Harry Hill
Matthew Keith Hall (born 1 October 1964), known professionally as Harry Hill, is an English comedian, presenter and writer. He pursued a career in stand-up following years working as a medical doctor, developing an offbeat, energetic performance style that fused elements of surrealism, observational comedy, slapstick, satire and music. When performing, he usually wears browline glasses and a dress shirt with a distinctive oversized collar and cuffs.
For other people named Harry Hill, see Harry Hill (disambiguation).Harry Hill
Matthew Keith Hall
1992–present
3
- Harry Hill's Fruit Corner (1993–1997)
- Harry Hill (1997–2000, 2003)
- Harry Hill's TV Burp (2001–2012)
- You've Been Framed! (2004–2022)
- Harry Hill's Tea Time (2016–2018)
- Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule (2017–2019)
- Junior Bake Off (2019–Present)
- Harry Hill's Clubnite (2019)
- Harry Hill's World Of TV (2020)
He won the Perrier Award for Best Newcomer at the 1992 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and began his career in radio and television comedy with the radio series Harry Hill's Fruit Corner (1993–1997). He has hosted his own television comedy show Harry Hill's TV Burp (2001–2012), and narrated You've Been Framed! from (2004–2022). His other projects include The Harry Hill Movie, released in 2013.
Early life, education and medical career[edit]
Hill was born in Woking, Surrey, on 1 October 1964[1] and grew up in Staplehurst, Kent, where he attended the local primary school.[2][3] At the age of 14, Hill moved with his family to Hong Kong for two years and attended Island School there.[3][4] He was later educated at Angley School and then Cranbrook School in Kent and St George's Hospital Medical School. He received his MBBS medical degree from the University of London in 1988.[5] Hill worked as a Proctologist at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, before quitting the medical profession because he "didn't feel in control of what was happening";[6] he is still registered on the General Medical Council's list of Registered Medical Practitioners.[5]
Awards[edit]
In 2003, The Observer listed Hill as one of the fifty funniest acts in British comedy. In 2005, in a poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted amongst the Top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.[28] In 2007, Hill was voted #5 on Channel 4's hundred greatest stand ups. On 13 December 2006, Hill won two Highland Spring British Comedy Awards, over the favourites Ant and Dec, which Hill made light of in his acceptance speeches.[29]
In 2008, he won two BAFTAs, and another in 2009 for Best Entertainment Performance. In 2009, he won two British Comedy Awards, making it his sixth award. He also won again in 2011, but was unable to be there and sent Wagbo to collect it on his behalf. He was also nominated for 3 other awards, including the People's Choice Award, which was won by Miranda Hart.
Personal life[edit]
Hill married artist Magda Archer[30] in 1996, in Wandsworth, London.[31] They have three daughters: Kitty Clover, Winifred Millicent and Frederica Aster,[30] all born in Kensington and Chelsea.[32] Hill and his family live in Whitstable, Kent.[33]
In February 2006, Hill was a victim of identity theft; a sum of £280,000 was stolen from his bank account.[34]
In Autumn 2008, Hill launched Harry's Nuts, a brand of Fairtrade peanuts.[35]
On 17 July 2014, Hill was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University of Kent, in recognition of his contribution to television and the arts.
On 25 August 2016, Hill became a patron of Action Duchenne which funds research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and fights for improved standards of care.[36]
Hill is a fan of George Formby and is a member of the George Formby Society.
On 8 March 2023, Hill joined math-rock band Black Midi onstage during their residency at the Village Underground in London. He performed a verse of Cardi B's "I Like It" to applause.
Hill is a supporter of the Labour Party and canvassed for the party during the 2015 general election.[37]
Collections[edit]
The University of Kent holds material from Hill as part of the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive.[45][46] The Harry Hill Collection contains documents relating to Hill's stand-up comedy career, work on radio and television, and copies of The Beano and The Dandy which he was involved with.[45][46]