Paul Taylor (comedian)

Paul Taylor, born 11 October 1986 in London, is a British/Irish comedian who performs in France.[1]

For other people with the same name, see Paul Taylor.

Paul Taylor
Born (1986-10-11) October 11, 1986
MediumStand up, television
Relative(s)
Websitepaultaylorcomedy.com

He moved to Paris in 2009[2] and he began performing stand-up in 2013. Known in France for his television series on Canal+, What the Fuck France, What's Up France ? and Stereotrip, his first stand-up show was #Franglais (2016-2019). His second show, So British (ou presque) (So British, or almost), debuted on 18 October 2019 in Paris.

Biography

Born to an English father and an Irish mother[3] Paul grew up in Geneva between 2 and 4 years old, then lived in France until he was 9,[4] which allows him to speak without an accent in French. He returned to England when his parents divorced.

He studied languages in school - he is trilingual, speaking English, French, and Spanish. During school, he worked for Apple in sales, and three years later he began work as an international trainer for the brand. He moved to Paris at 23.[5] As he said in his show #Franglais, he quit working at Apple and did not take any unemployment, which is unusual in France.

Media Debut

While at university, Taylor played an extra in The Oxford Murders[6]. His big break, though, was the online video La Bise (referring to the cheek kisses used as a greeting in France),[7] which was his first big hit with the French public. This video, which was a promotion for a night of English language humor in Paris,[8] was put online on 1 January 2016, and has more than 3 million views. Filmed in one steady shot, La Bise mocks the French tradition, and serves as a model for Taylor's show What the Fuck France?.

Television

Thanks to the success of La Bise being seen over a million times in a few days[9] on YouTube, Canal+ contacted Taylor the next week, proposing a regular short program,[10] in the same format. What the Fuck France? was broadcast on Canal+. The 3-minute short comedy show debuted in September 2016, and ran for 34 episodes.[11] Taylor humorously dissects the peculiarities of French life on it. What the Fuck France? was one of the first shows broadcast in English and French on a French network.

A second program, also broadcast on Canal+, was released in 2017 with 14 episodes in a similar format: What's Up France ?. This time, the French news was watched and dissected.[12]

Finally, a third show with Canal+ was created in 2018. With Stereotrip (a contraction of stereotype and roadtrip) in 6 45-minute episodes, Taylor reviews the cliches and stereotypes associated with Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Germany, and England.[13]

Stand-up Shows

Taylor defines himself primarily as a stand-up comedian. After a few attempts in England at amateur stand-up, he made his debut in Paris in 2013. He was quickly successful,[14] particularly with his online videos and his projects with Canal+. His first stand-up show, #Franglais,[15] 50 % in French, 50 % en anglais, was performed in different Parisian theaters such as Le Sentier des Halles, La Nouvelle Eve, and L'Européen, and then on tour in France and Canada,[16] for almost 3 years. The entire show was filmed at La Nouvelle Eve in March 2018, and broadcast on Canal+.[17] The final three shows were at the Casino de Paris in front of 1400 spectators.[18]

The 18 October 2019, Taylor debuted his second show: So British (ou presque) after a break-in period of a few weeks in August 2018 at Point Virgule. The new show was almost called Rebecoming English, but title was rejected as the verb to rebecome was a neologism Taylor created.

Inspiration

Comedians Lee Evans, Ricky Gervais and Louis C.K[19] are credited as influences of Taylor.

Personal life

Taylor married his wife Adeline on 3 June 2017. Their daughter, Louise, was born in France in June 2019.[20]

Taylor has a half-brother, Kyle Taylor, who plays professional football as a midfielder for AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League.[21]

References
  1. "Paul Taylor Comedy". paultaylorcomedy.com (in French).
  2. Michalet, Thibaud (October 14, 2016). "Qui se cache derrière What The Fuck France?".
  3. "Qui se cache derrière What The Fuck France ?". www.gqmagazine.fr.
  4. "Paul Taylor, un "Englishman" à Paris". November 29, 2017. ISSN 1423-3967.
  5. "Paul Taylor un anglais qui se moque de nous". www.ouest-france.fr/. November 29, 2017.
  6. Taylor, Paul. "Paul Taylor's Happy Hour (Live) 12/6/20". YouTube. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  7. "La Bise". www.youtube.com.
  8. "Paul Taylor, un "Englishman" à Paris". www.letemps.ch. November 29, 2017.
  9. "Paul Taylor: un english man à Paris". www.influenth.com. December 13, 2016.
  10. "Paul Taylor : J'aime la France comme ma femme | We Love comedy Magazine" (in French). March 7, 2017.
  11. "What The Fuck France". Paul Taylor (in French).
  12. "What's Up France". Paul Taylor (in French).
  13. "Paul Taylor, le rosbif qui taille un costard aux Européens dans Stéréotrip" (in French). October 15, 2018.
  14. "Paul Taylor ou le succès du French Bashing". www.lemonde.fr/. December 7, 2017.
  15. "#Franglais". Paul Taylor (in French).
  16. "Paul Taylor, l'Anglais qui taquine les francophones, s'invite au Canada". ici.radio-canada.ca. October 20, 2018.
  17. "Paul Taylor #Franglais". www.canalplus.com.
  18. "It's Over | Vlog #101". www.youtube.com. February 19, 2019.
  19. "Ces rois du stand-up qui ont inspiré Paul Taylor". www.canalplus.com.
  20. "Paul Taylor". www.youtube.com.
  21. "Fiche Joueur". www.lequipe.fr.
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