Jasper Carrott, OBE is an English comedian, actor, television presenter,
and personality. Early life
Born in Shaftmoor Lane, Acocks Green, in Birmingham, Carrott was educated at
Acocks Green primary school and Moseley School. He worked as a trainee buyer at
a city centre department store, the Beehive, with schoolmate Bev Bevan.
Career = Rise to fame=
In February 1969 he started his own folk club, "The Boggery", in nearby Solihull
with his friend Les Ward. Carrott performed folk songs and as an MC. His
banter overtook the songs and he became more a comedian than singer. He also
worked as a musical agent, as Fingimigig, managing among others Harvey
Andrews. He toured UK rugby clubs. He recorded an album in 1973 called Jasper
Carrot – In the Club, which he sold from his van. The album contained the
original "Magic Roundabout", although mainly material used in his next three
LPs plus the Fred Wedlock song "The Folker".
He had a UK Top 5 chart hit in August 1975 with the novelty record "Funky
Moped", written by Chris Rohmann and produced by Jeff Lynne. The B-side was a
risqué monologue parodying the children's TV series The Magic
Roundabout. On the Ken Bruce Show, 10th August 2015, Jasper said this was not
banned by the BBC they just didn't play it, and which is widely believed to have
contributed to its success, which in turn led to his appearance on the BBC's
Top of the Pops. By the late 1970s, Carrott had developed
anecdotal sketches which he still performs 30 years on. Often they purport
to be auto-biographical; many celebrate the Birmingham accent and culture,
including his support of Birmingham City.
His live performances were recorded as Jasper Carrott Rabbitts on and on and
on... and Carrott in Notts. Notable hits were "Bastity Chelt", a song in
Spoonerism, "The Football Match" describing a visit to Old Trafford, "The
Nutter on the Bus", "The Mole" and "Zits" – an explanation of American
slang for spots that brought the word into use in Britain.
In 1979 he published A Little Zit on the Side, a humorous autobiography. The
follow-up, Sweet and Sour Labrador, mixed sections of stand-up routines with
similar autobiographical material, much of it related to his world travels.
Jasper was once a compère for the Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert
1986, which featured local bands such as Electric Light Orchestra and the Moody
Blues, with a finale that included George Harrison from the Beatles.
On 15 September 2007 he was inducted into the Birmingham Walk of Stars at the
Arts Fest 2007 celebrations. The award was presented by the Lord Mayor of
Birmingham. Carrott is the second inductee, following Ozzy Osbourne.
Carrott was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Comedy
Awards on 6 December 2008. His first appearance on television was a
half-hour show for BBC Midlands on 11 August 1975 in a programme about local
football called "The Golden Game". Then in 1976, A Half Hour Mislaid with Jasper
Carrott recorded at Pebble Mill. His break came two years later when Michael
Grade asked for a pilot for LWT. Grade liked it and five further shows were
recorded, which became his first TV series, An Audience with Jasper Carrott,
in 1978, this partnership with LWT lasted until 1981, The Unrecorded Jasper
Carrott and Beat the Carrott are the best known live stand-up performances
from his time with LWT. He moved to the BBC for Carrott's Lib, a
Saturday night comedy broadcast live, and then a string of BBC shows. The most
notable were Carrott's Commercial Breakdown, which broadcast weird adverts
from around the world, and the sketch and stand-up shows Carrott Confidential,
24 Carrott Gold, The Jasper Carrott Trial and Canned Carrott, some of which
also featured Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis.
Carrott played Heinrich in the 1987 British comedy film, Jane and the Lost
City. Canned Carrott also featured a spoof
police drama called The Detectives, co-starring Robert Powell, which turned
into a series. In 2002–2004, 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 at the National Indoor
Arena in Birmingham featuring classic routines from his career. He returned to
singing for the musical Go Play Up Your Own End in 2005.
In 2005, he appeared in and put on the first of Jasper Carrott's Rock With
Laughter concerts. He appeared alongside Bill Bailey, Bonnie Tyler, Lenny Henry,
Bobby Davro, the Lord of the Dance troupe and Bev Bevan. This became a
regular at the NEC in Birmingham, usually in December and sometimes
alternating with his "Jasper Carrott's Christmas Crackers" events, but there
have also been a few summer shows too. In summer 2007, Jasper hosted the
Endemol-produced game show Golden Balls for ITV1. Promising ratings led to a
second series in January 2008. A third series began in April 2008, and a fourth
in October 2008. A fifth and six series were shown in 2009.
He hosted the Sunday night national pub quiz, Cash Inn.
He was 20th in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians show.
Literary work Carrott has written three humorous
autobiographical paperbacks: A Little Zit on the Side, Sweet and Sour Labrador
and Carrott Roots...and Other Myths. He also wrote an odd novel called Shop! or
A Store is Born ISBN 9780099617006. Also of interest is a book by Jasper's
former manager John Starkey, Jasper and Me.
Business interests Carrott was part-owner of the production
company Celador, makers of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? In 2006, he and wife
Hazel sold their shares for £10m as part of a management buyout.
Personal life Carrott has been married to his wife
Hazel, a former local journalist, since 1973. They have three daughters and one
son: Lucy Davis, an actress best known for playing Dawn Tinsley in The Office;
Hanna, Jenny, and Jake Davis. Carrott is a supporter and former
director of Birmingham City F.C. and was awarded an OBE in 2002 "for charitable
services". The University of Birmingham awarded him an honorary doctorate in
2004, following a similar award from Aston University in 1995.
Carrott lives in Dorridge, close to Solihull. He was a runner and supported
Knowle Fun Run through sponsorship and publicity, in 2001 donating several
thousand pounds, £10 for each person who beat him. He is also a patron and
fundraiser for Sunfield Children's Home, a school for children with autism. The
school is in Clent. Filmography
Discography Jasper Carrott in the Club
Funky Moped/The Magic Roundabout Jasper Carrott Rabbitts on and on and
on.. Disco Hits 75
20 Original Top Hits Bickenhill Rovers Skin'ead Supporters
Song/Car Insurance Carrott in Notts
12 Days of Christmas/Local Radio Promotion
A Pain in the Arm Disco Saturday Night 40
The Best of Jasper Carrott The Un-Recorded Jasper Carrott
BBC Fun At One(features one track from Jasper 'Car Insurance')
Made in Australia 1980) 12 Days of Christmas 1980)
Beat the Carrott The Secret Policeman's Other
Ball(features one track from Jasper 'Australian Motor Insurance Claims')
We Are Most Amused:The Very Best of British Comedy(features one track from
Jasper 'Nutter on the Bus.) The Best of the Chat from Carrott's Lib
The Stun Noel Edmonds presents Listen with
Mother(Jasper reads 'Gary the Greatest' by Margaret Joy from The Noel Edmonds
Show 1982) Jasper Carrott in America
Cosmic Carrott Jasper Carrotts Condensed Classics
The Complete Secret Policeman's Other Ball
24 Carrott Gold Canned Carrott For The Record
Jasper Carrott-Back to the Front volume Jasper Carrott-Back to the Front volume
24 Carrott Gold – The Best Of Jasper Carrott
Classic Carrott volume 1 – Canned Carrott For The Record
Classic Carrott volume 2 – 24 Carrott Gold
Classic Carrott volume 3 – One Jasper Carrott
References External links
Official website BBC Comedy Guide
Jasper Carrott at the Internet Movie Database