Duncan Norvelle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Duncan Norvelle (born 1958, at Hoton, near Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, UK) is a comedian in the variety tradition who appeared on television from the early 1980s. Renowned for his effeminate manner, Norvelle's act essentially revolves around the pretence that he is gay although in his personal life he is married to a woman called Jane, suggesting he is actually heterosexual. He is probably most famous for his catch phrase "Chase Me!", leading to him often being referred to as Duncan "Chase Me" Norvelle.

1 Early Life
2 Entertainment Career
3 Current Life
4 Catchphrases
5 DVDs

[edit] Early Life

Norvelle attended local schools where his favourite subjects were football and cricket. It was during his school days that he first discovered his talent for impressions. "I think Burt Lancaster was the first one I did" he says.

He left school at 16 and took a job in a menswear shop in Loughborough, but it wasn't really to his taste. He was however very popular with the customers, and discovered his talent for making people laugh. At that time he started taking part in amateur charity shows and talent contests. "I won £20 in a talent show when I was on holiday in Bournemouth... so I could afford to stay another week!" he laughs.

Duncan left his job after 6 months to pursue his career as an entertainer. He was just 17 years old. He later moved in with his best friends sister, namely Valerie Sutton, now residing in Paignton, Devon.

[edit] Entertainment Career

Duncan has worked in clubs and nightspots all over the country and enjoyed summer seasons in Jersey, Isle of Man, Blackpool and Bournemouth. 1985 also saw his debut in the USA at a cabaret club in New York.

Mid 1980s saw Duncan host a pilot show named, "It's a Hoot" which went on to become Blind Date.

By the early 1990s with political correctness ever more present, Duncan was seen less and less as a suitable choice for a TV audience, as the presence of a heterosexual man reinforcing negative stereotypes of gay men was increasingly deemed offensive. Duncan soldiered on with club work, still managing to delight the less broad live audiences.

He likes to relax with a round of golf and has played in numerous pro-am and pro-celebrity tournaments. Snooker is another passion and he's no mean darts player either. As the celebrity guest on TV programme Bullseye, he scored a record 281.

2008 saw him go out on tour as part of the Ricky Tomlinson Laughter Show. David Holmes, former member of Durham based boy-band 'Mandate', described Duncan's performance at The Hardwick Hall Lobster Festival as "Cracking".

[edit] Current Life

Lives in Darfield, South Yorkshire. Can be seen selling furniture in Kamenka, furniture store on Doncaster Road, Stairfoot, when not touring with Ricky Tomlinsons laughter show Barnsley[[1]]

[edit] Catchphrases

"Chase Me!"

[edit] DVDs

A comedy compilation DVD "Laugh A Minute Vol. 2" (released 16/01/2006 by Boulevard Entertaiment) features a 60 second clip taken from the "In The Club" release.