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{{Short description|British Comedian, DJ and TV presenter}}
{{Short description|British comedian, DJ and TV presenter (born 1967)}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Mark Lamarr
| name = Mark Lamarr
Line 8: Line 8:
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|1|7|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|1|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Swindon]], [[Wiltshire]], England
| birth_place = [[Swindon]], [[Wiltshire]], England
| occupation = Comedian, radio DJ, television presenter
| occupation = {{hlist|Comedian|disc jockey|television presenter}}
| years_active = 1985–2010, 2015, 2020
| years_active = {{hlist|1985–present}}
}}
}}


'''Mark Lamarr''' (born '''Mark Jones'''; 7 January 1967) is an English comedian, writer, radio DJ, and television presenter. He was a team captain on ''[[Shooting Stars (British TV series)|Shooting Stars]]'' from 1995 to 1997, and hosted ''[[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]]'' from 1996 to 2005.
'''Mark Lamarr''' (born '''Mark Jones'''; 7 January 1967) is an English comedian, radio disc jockey and television presenter. He was a team captain on ''[[Shooting Stars (1993 TV series)|Shooting Stars]]'' from 1995 to 1997, and hosted ''[[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]]'' from 1996 to 2005.

==Early life==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=August 2021}}
Lamarr was born in the Park South area of [[Swindon]], [[Wiltshire]]. He has three elder sisters. His father is [[Irish people|Irish]]. He passed five [[General Certificate of Education|O-Levels]] at Park School (renamed [[Oakfield School (Swindon)|Oakfield School]]) but dropped out of school at 17 and moved to [[Harrow, London]], which was the centre of the early 1980s British [[rockabilly]] revival scene. After his [[poetry|poem]] ''Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Work'' was published in 1987, his act developed from poetry to stand-up comedy. He took to performing at London's [[The Comedy Store, London|Comedy Store]] in 1985, was spotted on the touring circuit for the launch of [[Channel 4]]'s ''[[The Big Breakfast]]'' in 1992 and co-presented'' [[The Word (TV series)|The Word]]''.


==Career==
==Career==


===Television===
===Television===
Lamarr first came to the public's attention as a co-presenter of the early 1990s late night variety show ''[[The Word (TV series)|The Word]]''.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} The magazine format of the series allowed for interviews, live music, features and even game shows. The flexible late-night format meant that guests could do just about anything to be controversial. Talking about his TV career to Jo Brown of ''Cheers Magazine'', Lamarr said ''The Word'' was:
Lamarr first came to the public's attention as a co-presenter of the early 1990s late night variety show ''[[The Word (TV series)|The Word]]''. The magazine format of the series allowed for interviews, live music, features and even game shows. The flexible late-night format meant that guests could do just about anything to be controversial. Talking about his TV career to Jo Brown of ''Cheers Magazine'', Lamarr said ''The Word'' was:


{{cquote|No fun at all; it was a horrible, horrible, repulsive environment to work in, mainly due to the company. They were just very... just an obnoxious group of people to deal with and I think that came across in the shows they ended up producing.<ref name=ayme>
{{cquote|No fun at all; it was a horrible, horrible, repulsive environment to work in, mainly due to the company. They were just very... just an obnoxious group of people to deal with and I think that came across in the shows they ended up producing.<ref name=ayme>
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| access-date = 6 March 2010
| access-date = 6 March 2010
}}
}}
</ref> Lamarr made a cameo appearance in the fourth episode of series two.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sean Lock's Sitcom 15 Storeys High Comes To BBC iPlayer Following Comedian's Death |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sean-locks-sitcom-15-storeys-164349850.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAL2SrlkwPIGASl986-7f6gQoz4zI4AUIWpnRZan9FlcURYqGZP0uekd9X157ueAiaEg37xVu_RxJpO70t2re7ay03A6-AJzqRJKrhMK1Y5_YJ1j3c8I92lLLgMkCaIZP28qXNnWbt0WL--RyNJWblTADRTBxKg5DeQEgEPTs25CJ |website=[[Yahoo! News]] |access-date=20 April 2022}}</ref>
</ref> Lamarr made a cameo appearance in the fourth episode of series two.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sean Lock's Sitcom 15 Storeys High Comes To BBC iPlayer Following Comedian's Death |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sean-locks-sitcom-15-storeys-164349850.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAL2SrlkwPIGASl986-7f6gQoz4zI4AUIWpnRZan9FlcURYqGZP0uekd9X157ueAiaEg37xVu_RxJpO70t2re7ay03A6-AJzqRJKrhMK1Y5_YJ1j3c8I92lLLgMkCaIZP28qXNnWbt0WL--RyNJWblTADRTBxKg5DeQEgEPTs25CJ |website=[[Yahoo! News]] | date=27 August 2021 |access-date=20 April 2022}}</ref>


===Radio===
===Radio===
Lamarr has previously presented shows on [[BBC Radio London|BBC GLR]], [[BBC Radio 5 (former)|BBC Radio 5]] and [[BBC Radio 1]]. He also often guest presented the late night [[BBC Radio 2]] show, sitting in for [[Mark Radcliffe (radio broadcaster)|Mark Radcliffe]].
Lamarr has previously presented shows on [[BBC Radio London|BBC GLR]], [[BBC Radio 5 (former)|BBC Radio 5]] and [[BBC Radio 1]]. He also often guest presented the late night [[BBC Radio 2]] show, sitting in for [[Mark Radcliffe (radio broadcaster)|Mark Radcliffe]].


