Jasper Carrott

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Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott
Born	March 14, 1945 Acocks Green, Birmingham, England.
Known for	Stand-up comedy, his role in sitcom The Detectives and the song Funky Moped
Occupation	Comedian, Actor, Musician
Title	OBE
Children	Lucy Davis
Website	Official Website

Jasper Carrott OBE (born Robert Davies, March 14, 1945) is an English comedian (declaring himself "world famous in Birmingham").

Born in Acocks Green, Birmingham, he was educated at Moseley School. He started his own folk club at 16 called "The Boggery" in Solihull, where he would perform folk songs as well as MC. Before long, his banter with the audience overtook the actual songs and he became known more as a comedian than a singer. He also worked as a musical agent (in partnership with Harvey Andrews), as Finger-Me-Gig, managing (among other bands) Decameron.

He had a surprise UK top 5 chart hit in 1975 with a novelty record called "Funky Moped" written by Chris Rohmann. The B-Side to this single was a risqué monologue parodying the animated children's TV series The Magic Roundabout. The latter was banned by the BBC, an action which is widely believed to have contributed to its commercial success.

His break into television was with the LWT series An Audience with Jasper Carrott in 1978. This was followed by Carrott's Lib - a Saturday night comedy show broadcast live on the BBC - and then by a string of different shows. The most notable of these were Carrott's Commercial Breakdown, which broadcast weird and wonderful adverts from around the world, and the sketch and stand-up shows Carrott Confidential, 24 Carrott Gold, The Jasper Carrott Trials and Canned Carrott, some of which also gave TV exposure to the comedy partnership of Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis.

Canned Carrott also featured a regular police drama spoof called The Detectives, co-starring Robert Powell, which was spun off into its own series. In 2002 and 2003, he starred in the sitcom All About Me.

He performed in several of the Secret Policeman's Ball charity concerts for Amnesty International, and returned to the stage in 2004 for several sell out shows at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham featuring classic routines from his career. He returned to a singing role for the musical "Go Play Up Your Own End" (written by Malcolm Stent, songs by Harvey Andrews) in 2005.

He turned his hand to business as part owner of the production company Celador, makers of the internationally successful Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?. In 2006, he and wife Hazel sold their shares in the company for over £10m as part of a management buyout deal. His daughter, Lucy Davis, is an actress best known for playing Dawn in The Office.

He is a proud supporter and director of the football club Birmingham City and was made an OBE in 2002. The University of Birmingham awarded him a honorary doctorate in 2004.

As an April fool story in 2006, The Independent newspaper reported that the University of Birmingham's twinned status with its Alabama namesake led to a liaison between Carrott and Condoleezza Rice, whom he described as "a ferocious kisser". The story was subsequently featured as a University Challenge bonus round question on spoof news items.

He is a Brummie legend who, in 2005, appeared in and put on "Jasper Carrott's Rock With Laughter". He appeared alongside performers such as Bill Bailey, Bonnie Tyler, Lenny Henry, Bobby Davro, the Lord of the Dance troupe and Bev Bevan, another Brummie favourite.

Jasper is currently filming a new game show for ITV1, the Endemol-produced Golden Balls, due to air in April.

He was 20th in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians show.