010–11 tour, entitled Laughter Therapy, started with a run at the Edinburgh Festival before touring the UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carr was criticised in November 2011 for a joke about the Variety Club's Sunshine coaches, which offer holidays for children with Down syndrome. The charity and Down Syndrome Education International condemned the joke. Carr defended himself by saying nothing should be off limits.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
A Guardian profile in 2012 said: "In terms of reach and earning power... one of the nation's most popular stand-up comedians... in his ability to pull in crowds which generate millions in tour and DVD sales..." and as "the undisputed king of deadpan one-liners...".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Carr released the Jimmy Carr: Laughing and Joking DVD on 18 November 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In June 2019, Carr was criticised for the content of his touring show Terribly Funny. Among the controversial jokes were jokes about dwarves, fat women and female genital mutilation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Carr was also criticised by charity Little People UK (co-founded by actor Warwick Davis), accusing him of prejudice for an "offensive" abortion joke he made about people with dwarfism.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 17 April 2024, the Netflix recording of Carr's Terribly Funny 2.0 tour was released as Natural Born Killer. The one hour special attained a Top 10 spot in 29 countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the week 15–21 April 2024 Netflix listed the show as being 8th in the global Top 10 (in the category TV, English) with 2.3 million viewing hours.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In September and October 2024, Carr joined Australian comedian Jim Jefferies for a number of joint gigs, slotted between dates for Jefferies's own tour, in Canada. Their shows were billed as The Charm Offensive Tour.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an annual arts festival in Scotland which has been a showcase for comedians since at least the 1970s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Carr has often said how important the Fringe is to anyone that wants to get into comedy, and that he is "a performer at night but during the day I'm a punter and have conversations with people about what show they liked and what they didn't."<ref name="Dailyrecord.co.uk">Template:Cite web</ref>
Carr has said that he first went up to Edinburgh around 2000 to "see what it was about". Although he would eventually go on to return each year as a paid stand-up comic, he initially had to resort to trying to save money by sleeping in his car (a Rover 75) or on the floor of somewhere that other comedians had rented.<ref name="Dailyrecord.co.uk"/>
The August 2001 two-week stint, with Rubbernecker, was Carr's first Fringe appearance, with his name in the official programme and his first mention on the Comedy site Chortle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2002, although this was Carr's second entry (in one of the festival's programmes) this was his first solo show: Bare Faced Ambition. This was the year that he received a nomination for what was then known as the Perrier Award.
The poster and programme billed him as "England's answer to Emo Philips",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and he performed in the Dining Room of the Gilded Balloon from 2 to 26 August.
By the time of 2003's Festival,<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> the now 30-year-old Carr had built a larger fan base through touring, several appearances at Montreal's Just For Laughs and numerous TV appearances (including co-hosting Your Face Or Mine). This enabled him to move his shows to the larger venue of the Pleasance Courtyard, but the Festival's rules (on TV appearances) meant that he was judged to now be a "star" and therefore could not be nominated for the 2003 Perrier Award.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
He performed for 25 nights between 30 July and 25 August 2003.<ref name=":3" /> On August 21 and 22nd, he participated in Comedy Gala 2003 in aid of Waverley Care.<ref name=":3" />
Edinburgh 2004<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> followed on from another hit TV show (Distraction); this tour show was called Public Display of Affection. This meant another move up (in venue size) with six shows at the EICC (which had a 1,200-seat capacity at that time).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2005 was Carr's fifth Fringe and he again arrived with all-new material. This show was called Off The Telly, and, returning to the EICC, he performed eight shows.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Material for the new tour, named Gag Reflex, had been tried out at a WIP (Work in progress) gig at the Hen and Chickens on August 5, 2006. Trial of the new material continued in Edinburgh across six nights, from August 17, at the EICC.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carr only managed to fit in a brief appearance at the 2007 Fringe on August 21.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Held at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, it was a regular Fringe fund raiser, headed by Alan Carr, for Waverley Care. He was still writing material for his planned Repeat Offender tour, as evidenced by him using a clipboard on stage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Previously, The Guardian had been reasonably positive in relation to reviews of comedians headlining at the Fringe; however, articles from 2007 declared that "household names were drowning out more pioneering art".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The 2008 Edinburgh programme<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> never listed dates or a venue for Carr's shows this year; this was possibly because his attendance was confirmed after printing. His presence (and the unveiling of his Joke Technician tour) was, however, mentioned in The Independent<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and also Chortle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Edinburgh 2009<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> saw Carr return for what is billed as his "eighth solo show", thereby confirming his seventh attendance in 2008. He returned to the EICC with his new show, Rapier Wit, for eight nights spanning 20 to 30 August.
