Paul Merton: Driving Amazing Trains
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Thursday, April 9 on Channel 4 (4)
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About this Broadcast
Season 1, Episode 1
The funnyman climbs into the driver's cab to take charge of some of the world's most iconic locomotives, learning what it takes to keep them running and meeting the people who keep the railways running. On the Isle of Wight, Paul follows in the footsteps of his tube driver dad by riding up front on the very trains his father would have driven on the Northern Line - now in service on the island. After driving a heritage steam, Paul helps a cow give birth. His journey finishes with a look at how the island was prepared in secret to help with D-Day
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Did You Know..
Paul Merton
(Presenter)
Born:
January 17, 1957
in
London
Best Known For:
Have I Got News For You.
Early-life:
Born Paul James Martin in Parsons Green, London, on January 17, 1957. He grew up in Merton, South London, and took his stage name from the district because somebody else called Paul Martin was registered with Equity when he tried to join. His father was a guard on the Underground in Fulham, his mother was a nurse and he has a sister, Angela. Paul was inspired to become a comedian at the age of three following a trip to the circus. After failing his 11-plus he went to a Catholic comprehensive school where he gained two A-levels but decided against going to university.
Career:
Merton worked at the Tooting Employment Office while gaining experience at the London Comedy Store before moving onto the cabaret circuit. He made his TV debut in a small role in a 1984 episode of The Young Ones. After 10 years of performing, his TV career took off thanks to Whose Line Is It Anyway? He then wrote Paul Merton, the Series for Channel 4. Have I Got News For You made him a household name. He claims a highlight of his career was performing at the London Palladium. Merton also hosted Room 101 and is a regular on TV and radio. He has filmed travelogues to China and India for Channel 5 and presented various documentaries on the subject of comedy and silent film for the BBC.
Quote:
'I don't suffer from pre-show terror or anything like that. I assume if people have paid money to see me they already think I'm funny and that does give you confidence.'
Trivia:
In 2014, he published his autobiography, Only When I Laugh.
Tom Porter
(Executive producer)
Ed Booth
(Series producer)
