Talk:Paul Merton

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Contents

[edit] Date of Birth

Yes, the IMDB gives July 9, 1957: [1]. However it is alone: Comedy Zone, Whose line birthdays, On this day in history, and every other source gives January 17, 1957. Applying Occam's razor, the simple conclusion is that IMDB got it wrong. David | Talk 16:18, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

No, that turns out to be wrong: Who's Who gives July 9. I have changed it and put a note on the page. David | Talk 00:10, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

Is it necessary for "leg" to be linked??--Dub8lad1 23:34, 23 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Citation needed

Citation needed for the claim "In 2003, he was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. In The Comedian's Comedian, a 2005 Channel 4 poll of fellow comedians, he was voted the 20th funniest comedian in the universe."

[edit] Unsigned comment

I remember in this article i think a referance to a mental that Paul attended for a time, has anyone got a referance to that?/where is it? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by R johnson (talk • contribs) 15:19, 8 January 2007 (UTC).

It's in the article: the Maudsley Hospital. - Dudesleeper 15:40, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

Thanks very much. You can delete this if you want. R johnson 17:58, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Lead section

Wouldn't the intro be better written as

Paul Merton (born Paul Martin on July 9, 1957)

? - Dudesleeper · Talk 12:55, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

No. That would only be right if he had changed his name legally and he hasn't (this was confirmed in his China programme). The MofS states that full legal name should be at beginning of article, and stage name mentioned soon after. How we have it now is perfect. --UpDown 15:01, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

Didn't Merton write for Julian Clary, esp. Sticky Moments? Should there be a section on his writing for other people? 60.234.146.105 21:43, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Images

First off, the HIGNFY image has been tagged for speedy deletion because it has no fair use rationale for the articles it is used in. Secondly... can we really not find a better picture of Paul for the infobox? mattbuck 14:49, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

Do you have a problem with my image? Its free-use, and there's no other free-use one on Flickr, so the answer is no. Gran2 17:00, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
Got to agree that it's he looks pretty damn awful in it. I didn't recognise him to the extent I was convinced he was some other comedian.84.68.45.12 (talk) 18:51, 7 January 2008 (UTC)
Agreed its not a great photo, but it is better than nothing and I don't believe should be removed until a replacement is found. I did recognise it was him, unlike above, and have seen worse photos on Wikipedia. Free photos of living people are often hard to find, so we really shouldn't get rid of the one we've got. --UpDown (talk) 08:07, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
The only real problem with this image is that he is sitting/standing in front of a black backdrop while wearing a dark jumper. Just because the photo isn't going to be nominated for featured image status it doesn't mean it doesn't do its job well -- illustating the subject of the article. If a sharper photo (taken outside or in a well-lit room) can be found or taken, then the current one should be replaced, otherwise it should remain. Besides, it goes quite well with the "straight — even mournful-looking — face" comment in the lead. Brad (talk) 14:56, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
Why is the image apparently so "bad"? Sure the lighting isn't perfect but who cares? It's a free use image of a good size, and the ideal head on facial shot. Personally, I think you'd have to have some serious screen adjustment problems if you really couldn't recognise him... A clear free-use image is one million times better than no image, especially as there isn't really all that wrong with it. If anyone thinks it's bad, maybe you could go and find Paul Merton yourself, take him to a nice clear spot, and get a perfectly centered clear shot of him, because that'd be great. I'm not saying my image is perfect, I'm saying it's perfectly adequate when there is no alternative avaliable. Gran2 00:04, 12 January 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Line

is "Merton undertook a stand-up (or, rather, sit-down) tour" really needed? This is meant to be an encylopedia, not a place for weak puns. 86.148.102.130 (talk) 23:09, 13 January 2008 (UTC)

I agree. Peti me (talk) 22:07, 14 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Adverts?

Lol! I added a sentence to the 'Television' section, stating that Merton had appeared in a number of adverts and it was taken down almost immediately! He has, you know. That isn't my opinion or "poorly sourced". It's a straightforward indisputable fact. My theory is that Paul took it down himself. In denial, perhaps! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.47.32.88 (talk) 02:18, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

It may have been because of the critical tone, the use of the words 'high number' instead of 'many', and the mention of controversy without any reference. --Jon186 (talk) 20:05, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Roman Catholic?

After watching one of 'Paul Merton in China' programmes, I got the distinct feeling Paul Merton was not exactly Christian. In the programme, when discussing Christianity in China, before asking the views of the members of the congregation he stated that he himself was "weary of Christianity". This is not evidence of Atheism at all, but surely evidence to make him a Former Roman Catholic at best? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jamie M Hayes (talk • contribs) 08:21, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

Irish Catholic mother.[2] Well deduced. Bradley0110 (talk) 16:12, 3 June 2008 (UTC)