Jasper Carrott
| Jasper Carrott | |
|---|---|
 Carrott in 2006 | |
| Birth name | Robert Norman Davis |
| Born |
14 March 1945 Acocks Green, Birmingham, England |
| Medium | Stand-up, television, game show host |
| Years active |
1969–2005 (singer) 1975–present (comedian) |
| Spouse |
Hazel Jackson (m. 1973) |
| Children | 4, including Lucy Davis |
| Website | JasperCarrott.com |
Jasper Carrott, OBE (born Robert Norman Davis; 14 March 1945) 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
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 (with John Starkey, who was his manager from 1974 to 1992), 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 (such as "Hare Krishna", "Car Insurance", "Bastity Chelt", and "Hava Nagila") 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.
By the late 1970s, Carrott had developed anecdotal sketches which he still performs 30 years on. Often they purport to be autobiographical; 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" (including the cry "Has anybody seen my camel?"), "The Mole" ("There's only one way to get rid of a mole – blow its bloody head off!") 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. Carrott 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,[1] this partnership with LWT lasted until 1981, The Unrecorded Jasper Carrott (1979) and Beat the Carrott (1981) are the best known live stand-up performances from his time with LWT. Carrott often appeared alongside comedy legend Sammy 'Shinpads' Higgins during his rise to fame.
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 Trial of Jasper Carrott 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.[2]
Canned Carrott also featured a spoof police drama called The Detectives, co-starring Robert Powell, which turned into a series. In 2002–04, 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 (written by Malcolm Stent, songs by Harvey Andrews) in 2005.[3]
In 2005, he appeared in and put on the first of Jasper Carrott's Rock With Laughter concerts. 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, Carrott hosted the Endemol-produced game show Golden Balls for ITV1.[4] Promising ratings led to a second series in January 2008. Carrott would often refer to the golden balls as his own testicles which added to the humour of the show. 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.
Since then his work is noted under 'Filmography' below.
Literary work
Carrott has written the humorous paperbacks A Little Zit on the Side (1979), and Sweet and Sour Labrador (1982). He also wrote a novel called Shop! or a Store is Born.[5]
Also of interest is a book by Carrott's former manager John Starkey, Jasper and Me (1993; Etsiketsi Books). He once said, "Ringo isn't the best drummer in the world. He isn't even the best drummer in the Beatles." This quote was credited to John Lennon until Mark Lewisjohn discovered, in 1983, that it was Mr Carrott who said it.[6]
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 is the father of actress Lucy Davis.[7]
He is a supporter, and was a director, of Birmingham City. He was awarded an OBE in 2002 "for charitable services".[8] The University of Birmingham awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2004,[9] following a similar award from Aston University in 1995.
On 2 April 2018, Carrott had a heart bypass operation.[10]
Filmography
| Filmography | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2015 | The One Show | Himself/guest presenter | 11 December 2015 |
| 2012 | The One Jasper Carrott | Himself | 9 January 2012 |
| 2007–2009 | Golden Balls | Presenter | |
| 2004 | 24 Carrott Gold: The Best of Jasper Carrott | Himself | recorded live at the NIC in Birmingham |
| 2002–2004 | All About Me | Colin Craddock | |
| 1999 | Jasper Carrott – Back to the Front | Himself | |
| 1999 | Jasper Carrott – You've Left Silk On My Milk | Patrick Butler | With Javier Bardem |
| 1997 | The Jasper Carrott Trial | Himself | based on the original BBC radio series |
| 1996 | Carrott's Commercial Breakdown 4 | Himself | |
| 1994 | Carrott-U-Like | Himself | |
| 1993 | Carrott's Commercial Breakdown 3 | Himself | |
| 1993–1997 | The Detectives | Bob Louis | 30 episodes, 5 series & 1 Special |
| 1992 | One Jasper Carrott | Himself | recorded live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane |
| 1991 | Carrott's Commercial Breakdown 2 | Himself | |
| 1990 | 24 Carrott Gold | Himself | recorded live at Stratford Upon Avon |
| 1990–1992 | Canned Carrott | Himself | |
| 1989 | Carrott's Commercial Breakdown | Himself | |
| 1987 | Jane and the Lost City | Heinrich / Herman / Hans | |
| 1987 | Stand-up America | Himself | |
| 1987 | Carrott Confidential | Himself | this includes an election special broadcast on BBC2, and a special trailer for the 2nd series, broadcast on Friday 15 January 1988, which took the form of a mini sketch with Carrott dressed as Anne Robinson on 'Pointless Views' |
| 1985 | American Carrott | Himself | |
