Paul Zerdin
Encyclopedia
Paul Zerdin is an English comedian
/ventriloquist. That Paul should choose a career in the entertainment industry is not entirely unexpected as both his parents attended drama school and his mother went on to become a BBC Radio 2 presenter and his father a producer for the BBC World Service.
When Paul Zerdin was 10 a family friend made him a puppet theatre which he used to put on shows, a hobby which quickly grew into an obsession. The real turning point for Paul was when he was given a book on ventriloquism
written by the legendary Ray Alan
and it was not long before he was spending half an hour a day in front of the mirror practicing talking without moving his lips.
When Paul was 17 he got a part-time job at Davenports’ Magic and began to develop his own magic skills along the way and became a children’s entertainer as a sideline.
In 1990 Paul Zerdin made his television debut as a magician in Tricky Business
, a BBC TV children’s sitcom, returning a year later in Hangar 17 at which point he debuted his act as a ventriloquist. Paul also started working in holiday camps and working men’s clubs honing his skills.
In 1992 Paul landed a two year-contract presenting the Disney produced kids’ programme Rise and Shine
for GMTV
which saw the introduction of Paul’s puppet character Sam. Paul’s appearances on Rise and Shine led to his first work in Pantomime
and he is now a Panto veteran with 16 shows to his credit and a future starring role in the Christmas 2011 Qdos production of Robinson Crusoe in Cardiff.
Between 1994 and 1996 Paul continued with his shows around the UK’s holiday camps, and working men’s clubs. During this time he also did guest spots on shows like The O-Zone, Disney Club and To Me To You with The Chuckle Brothers
.
In 1995, a chance meeting with a puppeteer friend who was working with the Jim Henson Company led to an introduction to Brian Henson and Kevin Clash
(Elmo
from Sesame Street
). When Brian, who was directing the movie Muppet Treasure Island, and Muppet coordinator Kevin Clash found out that Paul was also a puppeteer they quickly recruited him to work on the movie during that summer. This gave Paul a chance to work with his real heroes and also to further develop his skills.
In 1996 Paul Zerdin was the outright winner of LWT’s The Big Big Talent Show, hosted by Jonathan Ross. The experience raised his profile and introduced him to Nigel Lythgoe, the man who would go on to create reality shows such as Popstars, American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.
Lythgoe took Zerdin under his wing, paving the way for appearances on scores of shows including Tonight at the London Palladium hosted by Bruce Forsyth, You Bet, The Generation Game and A Royal Gala for The Prince’s Trust, marking his first brush with Royalty. Since then Paul has appeared on 3 Royal Variety Performances - in 1999, 2002, and 2009. In the year 2000 Zerdin made his Edinburgh Fringe debut at The Gilded Balloon. In 2002 as a result of his impressive performance on the Royal Variety Show Paul was awarded with Gold Star membership of the Inner Magic Circle as recognition of his talents.
Paul’s talents were becoming increasingly recognised and in 2007 he headlined a show called Variety Live at The Palladium which featured jugglers, magicians and performers from Cirque du Soleil. The show then moved to Las Vegas for 3 nights at the Suncoast Casino and returned there in 2009 for a further run.
By 2009 Paul Zerdin had established himself as one of the world’s leading ventriloquists and he returned to the Edinburgh Fringe to critical acclaim with his show Sponge Fest, combining comedy with ventriloquism. Reviewing Sponge Fest, The Stage commented “simply put, Zerdin is the man who can make ventriloquism look cool.” The following year he was invited to appear at Just for Laughs in Montreal, again to rave reviews. That same year Paul headed back to Edinburgh with Sponge Fest Revisited which was followed by his first ever UK tour with Sponge Fest. Featuring the cheeky pre-adolescent Sam, the belligerent OAP Albert and precocious infant Baby, Sponge Fest proved very popular with audiences and Paul will continue his tour in 2011 between August and November.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
/ventriloquist. That Paul should choose a career in the entertainment industry is not entirely unexpected as both his parents attended drama school and his mother went on to become a BBC Radio 2 presenter and his father a producer for the BBC World Service.
When Paul Zerdin was 10 a family friend made him a puppet theatre which he used to put on shows, a hobby which quickly grew into an obsession. The real turning point for Paul was when he was given a book on ventriloquism
Ventriloquism
Ventriloquism, or ventriloquy, is an act of stagecraft in which a person manipulates his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere, usually a puppeteered "dummy"...
written by the legendary Ray Alan
Ray Alan
Ray Alan was an English ventriloquist and television entertainer from the 1950s until the 1980s. He was associated primarily with the puppet Lord Charles and later also with the puppets Tich and Quackers.-Biography:...
and it was not long before he was spending half an hour a day in front of the mirror practicing talking without moving his lips.
