Appearing on the Jonathon Ross show last weekend, Alan Carr in his usual highly endearing manner, joked and flippantly relayed the stories of his episode of You Do You Think You Are? like he was performing a stand-up routine in front of a massive auditorium packed full of cackling fans. However, the reality of last night’s trip down memory lane for Carr, was that we got the rare treat of seeing his uncharacteristically vulnerable and serious side, even if he did throw in the odd riotous gag here and there, to remind us of the comedy king that he is.
Carr’s fascinating back-story started in a pretty straightforward manner on his father’s side. Having kicked around in the backyard with his grandfather when he could only swing at the ball with a walking stick, Carr inquisitively delved into the newspaper articles and pictures that have survived of his grandfather Wilfred, when he was striking hatricks for Newcastle United.
Unfortunately due to a bad knee injury, Wilf’s brush with fame came to an abrupt end and he found himself back in the coal mines with the bittersweet taste of success forever stuck in his mind. But before the tears start running for the poor man, Wilf did get to witness his son Graham (Carr’s father) lead a very successful career in football and go on to become chief scout at Newcastle United. Now that’s impressive.
Although Alan, along with everyone else, knew from a young age that football wasn’t his thing and quickly found his footing in the showbiz world. And thank God for that. Playfully reliving old times with his father, it was nice to see Carr relax and not feel the need to overemphasise his personality for the cameras. A true showman knows when to turn on the funny and turn it off again to show a more subdued side, and Carr certainly confirmed last night that he’s well capable and fitting of the success he has achieved.
Alan's father Graham made it in the footballing world. Pictured here with his father in 1979.
While his father’s family tree held little to none secrets or mysteries, his mother’s side was a different kettle of fish. Throwing in a few toothy smiles and sly winks at the camera here and there, we curiously followed Carr as the deliciously controversial past of his grandfather Cyril's father was unveiled. Carr knew that there had been a name change in his mother’s family somewhere, but little did he know of the puzzling and top-secret way in which it was obtained.
After marrying Thomas Lainge, his great-grandmother Maria had two children and fell in love with Henry Carter, Carr’s great-grandfather. After presumably running away together, it seemed the only logical explanation for the name change was their need to flee Thomas Lainge’s clutches. Yet after delving deeper into the archives, Carr astonishingly discovered that Henry Carter had in fact become a deserter of the army in the First World War and subsequently took on the persona of Richard Mercer to escape the authorities, with Maria taking on the name of Anne Mercer. Can you blame him really when over half of the men who went to the front died?
Alan with his grandfather Wilf in 1977.
Shocked, a little embarrassed and yet felling the humane characteristics of his great-grandfather, Carr immediately rang his mother with the information. Hilariously, every time he talked to his parents on the show he felt the need to announce himself. “It’s me Alan, your son” he pitched.
Deep in thought, Carr found himself philosophically questioning the meaning of life and his own existence towards the end, which only endeared us towards him even more.
While he didn’t get to scour the beautiful setting of LA in search for his family tree and to his astonishment ended up right back where he grew up, the enthralling programme had us on the edge of our seat with anticipation.
The Alan Carr we saw last night was low-key, restrained and highly likeable with a pretty juicy story to tell at dinner parties.
Sarah Carty
