Crucially, Paul Zerdin appeals to both comedy club and mainstream audiences in equal measure. The UK’s number one ventriloquist’s career has included appearances on everything; from the Royal Variety Performance, Paramount and Comedy Central’s, The World Stands Up to ITV Daybreak, BBC TV’s The One Show, Sky News and Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocks. Other TV appearances include; ‘Live and Kicking‘, ‘The Alphabet Game‘, ‘Talking Telephone Numbers‘, ‘The Freddy Starr Show‘, ‘The Big Breakfast’; and LWT’s top rated Christmas Shows – ‘Richard Digance’ and ‘Shirley Bassey’s 60th Birthday Special‘.

Paul Zerdin: Ventriloquist

With his winning combination of technical skill, hilarious ventriloquism, charm and impeccable comic timing; Paul Zerdin’s live shows see him bring to life several very different characters. Amongst whom are the cheeky pre-adolescent Sam, belligerent OAP Albert and precocious infant Baby. On his Puppet Master live tour, Paul introduced a new character! “I see myself as a one man Muppet sitcom, reining the characters in” commented Zerdin. “The old man has a thing for the ladies and so does Sam; who is about to become a teen and knows naughty words.

Paul’s Puppets

Between the two of them they lead the baby astray and the baby, of course, wants to know everything. I think it is important to have characters that people can relate to; rather than, say, talking sheep which are less believable”. Paul has worked on many TV Commercials including Kellogg’s, Persil and Honda; and was involved as a puppeteer in the film ‘Muppets Treasure Island’ for The Jim Henson Company. He was also the ventriloquism adviser to Anthony Sher in the BBC’s film ‘Genghis Cohn‘.

Live Performance

Zerdin, who got the ‘biggest laugh of the night’ at the Royal Variety Performance in 2009, according to audience members; also went on to get 5 star reviews at that year’s Edinburgh Festival. Paul returned to Edinburgh to sold-out houses in 2010 and made his debut at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival that year; before embarking on a major UK tour with Sponge Fest in 2010/2011. That Paul Zerdin should make his career in show business is not entirely unexpected. “My mother was a BBC Radio 2 presenter and my father worked for the BBC World Service; so my sister and I spent a lot of time in the studios”, he reveals.

How It Started

When Paul was 10, a family friend made him a puppet theatre which he used to put on shows. As he is the first to admit, his hobby quickly grew into an obsession. “The real turning point was when I was given a book on ventriloquism by the legendary Ray Alan. By the time I hit my teens I was spending half an hour a day in front of the mirror; practising talking without moving my lips.” Having failed his GCSE’s in spectacular style, Zerdin got a job in a magic shop; developing his magic skills along the way. Simultaneously, he was also developing a sideline as a children’s entertainer. “Compared to my friends and their measly paper rounds; I was raking it in!” he laughs.

Paul Zerdin: TV Debut

Zerdin made his TV debut as a magician on the BBC’s Tricky Business. Shortly afterwards, at the age of just 20, landed a two year contract; presenting the Disney produced kids’ programme Rise and Shine for GMTV. In 1996, Paul was the first outright winner – by over 100,000 votes of LWT’s The Big Big Talent Show; hosted by Jonathan Ross. The experience not only raised his profile, but introduced him to Nigel Lythgoe; the man who would go on to create reality shows such as Popstars and American Idol. Lythgoe took the 22 year old Paul under his wing, paving the way for appearances on scores of shows; Tonight at the London Palladium, and Generation Game among them.

Paul & Nigel

It was Nigel who gave Paul his first brush with Royalty; when he secured him a spot on the Prince’s Trust Gala Show in 1997. “That was a totally surreal experience”, he laughs. “I was sharing a dressing room with Julian Clary, Alan Davies and Frank Bruno with The Spice Girls next door”. Shortly after this he performed to sell-out audiences in his own show The Paul Zerdin Show; in Blackpool during the summers of ’97 and ’98. By the late nineties it was obvious that traditional variety shows were losing their appeal; and it was then that Zerdin decided to introduce stand up into his routine, a decision that has paid off handsomely.

Paul Zerdin: On Stage

Paul can be seen regularly at comedy venues nationwide. With his unique style of comedy and with it’s mass appeal; he has become much sought after in the corporate events and after dinner market all over the world. He regularly entertains blue chip companies both in cabaret and as an awards host, most recent clients being; ISP Awards, BDF Star Ball, Jaguar, British Gas, Dell and Walkers.

From Ray Alan through to Keith Harris, ventriloquists have been a staple of UK entertainment for years. But it has taken Paul Zerdin to bring his mix of stand-up and ventriloquism to the forefront of contemporary entertainment; to truly put ventriloquism on the comedy map.