Man Friday - Comedy Genius
Friday, 25 January 2008
Our man Friday is Comedian, TV Host and is quickly becoming a very successful west end theatre actor.
Our Man Friday today is the one and only Patrick Kielty
Patrick Biog
Patrick first came to the notice of UK audiences in 1994 as the host of the award winning Empire Laughs Back, a comedy special for BBC2 to commemorate the ceasefire in Northern Ireland.
His first live chat show was PK Tonight.
This led to his first network prime time show - After The Break on BBC1, but it was his move to Channel 4 an the success of Last Chance Lottery in 1997 that made him a household name.
This show was also the first show produced by his own production company and firmly established him as one f the industry's top live hosts.
In 1999, Patrick's return to the BBC with Bit Ticket
Get Up, Stand Up, which was shot in Ireland, was his triumphant return to stand up later on in that year.
His Patrick Kielty Almost Live show saw him back behind the chat show desk in 2000 for BBC1 - this was a highly successful run that would last for 3 years and a total of 6 series which was produced by his own company.
In 2002, the launch of BBC3 had Patrick fronting a new comedy panel show - Stupid Punts - please be careful how you pronounce this one girls!
Fame Academy was also co-hosted by Patrick (and Cat Deeley). This was the BBC's biggest entertainment hit of 2002 with the live final watched by a staggering 10 million viewers.
2003 There was a second series of Fame Academy - a British Comedy Awards nomination for Comic Relief Does Fame Academy and Series 5 & 6 of Patrick Kielty Almost Live kept him busy and constantly on our screen.
He also hosted The Special Olympics Opening Ceremony in front of 80,000 in Croke Park and 900 million viewers around the world.
Patrick traveled to India as part of a programme called 'A Mile In Their Shoes,' a Sport Relief documentary.
Patrick has presented BBC's Fame Academy, Comic Relief does Fame Academy and Love Island for ITV in both 2005 and 2006 on the Island of Fiji. Also in 2006, Kielty hosted a segment on ITV's coverage of The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday LIVE, along side Kate Thornton.
In 2006 Patrick is returned to the stand-up scene with a brand new UK tour. A DVD, filmed at Belfast's Waterfront Hall was later released.
2007 - Performs in A Night In November in Belfast Sep , and also the Bulmer's Comedy Festival Dublin - Then on to the West End for Oct - December
About the Play
When Ulster Protestant, Kenneth McCallister (Patrick Kielty) finds himself on the football terraces for a crucial Northern Ireland v Republic of Ireland World Cup qualifying match, little does he know that his hum-drum life is about to change forever.
After attending one match between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Kenneth goes on a journey to watch the world cup 1994 in New York Ireland versus Italy.
It is his journey in the bars, around the airport, in New York and all the characters he meets.
This was Patrick Kielty's first major acting role to a full house every night. There is talk that the play may go to Broadway but Patrick is awaiting the details on that. fingers crossed.
Note - Patrick is a Catholic and played a protestant in the play - (please remember that his father was killed in the troubles.)
Success of the Play
A Night In November played to packed houses when it opened at the Belfast Grand Opera House last August and was quickly snapped up by The Ambassador Theatre Group for a 7-week run at the West End's Trafalgar Theatre.
Despite the fact that Patrick had never taken to the stage as an actor he has been an outstanding success in the role of Kenneth Norman McCallister.
Rave reviews both in Belfast and London - The London Evening Standard declaring that "A great night.Kielty is a revelation" whilst The Sunday Times said, "Hilarious."
Quite a few celebrities have attended the show including - James Nesbitt, Andrea and Sharon Corr, Claudia Winkleman, Fearne Cotton and Jodie Kidd (she was a guest on his Almost Live show in 2003) these are just some of the celebrities who have given the show the thumbs up.
Whilst the London production ended on December 1st. plans are already advanced for a return to the West End so the run in Dublin will be necessarily limited to 2 weeks only.
Writer Marie Jones, also author of the hugely popular hit, Stones In His Pockets commented, "We've had some terrific actors playing in A Night In November. When Patrick Kielty's name was first muted I wasn't sure. I needn't have worried. He is a joy to watch from start to finish. A real tour de force."
A Night In November opens at The Olympia Theatre on Monday, 11th. February and runs for 11 nights only.
Tickets available at www.mcd.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie