Michael McIntyre's Big Show

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.

Peter Crouch (Guest)

Abbey Clancy (Guest)

Born: January 10, 1986 in Liverpool

Best Known For: Being a model and married to footballer Peter Crouch.

Early-life: Abigail Marie Clancy was born in Liverpool on January 10, 1986 to Karen and Geoffrey. When she was 17, Abbey formed a girl band called Genie Queen.

Career: Clancy's big break came in 2006 when she made it to the final of Living TV's Britain's Next Top Model. She did not win, but it launched her career in modelling. She has posed for several newspapers and magazines, including Sports Illustrated's 2010 swimsuit edition. On TV, Clancy has appeared as a guest on a number of shows, including This Morning, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and Alan Carr: Chatty Man. She has co-hosted The Fashion Show and reality series Great British Hairdresser. In 2013, she won Strictly Come Dancing. She joined Britain's Next Top Model as a judge in 2016.

Quote: 'It's a woman's prerogative to show off her best assets, so don't be afraid of exposing a bit of cleavage.'

Trivia: Clancy was once the face and body of underwear brand Ultimo.

B*Witched (Guest)

Shane Richie (Guest)

Born: March 11, 1964 in London

Best Known For: Playing Alfie Moon in EastEnders.

Early-life: Born Shane Patrick Roche on March 11, 1964, in Harlesden, north London. His dad was a dustman and the family struggled to make ends meet - they spent the first nine years of Shane's life living in an attic flat at a hostel for Turkish women, where his mum was a cleaner. He joined an amateur theatre group in his teens and left school at 16 to become a DJ in Plymouth, but the job fell through and he ended up living rough.

Career: Shane lied about his age to get a job as a bluecoat entertainer in Pontins holiday camps, then played the alternative comedy circuit where he was noticed by the BBC. They cast him in short-lived sketch shows such as You Gotta Be Joking, and Up To Something. Daytime show Win, Lose or Draw followed before he got his big break with ITV's Lucky Numbers. His own show, The Shane Richie Experience, was a flop, but he had more success on stage in musicals Grease and Boogie Nights. Richie made his EastEnders debut in 2002 and soon became a firm favourite with fans. During a break from Albert Square, he played the lead role in one series of revamped comedy drama Minder.

Quote: 'Even now, to this day, if it all goes belly-up and I had to make a living, I would go back to Pontins.'

Trivia: He is a patron of the Huntington's Disease Association.

Gillian Taylforth (Guest)

Born: August 14, 1955 in London

Best Known For: EastEnders and Footballer's Wives.

Early-life: Born 14 August, 1955, in London. She was brought up with four siblings, including former Family Affairs actress Kim Taylforth, in Islington, north London. Her parents were big movie fans who passed on their interest to their children. Taylforth enrolled at the Anna Scher theatre school at 17, where fellow students included Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson. Later, the lifelong Arsenal fan worked at a travel agency, as a solicitor's secretary and in the Radio Times photo library.

Career: Taylforth's early career included small roles in The Long Good Friday, Shelley, Hi-de-Hi! and Minder. In 1985 she landed the part of Kathy Beale in EastEnders, which brought her national stardom. Thirteen years later she decided to leave Albert Square, only to return a year later. She left the soap for good in 2000. Since then she's appeared in TV series Big Cat, Lost In France, the acclaimed Messiah and short-lived sitcom The House that Jack Built. Her biggest recent hit has been glossy drama Footballers' Wives. She's also appeared in bus depot drama Jane Hall and played Sergeant Nikki Wright in The Bill. More recently, she played Sandy Roscoe in Hollyoaks.

Quote: On turning 50: 'This industry can be ageist - you're always being scrutinised for bags and wrinkles.'

Trivia: In early 2013, she entered the Celebrity Big Brother House. She was the fourth person to be evicted.

Katherine Jenkins (Musical guest)

Dan Baldwin (Executive producer)

Rhe-an Archibald (Executive producer)

James Pratt (Series producer)

Sarah Mittell (Series producer)

Simon Staffurth (Director)

8:15 pm - 9:15 pm, Saturday, February 21 on BBC One London (1)

About this Broadcast

Season 9, Episode 5

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