He also attended the Edinburgh International Television Festival to be a Judge on a Britain's Got Talent spoof (called TV's Got Talent<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>) alongside Amanda Holden and Louis Walsh.
Edinburgh 2010<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> sees Carr debut his new show, Laughter Therapy, a few days after the end of his Rapier Wit tour. He was back at the EICC for eight nights.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Although he performed a number of gigs in Scotland, during 2011, Carr never made it to that year's Festival. At Edinburgh 2012, he was back to perform his new show, Gagging Order, with six nights at the EICC.<ref name="Dailyrecord.co.uk"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2014 saw Carr return for his 11th solo Edinburgh show,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> called Funny Business. Based once again at the EICC he played four nights<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in what would appear to be his last Fringe appearance (with a comedy show).
In August 2017, Carr returned for a different kind of Edinburgh Festival: the Edinburgh International Television Festival. He interviewed Comedy Central President, Kent Alterman, in an on-stage Q&A session in front of industry staff.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>
After a 10-year absence Carr returned for his 12th solo show (Laughs Funny), in August 2024. He described the Festival as being "where it all began" <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and performed 5 shows, across 3 nights, at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
America
In the final months of his Terribly Funny 2.0 tour, Carr made several trips to the USA.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Each trip consisted of around a week, criss-crossing the country. 2023 saw these mini tours in October, November<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and December. He also toured in March and April 2024; this last trip ended up consisting of new material, under the tour name Laughs Funny.
American TV
Early support was shown by Conan O'Brien, and Carr appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien twice in 2002,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> twice in 2006,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> and then again in 2007,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> 2008<ref>Template:Citation</ref> and 2009<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> (that last appearance being on the renamed The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien). Appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno were 2003<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> and 2005;<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon was 2016,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> 2018,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> 2019,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> and 2024;<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> and there was an additional appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
His first venture into making TV shows in the US was The Strategic Humour Initiative (hosted by Sir David Frost) in 2003. It was a joint UK–USA–Canada production, and Carr was chosen to be the UK comedian. Only 1 episode was made.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carr hosted 12 episodes of the American version of the shock gameshow Distraction (which he had hosted in the UK) in 2005.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> A second US series (14 episodes<ref>Template:Citation</ref>) was commissioned in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Comedy Central (US) made two episodes of Comedy Central Presents: Jimmy Carr in 2005<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Netflix produced 10 episodes of The Fix in 2018, hosted by Carr. It was an attempt to export the UK panel show format to America, and, although still available on Netflix,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Non-primary source needed no further episodes have been made.
Carr was the first British comedian<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to get a Netflix stand-up special, with his show Funny Business<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Non-primary source needed (March 2016).
American stand-up
Template:Primary source Because of the frequency of his trips,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>Template:Unreliable inline Carr collaborates with American comedians in various ways. Neal Brennan credits him with the idea for his Blocks podcast, and Jeffery Ross frequently invites him to be part of his Roast events (including The Roast of Rob Lowe<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>). Across two nights of the 2022 Netflix is a Joke Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Non-primary source needed Carr was a support act for Dave Chappelle at the Hollywood Bowl (30 April<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 3 May 2022,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> the show where Chappelle was attacked on stage).
During this festival, Carr slotted in one of his own tour gigs, at the Palace Theatre,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and also performed at the Hollywood Palladium as a part of the line-up for Bill Burr Presents Friends Who Kill,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Non-primary source needed which was filmed for another Netflix Special.
As a member of the Netflix comedy roster, he was also invited to a celebratory brunch at the home of Netflix co-CEO, Ted Sanderos.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Comedy Store opened in Los Angeles in 1972 and has been a popular venue for stand-up comedians ever since.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Carr has been performing there for many years and is one of a small number of British comedians that are listed as alumni<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and, in 2018, was given the honour of having his name painted on one of the club's walls.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>Template:Non-primary source needed
Since 2015, Carr has made several appearances on the US live comedy show Kill Tony.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2024 once again saw Netflix host Netflix is a Joke Fest, in Los Angeles (2–12 May). Carr posted (on X) that he had performed two gigs in the UK on 3 May<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> and then performed at the Outside Joke event, at the Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, on 4 May.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 5 May, Carr attended the Netflix special live stream of the Roast of Tom Brady.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>Template:Non-primary source needed
American charities
Carr is a supporter of the Bob Woodruff Foundation (a non-profit that supports post-9/11-impacted service members, veterans, and their families). On 5 November 2018,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> he was on the bill of the 12th Annual Stand Up for Heroes event at Madison Square Gardens and again, for the 17th event, on 6 November 2023,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> at the Lincoln Center.
