Paul Merton

Paul James Martin (born 9 July 1957), known by the stage name Paul Merton, is an English comedian, actor, broadcaster and director who is best known as one of the two regular panellists on the television show Have I Got News for You. Known for his improvisation skill, Merton's humour is rooted in deadpan, surreal and sometimes dark comedy. He has been ranked by critics, fellow comedians and viewers to be among Britain's greatest comedians. He made his breakthrough in the late 1980s as a regular performer on the original British version of the comedy improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and has been a team captain on Have I Got News for You since it began in 1990. He was also the host of Room 101 from 1999 to 2007, replacing original host Nick Hancock. Merton appears as a panellist regularly on Radio 4's Just a Minute, first appearing in 1989, and became the only remaining regular panellist in 2009 following the death of Clement Freud. He has also appeared as one of the Comedy Store's Comedy Store Players.