| Jasper Carrott – Learner Driver(Mother in Law) | Himself | short animated film, unknown TX date | |
| 1984 | Jasper Carrott – I've Got This Mole | Himself | short animated film, LWT |
| 1983 | Look After My Horse When I'm Gone | Roy Strong & Martha The Horse | short animated film, LWT |
| 1982–1983 | Carrott's Lib | Himself | |
| 1982 | The Secret Policeman's Other Ball | Himself | |
| 1981 | Beat the Carrott | Himself | live from the London Palladium |
| 1981 | Carrott Del Sol (Sago) | Himself | |
| 1980 | Carrott Gets Rowdie | Himself | |
| 1979 | The Unrecorded Jasper Carrott | Himself | live from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane |
| 1978 | An Audience With Jasper Carrott | Himself | |
| 1976 | A Half Hour Mislaid with Jasper Carrott | Himself | |
Discography
- Jasper Carrott in the Club (live LP, Criminal Records 1973)
- Funky Moped/The Magic Roundabout (DJS 388, 7 inch single, DJM Records 1975)
- Jasper Carrott Rabbitts on and on and on.. (DJLPS 462/DJF 20462, live LP, DJM Records 1975)
- Disco Hits 75 (ADE P 18, compilation LP, Arcade Records 1975) (features Carrott's top 5 hit 'Funky Moped')
- 20 Original Top Hits (2475 501, compilation LP, Polystar Records 1975) (features Carrott's top 5 hit 'Funky Moped')
- Bickenhill Rovers Skin'ead Supporters Song/Car Insurance (DJS 649, 7 inch single, DJM Records 1976)
- Carrott in Notts (DJF 20482, live LP, DJM Records 1976)
- 12 Days of Christmas/Local Radio Promotion (DJS 10815, 7 inch single/DJR 18002, 12 inch single, DJM Records 1977)
- A Pain in the Arm (DJF 20518, live LP, DJM Records 1978)
- Disco Saturday Night 40 (PLD 8004, Double LP compilation, Pickwick Records 1978) (features Carrott's top 5 hit 'Funky Moped')
- The Best of Jasper Carrott (DJF 20549, live LP, DJM Record 1978)
- The Un-Recorded Jasper Carrott (DJF 20560, live at Drury Lane TV soundtrack LP, DJM Records 1979)
- BBC Fun At One (BBC REB 371, LP, BBC Records 1979)(features one track from Carrott 'Car Insurance')
- Made in Australia (L 375 16, live in Australia LP, DJM/Festival (Australia) 1980)
- 12 Days of Christmas (K-8144, 7 inch single, DJM/Festival (Australia) 1980)
- Beat the Carrott (DJF 20575, live at the London Palladium TV soundtrack LP, DJM Records 1981)
- The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (HAHA 6003, live LP, Springtime Records 1981)(features one track from Carrott 'Australian Motor Insurance Claims')
- We Are Most Amused:The Very Best of British Comedy (RTD 2067, Double LP, Ronco Records 1981)(features one track from Carrott 'Nutter on the Bus.)
- The Best of the Chat from Carrott's Lib (DJF 20580, live TV series soundtrack LP, DJM Records 1982)
- The Stun (Carrott Tells All) (DJF 20582, live LP, DJM Records 1983)
- Noel Edmonds presents Listen with Mother (BBC REC 525, LP, BBC Records 1984)(Carrott reads 'Gary the Greatest' by Margaret Joy from The Noel Edmonds Show 1982)
- Jasper Carrott in America (RNLP 817, live in America LP, Rhino Records 1985)
- Cosmic Carrott (Laugh 1, live in America LP, CBS Portrait Records 1986)
- Jasper Carrotts Condensed Classics (CCD 30, CD, Chrysalis/Dover Records 1991)
- The Complete Secret Policeman's Other Ball (ESDCD, 2-CD set, Island 1991) (features two tracks from Carrott 'Australian Motor Insurance Claims' and 'Confessions of a Van Driver')
- 24 Carrott Gold (EMI TC EMC 3655, live Stratford Upon Avon TV soundtrack 1990, Audio Cassette, EMI Records 1991)
- Canned Carrott For The Record (EMI 8 31146 2, 2 CD TV soundtrack, EMI Records 1994)
- Jasper Carrott-Back to the Front volume 1 (TLCD 04, TV soundtrack CD, Sound Entertainment 2000)
- Jasper Carrott-Back to the Front volume 2 (TLCD 05, TV Soundtrack CD, Sound Entertainment 2000)
- 24 Carrott Gold – The Best Of Jasper Carrott (TCLCD 58, live at the NIC Birmingham, Sound Entertainment 2004)
- Classic Carrott volume 1 – Canned Carrott For The Record (2CD TV soundtrack, Sound Entertainment 2005)
- Classic Carrott volume 2 – 24 Carrott Gold (TV soundtrack CD, Sound Entertainment 2005)
- Classic Carrott volume 3 – One Jasper Carrott (TLCD050, TV soundtrack CD, Sound Entertainment 2005)
References
- ↑ Ed Doolan interviews...Jasper Carrott (a.k.a.The Other Side of Jasper Carrott) (2005) Radio BBC7
- ↑ "Biography". Jasper Carrott: The Official Website. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2007.
- ↑ "Go Play Up Your Own End". BBC. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ↑ "About – Golden Balls TV Show". goldenballstvshow.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014.
- ↑ ISBN 9780099617006
- ↑ According to Daniel Finkelstein, writing in The Times in 2014,
- ↑ "Lucy Davis on Married Single Other". Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ↑ "No. 56797". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2002. p. 10.
- ↑ "Comic to get honorary doctorate". BBC News. 3 June 2004.
- ↑ "Jasper Carrott confirms he's going back on tour after having quadruple heart bypass". 2 April 2018.
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