Michael McIntyre's The Wheel

Michael McIntyre (Presenter)

Born: February 21, 1976 in London

Best Known For: Coming from obscurity to being the biggest name in comedy seemingly overnight

Early-life: Born in 1976, in South London to a dancer and comedy writer Ray Cameron, McIntyre had a thoroughly middle-class upbringing that he describes as being entirely short of misery or material. He did his first open mic spot in 2001 having dropped out of a biology degree at Edinburgh University.

Career: Hailed as the best new stand-up to emerge in a decade, Michael has taken the comedy world by storm. He delivered electrifying sets on both We Are Not Amused (Prince Charles's 60th birthday celebrations on ITV1) and the Royal Variety Performance (BBC One), plus a stand-out performance as host on the first episode of BBC One's Live at the Apollo, leading to the Comedy Roadshow vehicle.

Quote: "Don't Man City and Man United sound a bit like gay clubs? 'Where you off to tonight? Man City? We're off to Man United. And a bit later we're off to the MEN Arena.'"

Trivia: His debut DVD release, Michael McIntyre Live & Laughing, became the fastest selling debut stand-up DVD of all time, selling more than 600,000 copies.

Clare Balding (Contributor)

Born: January 29, 1971 in Kingsclere, Hampshire

Best Known For: Fronting the BBC's horse-racing coverage

Early-life: Clare Victoria Balding was born in Kingsclere, Hampshire, on January 29, 1971. Her father Ian and uncles Toby and William were horse trainers whose love of the sport was passed on to the young rider. She was a leading amateur flat jockey in 1989 and 1990, the same year which saw her crowned as Champion Lady Rider. She left the saddle behind in 1991 to study English at Cambridge, and in 1993 landed her first job in entertainment, presenting the racing bulletin on BBC Radio Five's Danny Baker's Morning Edition.

Career: From there, she progressed to the revamped Radio Five Live, joining the station at its launch in 1994. In that summer, thanks to a recommendation from commentator Julian Wilson, Clare made her TV debut at Royal Ascot, eventually taking over full-time in 1997 alongside former jockey Willie Carson. Since then, she's been a regular on the small screen presenting a wide range of sports, including Wimbledon, the Olympics, and rugby league. She's also branched out into non-sport programmes with the likes of Crufts, Have I Got News For You and Call My Bluff. She's a prolific radio presenter and in 2012 published her autobiography, entitled My Animals and Other Family.

Quote: On moving to London: "I missed the countryside, the village shop where people looked me in the eye and said hello."

Trivia: She received an OBE in 2013 for services to broadcasting and journalism.

Anton Du Beke (Contributor)

Edith Bowman (Contributor)

Born: January 15, 1974 in Anstruther, Fife

Best Known For: Her radio shows.

Early-life: Edith was born in Anstruther, Scotland, in 1974. She worked in her parents hotel before going to college and studying for a degree in Communication Studies at Edinburgh's Queen Margaret College. For the following two years Edith worked in a local radio station as both a producer and presenter, dreaming of hitting the big time. Edith joined Radio 1 in 2003 and her first show for the network was the Colin and Edith show with Colin Murray.

Career: During a wide and varied career, Bowman has travelled to Cambodia as part of BBC's series Saving Planet Earth, hosted the Scottish Baftas and co- presented Live Earth alongside Graham Norton and Jonathan Ross. She's as at home interviewing the likes of Liam Gallagher, Muse, Robbie Williams, Kylie and U2, to presenting BBC2's Rough Guide To The World, Channel 4's breakfast show RISE, and regular film specials for Channel 4 and ITV. She is the yearly host of the BBC's coverage of Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds festival, T In The Park, Radio 1's One Big Weekends and the Electric Proms.

Quote: "People aren't known for having a talent so much, everyone just wants the quick fix and thinks they can be famous for doing nothing."

Trivia: In 2005, Bowman won Celebrity Fame Academy for Comic Relief.

Rob Rinder (Contributor)

Lady Leshurr (Contributor)

Xand van Tulleken (Contributor)

Alex Beresford (Contributor)

Dan Baldwin (Executive producer)

Tom Blakeson (Executive producer)

Lisa Kirk (Series producer)

Chris Power (Director)

01:40 am - 03:00 am, Wednesday, February 4 on U&W (25)

About this Broadcast

Season 2, Episode 1

Cast & Crew

More Information

Did You Know..

Before / After