Micky Flanagan
Encyclopedia
Michael "Micky" Flanagan (born c. 1963) is an English
comedian
. Flanagan has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe
and toured Britain with stand-up
shows. He presented Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change? for Radio 4
and has appeared on various TV shows including Mock the Week
and Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
.
, East London and grew up on a council estate in Bethnal Green
. He left school at the age of 15 with no qualifications. His first job was as a fish porter at Billingsgate Fish Market
, after which he lived in New York for a year where he worked as a dishwasher and chef
. After returning to London he worked as a furniture maker for several years.
Flanagan later gained a GCSE in English, going on to a foundation course in arts and social sciences and a degree at City University, which he began at the age of 29. He went on to train as a teacher by taking the Postgraduate Certificate in Education
, but decided not pursue teaching as a career, later describing the experience as "the unhappiest year of my life ... everything that was wrong about the school system when I was young was still the same".
in 1996. In 2001 he performed in the Big Value Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Fringe as one of four headline acts, and in 2003 co-headlined a show with Nina Conti
. He performed his first full-length solo show, What Chance Change? in 2006, and in 2007 was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. He is touring Britain with The Out Out Tour in 2010/2011.
Flanagan was a regular performer on Out to Lunch on Radio 2
in 2008, and appeared on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
in 2009. In 2010 he presented a four-part series for Radio 4
entitled Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change?, and performed on Live at the Apollo, Stand Up for the Week
and the Royal Variety Performance
. He appeared on Mock the Week
in 2010 and has made further appearances in 2011. Flanagan is a panellist on the BBC1 game show Epic Win
, which began in August 2011.
In 2009, Flanagan's agent lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority
claiming that a television commercial for directory enquiries service 118 118
was using his "out out" catchphrase and skit. The skit, performed on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, is based on the idea that people have different levels of going out, with "out out" referring to a big night out. The commercial featured an animated character using the phrase in a nightclub setting. The ASA acknowledged the similarity but said it was beyond its remit to take action.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. Flanagan has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
and toured Britain with stand-up
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
shows. He presented Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change? for Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
and has appeared on various TV shows including Mock the Week
Mock the Week
Mock the Week is a British topical celebrity panel game hosted by Dara Ó Briain that launched in 2005. The game is influenced by improvised topical stand-up comedy, with several rounds requiring players to deliver answers on unexpected subjects on the spur of the moment.It is made by independent...
and Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow is a British stand-up comedy television series hosted by comedian Michael McIntyre from different venues around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The first series was broadcast with six episodes in 2009. Each episode features a routine from McIntyre,...
.
Early life and career
Flanagan was born in WhitechapelWhitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
, East London and grew up on a council estate in Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
. He left school at the age of 15 with no qualifications. His first job was as a fish porter at Billingsgate Fish Market
Billingsgate Fish Market
Situated in East London, Billingsgate Fish Market is the United Kingdom's largest inland fish market. It takes its name from Billingsgate, a ward in the south-east of the City of London, where the riverside market was originally established...
, after which he lived in New York for a year where he worked as a dishwasher and chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
. After returning to London he worked as a furniture maker for several years.
Flanagan later gained a GCSE in English, going on to a foundation course in arts and social sciences and a degree at City University, which he began at the age of 29. He went on to train as a teacher by taking the Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
, but decided not pursue teaching as a career, later describing the experience as "the unhappiest year of my life ... everything that was wrong about the school system when I was young was still the same".
Comedy career
Flanagan became a professional comedian in 1997 after attending a comedy course at Jacksons LaneJacksons Lane
- Theatre and performance :Jacksons Lane is a multi-arts venue in Highgate, North London. Housed in a striking red-brick gothic church conversion, the building is home to a 160 capacity theatre, a large scale dance and rehearsal studio, a cafe-bar and four other multi-purpose spaces.Jacksons Lane...
in 1996. In 2001 he performed in the Big Value Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Fringe as one of four headline acts, and in 2003 co-headlined a show with Nina Conti
Nina Conti
Nina Conti is a British actress, comedian and ventriloquist. Her on-stage puppet sidekick is a depressed monkey named Monk.- Early life :...
. He performed his first full-length solo show, What Chance Change? in 2006, and in 2007 was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. He is touring Britain with The Out Out Tour in 2010/2011.
Flanagan was a regular performer on Out to Lunch on Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
in 2008, and appeared on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow is a British stand-up comedy television series hosted by comedian Michael McIntyre from different venues around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The first series was broadcast with six episodes in 2009. Each episode features a routine from McIntyre,...
in 2009. In 2010 he presented a four-part series for Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
entitled Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change?, and performed on Live at the Apollo, Stand Up for the Week
Stand Up for the Week
Stand Up for the Week is a British television comedy series shown on Channel 4, featuring stand-up comedy performances reflecting topical events. The show began in June 2010 with a six-episode series aired on Friday nights, moving to Saturday nights for the second series which began in March 2011...
and the Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
. He appeared on Mock the Week
Mock the Week
Mock the Week is a British topical celebrity panel game hosted by Dara Ó Briain that launched in 2005. The game is influenced by improvised topical stand-up comedy, with several rounds requiring players to deliver answers on unexpected subjects on the spur of the moment.It is made by independent...
in 2010 and has made further appearances in 2011. Flanagan is a panellist on the BBC1 game show Epic Win
Epic Win
Epic Win is a British game show which began airing on BBC One on 20 August 2011. Presented by Alexander Armstrong the programme sees contestants complete individual challenges such as trying to dress while bouncing a football or cycling while trying to inflate hot water bottles...
, which began in August 2011.
In 2009, Flanagan's agent lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority
Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)
The Advertising Standards Authority is the self-regulatory organisation of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. The ASA is a non-statutory organisation and so cannot interpret or enforce legislation. However, its code of advertising practice broadly reflects legislation in many instances...
claiming that a television commercial for directory enquiries service 118 118
118 118 (UK)
118 118 is a UK directory enquiries provider based in Cardiff that assists customers with telephone number enquiries and general queries.The service is provided by The Number UK Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of US directory enquiries provider Knowledge Generation Bureau , whose company motto is...
was using his "out out" catchphrase and skit. The skit, performed on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, is based on the idea that people have different levels of going out, with "out out" referring to a big night out. The commercial featured an animated character using the phrase in a nightclub setting. The ASA acknowledged the similarity but said it was beyond its remit to take action.