Carr was one of the British comics<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> supporting Amnesty International at the 2012 Secret Policeman's Ball in New York.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Books
In 2006, the book The Naked Jape: Uncovering the Hidden World of Jokes, on the history and theory of joke-telling, by Carr and Lucy Greeves, was published by Penguin.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Before & Laughter, a memoir and self-help book authored by Carr, was published by Quercus in December 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Controversies
2011 amputee joke
At the Manchester Apollo in 2011, Carr joked that war injuries had a positive side, saying "You can say what you like about these servicemen amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan," following up with, "but we're going to have a fucking good Paralympics team in 2012." The Prime Minister's office condemned the joke. Newspapers and radio stations phoned the mothers of soldiers maimed in battle, recited the joke, then reported their outraged reactions.Template:Clarify Carr contended that it was a good joke.<ref name="Grant Smithies">Template:Cite news</ref>
2012 tax avoidance
In June 2012, Carr's involvement in an alleged K2 tax avoidance scheme came to light after an investigation by The Times.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The scheme is understood to involve UK earners "quitting" their job and signing new employment contracts with offshore shell companies based in the low-tax jurisdiction of Jersey. Prime Minister David Cameron said: "People work hard, they pay their taxes, they save up to go to one of his shows. They buy the tickets. He is taking the money from those tickets and he, as far as I can see, is putting all of that into some very dodgy tax-avoiding schemes."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Carr subsequently pulled out of the scheme, apologising for "a terrible error of judgement".<ref name=autogenerated1>Template:Cite news</ref>
Viewing figures of the episode of his topical show 8 out of 10 Cats, recorded on the day of his apology and broadcast the following day, almost doubled compared with the previous week.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Earlier in 2012, during the second series of Channel 4's satirical news programme 10 O'Clock Live, Carr had lampooned people who avoid paying their taxes.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> A sketch from the show, in which he poked fun at the 1% tax rate of Barclays Bank and described tax lawyers as being "aggressive" and "amoral", was regarded as having "come back to haunt him".<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
In February 2018, Carr appeared on Room 101, where he talked about the controversy. Though he admitted that what he did was wrong, he said there was some level of hypocrisy in the comments that Cameron had made about him in 2012, stating that members of Cameron's family and Queen Elizabeth II had subsequently been mentioned in the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers tax evasion scandals. Carr said that the law should become clearer by eliminating any loopholes, instead of leaving it up to individuals to decide what is morally right.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Carr continues to reference the scandal in his performances and public appearances<ref name="independent-tax-avoidance">Template:Cite web</ref> and takes heckles on the subject with good humour, including responding to a heckle on the subject by saying: "There's two shows: One at 7, one at 9:30. One for me, one for them.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
2021 Holocaust joke
In a stand-up comedy performance released as a Christmas 2021 Netflix special titled His Dark Material, Carr joked:
During the show, Carr defended his joke, saying that it had the educational value of raising awareness about groups who suffered genocide in the Holocaust.<ref name="theguardian" /> The joke later received widespread attention the following February after a clip was posted and shared online. He was condemned by the Auschwitz Memorial, Hope not Hate<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and The Traveller Movement, who called anti-Romani prejudice the "last acceptable form of racism" in the UK.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also faced criticism from British politicians, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary.<ref name="sky"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust said they were "absolutely appalled" and "horrified", and they described Carr's joke as "abhorrent".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="theguardian">Template:Cite news</ref> Despite the criticism, Carr stood by the joke.<ref name="sky">Template:Cite news</ref>
2025 Israel event at British Museum