When Paul was 17 he got a part-time job at Davenports’ Magic and began to develop his own magic skills along the way and became a children’s entertainer as a sideline.
In 1990 Paul Zerdin made his television debut as a magician in Tricky Business
Tricky Business
Tricky Business was a British children's sitcom which ran for three series from 1989 to 1991. It featured Anthony Davis and Sally Ann Marsh and Una Stubbs in the first series, David Wood, Anthony Davis, Patsy Palmer and a puppet rabbit called Crabtree in the second and Bernie Clifton and Leslie...
, a BBC TV children’s sitcom, returning a year later in Hangar 17 at which point he debuted his act as a ventriloquist. Paul also started working in holiday camps and working men’s clubs honing his skills.
In 1992 Paul landed a two year-contract presenting the Disney produced kids’ programme Rise and Shine
Rise and Shine
Rise and Shine is an album by popular children's entertainer Raffi Cavoukian, released in 1982 by his two labels, Shoreline Recordings and Troubadour Music, with distribution by A&M Records...
for GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
which saw the introduction of Paul’s puppet character Sam. Paul’s appearances on Rise and Shine led to his first work in Pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
and he is now a Panto veteran with 16 shows to his credit and a future starring role in the Christmas 2011 Qdos production of Robinson Crusoe in Cardiff.
Between 1994 and 1996 Paul continued with his shows around the UK’s holiday camps, and working men’s clubs. During this time he also did guest spots on shows like The O-Zone, Disney Club and To Me To You with The Chuckle Brothers
Chuckle Brothers
Barry Elliott and Paul Elliott , better known as the Chuckle Brothers, are British comedians. They are best known for their work on their BBC show ChuckleVision, which celebrated its 21st anniversary in March 2010 with a tour called An Audience with the Chuckle Brothers, which started in January...
.
In 1995, a chance meeting with a puppeteer friend who was working with the Jim Henson Company led to an introduction to Brian Henson and Kevin Clash
Kevin Clash
Kevin Jeffrey Clash is an American puppeteer and voice actor whose characters include Elmo, Baby Sinclair, Clifford, Splinter and Hoots the Owl...
(Elmo
Elmo
Elmo is a Muppet character on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is a furry red monster and currently hosts the last full 15 minute segment on Sesame Street, Elmo's World, which is aimed at toddlers. His puppeteer, Kevin Clash, uses falsetto to produce his voice...
from Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
). When Brian, who was directing the movie Muppet Treasure Island, and Muppet coordinator Kevin Clash found out that Paul was also a puppeteer they quickly recruited him to work on the movie during that summer. This gave Paul a chance to work with his real heroes and also to further develop his skills.
In 1996 Paul Zerdin was the outright winner of LWT’s The Big Big Talent Show, hosted by Jonathan Ross. The experience raised his profile and introduced him to Nigel Lythgoe, the man who would go on to create reality shows such as Popstars, American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.
Lythgoe took Zerdin under his wing, paving the way for appearances on scores of shows including Tonight at the London Palladium hosted by Bruce Forsyth, You Bet, The Generation Game and A Royal Gala for The Prince’s Trust, marking his first brush with Royalty. Since then Paul has appeared on 3 Royal Variety Performances - in 1999, 2002, and 2009. In the year 2000 Zerdin made his Edinburgh Fringe debut at The Gilded Balloon. In 2002 as a result of his impressive performance on the Royal Variety Show Paul was awarded with Gold Star membership of the Inner Magic Circle as recognition of his talents.
Paul’s talents were becoming increasingly recognised and in 2007 he headlined a show called Variety Live at The Palladium which featured jugglers, magicians and performers from Cirque du Soleil. The show then moved to Las Vegas for 3 nights at the Suncoast Casino and returned there in 2009 for a further run.
By 2009 Paul Zerdin had established himself as one of the world’s leading ventriloquists and he returned to the Edinburgh Fringe to critical acclaim with his show Sponge Fest, combining comedy with ventriloquism. Reviewing Sponge Fest, The Stage commented “simply put, Zerdin is the man who can make ventriloquism look cool.” The following year he was invited to appear at Just for Laughs in Montreal, again to rave reviews. That same year Paul headed back to Edinburgh with Sponge Fest Revisited which was followed by his first ever UK tour with Sponge Fest. Featuring the cheeky pre-adolescent Sam, the belligerent OAP Albert and precocious infant Baby, Sponge Fest proved very popular with audiences and Paul will continue his tour in 2011 between August and November.