In May 2025, Carr attended an event celebrating Israel's Independence Day. This event was held during the Israel–Gaza war and was criticised by pro-Palestine activists, who urge a boycott of Israeli events.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2025 Riyadh Comedy Festival
Carr also signed up to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, which drew widespread condemnation.<ref name=":02">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="hrw-25">Template:Cite web</ref> Carr hid the event from his tour schedule on his official website.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
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In 1998, Carr, aged 26 at the time, recalled having "an early midlife crisis" during which he lost his Catholic faith.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has since made comments critical of organised religion. In 2015, he said about his faith:
"As for being a Christian, yes, it seems ridiculous now, but I genuinely believed there was a big man in the sky who could grant wishes. Writers like Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins helped change my view, but I don't go on stage banging on about being an atheist... I'm just a guy who tells jokes."<ref name="Grant Smithies"/>
He has stated that he underwent a lot of therapy, specifically neuro-linguistic programming, at the time of his crisis in order to help him cope with his loss of faith, and that he is qualified as a therapist.<ref>BBC Radio 4, The Museum of Curiosity, Season 4, episode 1, broadcast 3 October 2011.</ref>
Carr has dual British and Irish citizenship, and travels on an Irish passport. He has spoken of his pride in having Irish ancestry and was presented in 2013 with a certificate of Irish heritage in his parents' home city of Limerick by the city's mayor.<ref>Pat Kehoe, "Comedy star Jimmy Carr speaks about his Irish heritage and dual British and Irish citizenship", Ireland Calling, 12 March 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2022</ref>
Carr lives in North London with his Canadian partner Karoline Copping, a commissioning editor for Channel 5,<ref name=Indy/> with whom he has been in a relationship since 2001.<ref name="Guardian women">Template:Cite news</ref> Their son was born in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Awards
- Time Out Award: Best Stand-Up (2002)<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Perrier Award Nomination (2002)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Royal Television Society Award: Best On-Screen Newcomer (2003)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Lafta Award: Best Stand-Up (2004)<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Rose D'Or Nomination: Best Presenter, Distraction (2004)<ref name=":1"/>
- Lafta Award: Funniest Man (2005)<ref name=":0"/>
- British Comedy Award: Best Live Stand-Up (2006)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Lafta Award: Funniest Man (2007)<ref name=":0"/>
- Lafta Award: Best Stand-Up (2008)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Lafta Award: Loaded Legend (2011)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Stand-up shows
| Title | Years |
|---|---|
| Charm Offensive | 2003–2004 |
| A Public Display of Affection | 2004–2006 |
| Gag Reflex | 2006–2007 |
| Repeat Offender | 2007–2008 |
| Joke Technician | 2008–2009 |
| Rapier Wit | 2009–2010 |
| Laughter Therapy | 2010–2011 |
| Gagging Order | 2012–2013 |
| Funny Business | 2014–2015 |
| The Best Of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits Tour | 2016–2018 |
| Terribly Funny | 2019–2021 |
| Terribly Funny 2.0 | 2022–2024 |
| Laughs Funny | 2024–2025 |
DVD releases / Netflix specials
| Title | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Live | 8 November 2004 | Live at London's Bloomsbury Theatre |
| Stand Up | 7 November 2005 | |
| Comedian | 5 November 2007 | |
| In Concert | 3 November 2008 | |
| Telling Jokes | 2 November 2009 | |
| Making People Laugh | 8 November 2010 | Live at Glasgow's Clyde Auditorium |
| Being Funny | 21 November 2011 | Live at Birmingham's Symphony Hall |
| Laughing and Joking | 18 November 2013 | Live at London's Hammersmith Apollo |
| Funny Business | 18 March 2016<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Netflix special Live at London's Hammersmith Apollo |
| The Best Of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits | 12 March 2019 | Netflix special Live at Dublin's Olympia Theatre |
| His Dark Material | 25 December 2021 | Netflix special Live at Southend-on-Sea's Cliffs Pavilion<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Natural Born Killer | 16 April 2024<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Netflix special<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Live at Aylesbury Waterside |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Alien Autopsy | Gary's manager | |
| Confetti | Antony | ||
| Stormbreaker | John Crawford | ||
| 2007 | I Want Candy | Video store employee | |
| 2009 | Telstar: The Joe Meek Story | Gentleman | |
| 2016 | The Comedian's Guide to Survival | Himself | |
| 2025 | Fackham Hall | Vicar | Also writer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2003, 2017–2019 | Your Face or Mine? | Co-presenter | E4 (2002–2003) Comedy Central (2017–2019) |
| 2003–2004 | Distraction | Presenter | Channel 4 |
| 2003 | Have I Got News for You | Guest presenter | BBC One |
| 2003–2010 | Panellist | ||
| Template:Sort | The Big Fat Quiz of the Year | Presenter | Channel 4 |
| 2005 | The Friday Night Project | Presenter | |
| 2005–2021 | 8 Out of 10 Cats | Presenter | Channel 4 (2005–2015) More4 (2016–2017) E4 (2017–2021) |
| 2007 | Live at the Apollo | Guest presenter (3x02) | BBC One |
| 2008 | Commercial Breakdown | Presenter | |
| 2010 | Channel 4's Alternative Election Night | Co-presenter | Channel 4 |
| 2010–2011 | A Comedy Roast | Presenter | |
| 2011–2013 | 10 O'Clock Live | Co-presenter | |
| 2012-present | 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown | Presenter | |
| 2014, 2015 | Sunday Night at the Palladium | Guest presenter | ITV |
| 2015–2017 | Drunk History | Narrator | Comedy Central |
| 2016 | Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe | Himself/roaster | |
| 2018 | The Fix | Host | Netflix |
| 2018–2020 | Roast Battle | Presenter | Comedy Central |
| 2019 | The Inbetweeners Fwends Reunited | Host | Channel 4 |
| 2020 | Back to the 2010s with Jimmy Carr | Host | |
| Blankety Blank Christmas Special 2020 | Participant | BBC One | |
| 2021–2022 | I Can See Your Voice<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Celebrity panellist | |
| Template:Sort | I Literally Just Told You<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> | Presenter | Channel 4 |
| 2022 | Jimmy Carr Destroys Art | Presenter | |
| 2024 | Battle in the Box | Host | Dave<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2025 | LOL: Last One Laughing | Host | Amazon Prime<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Jimmy Carr's Am I The A******? | Host | Comedy Central |
Guest appearances
- QI (2003–2022)
- A League of Their Own (2010–2017)
- Deal or No Deal (2012)
- Was it Something I Said? (2013)
- Through the Keyhole (2014, 2015, 2017)
- Top Gear (2004, 2006, 2013)
- Celebrity Juice (2014–2019)
- Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (2015, 2017)
- Celebrity Squares (2015)
- Celebrity Benchmark (2015)
- Crackanory (2015)
- Virtually Famous (2016, 2017)
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2016, 2025)
- @midnight (2016)
- Chelsea (2016)
- The Chase: Celebrity Special (2012, 2019)
- Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (2016)
- The Grand Tour (2016)
- Play to the Whistle (2017)
- Catchphrase: Celebrity Special (2018)
- Room 101 (2018)
- This Is My House (2021)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Celebrity Special (2021)
Books
- 2004, Distraction, the Quiz Book: For the Bright, the Bold and the Brave (foreword to the TV tie-in) Template:ISBN
- 2006, with Lucy Greeves, The Naked Jape: Uncovering the Hidden World of Jokes (London: Michael Joseph) Template:ISBN
- US title: Only Joking: What's So Funny About Making People Laugh? (New York: Gotham Books) Template:ISBN
- 2020, Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You, edited by Adam Kay (Carr contributed a story)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:ISBN
- 2021, Before & Laughter: A Life-Changing Book Template:ISBN
- UK title: 2022, Before & Laughter: The Hilarious Guide to Changing your Life (London: Quercus) Template:ISBN
Discography
- = (Ed Sheeran, 2021) – backing vocals on "Visiting Hours"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
References
External links
Template:Sister project auto Template:Portal
- Template:Official website
- Template:IMDb name
- Template:British Comedy Guide
- BBC Radio 4 – Jimmy Carr, Desert Island Discs, March 2017
- Pages with broken file links
- 1972 births
- Living people
- 20th-century English comedians
- 20th-century English male actors
- 21st-century English comedians
- 21st-century English male actors
- Actors from the London Borough of Hounslow
- Actors from Slough
- Alumni of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
- English atheists
- English game show hosts
- English male comedians
- English male film actors
- English people of Irish descent
- English stand-up comedians
- Comedians from Berkshire
- Comedians from Buckinghamshire
- Comedians from the London Borough of Hounslow
- British critics of religions
- Former Roman Catholics
- Male actors from Berkshire
- Male actors from Buckinghamshire
- Male actors from London
- People educated at Burnham Grammar School
- People educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
- People from Hounslow
- Television personalities from the London Borough of Hounslow