On 20 July 1998, Lamarr launched a new show on [[BBC Radio 2]] called ''Shake, Rattle and Roll'', where he played tracks from his own sizeable record collection of obscure [[rock and roll]] gems. He also presented ''The Reggae Show'' series and ''Mark Lamarr's Alternative Sixties'', playing lesser known tracks from the 1960s.
On 20 July 1998, Lamarr launched a new show on [[BBC Radio 2]] called ''Shake, Rattle and Roll'', where he played tracks from his own record collection of obscure [[rock and roll]]. He also presented ''The Reggae Show'' series and ''Mark Lamarr's Alternative Sixties'', playing lesser known tracks from the 1960s.


On 22 April 2006, Lamarr started a new Radio 2 show called ''God's Jukebox''. The show aired from midnight to 3.00am on Saturdays and featured a wide variety of music from the previous 70 years including soul, ska, reggae, country, gospel and rap. He also, with [[Jo Brand]], regularly covered the [[Jonathan Ross]] Saturday morning show on Radio 2 when Ross was away. His final God's Jukebox show was broadcast on Christmas Eve/Day, 2010. At the end of 2010 Lamarr left Radio 2, claiming the station had lost interest in non-mainstream music.<ref name=Leave2>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/03/mark-lamarr-to-leave-radio-2|title=Mark Lamarr to leave Radio 2|author=John Plunkett|work=The Guardian|date=3 December 2010|publisher=Guardian News and Media}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/03/mark-lamarr-departing-radio-2|title=Mark Lamarr hits out at Radio 2|author=John Plunkett|work=The Guardian|date=3 December 2010|publisher=Guardian News and Media}}</ref> In a 2013 interview with music website “Famous Last Words”, Lamarr stated that he would return to radio in the future. {{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
On 22 April 2006, Lamarr started a new Radio 2 show called ''God's Jukebox''. The show aired from midnight to 3.00am on Saturdays and featured a wide variety of music from the previous 70 years including soul, ska, reggae, country, gospel and rap. He also, with [[Jo Brand]], regularly covered the [[Jonathan Ross]] Saturday morning show on Radio 2 when Ross was away. His final God's Jukebox show was broadcast on Christmas Eve/Day, 2010. At the end of 2010 Lamarr left Radio 2, claiming the station had lost interest in non-mainstream music.<ref name=Leave2>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/03/mark-lamarr-to-leave-radio-2|title=Mark Lamarr to leave Radio 2|author=John Plunkett|work=The Guardian|date=3 December 2010|publisher=Guardian News and Media}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/03/mark-lamarr-departing-radio-2|title=Mark Lamarr hits out at Radio 2|author=John Plunkett|work=The Guardian|date=3 December 2010|publisher=Guardian News and Media}}</ref> In a 2013 interview with music website “Famous Last Words”, Lamarr stated that he would return to radio in the future. {{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
Line 68: Line 64:


===Post-radio career===
===Post-radio career===
Lamarr has continued to produce various compilation albums for several record labels, with an emphasis on lesser-known rock 'n' roll tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://famouslastwordsrecords.com/coffee/time-for-a-recall-to-the-airwaves/|title=Time For A Recall To The Airwaves|work=Famous Last Words|date=30 September 2013|author=Nathan Olsen-Haines}}</ref> He produced a compilation for Vee-Tone Records in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Wild-Streak-Rock-N-Roll/release/6818659|title=Wild Streak Rock 'N' Roll|work=Discogs}}</ref> Lamarr joined Twitter in 2018 and uses the platform to showcase lesser known music.
Lamarr has continued to produce compilation albums for several record labels, with an emphasis on lesser-known rock 'n' roll tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://famouslastwordsrecords.com/coffee/time-for-a-recall-to-the-airwaves/|title=Time For A Recall To The Airwaves|work=Famous Last Words|date=30 September 2013|author=Nathan Olsen-Haines}}</ref> He produced a compilation for Vee-Tone Records in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Wild-Streak-Rock-N-Roll/release/6818659|title=Wild Streak Rock 'N' Roll|work=Discogs|date=13 August 2023 }}</ref> Lamarr joined Twitter in 2018 and uses the platform to showcase lesser known music.


Lamarr made a return to comedy in September 2020, appearing in an episode of the [[BBC Radio 4]] sitcom ''Phil Ellis Is Trying'' as the voice of Billy Bonker, the reclusive owner of a [[Cup-a-Soup]] factory.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Radio 4 - Phil Ellis Is Trying, Series 3, Billy Bonker and The Cup A Soup Factory|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mb2z|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315231037/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mb2z|archive-date=15 March 2021|access-date=15 March 2021|website=BBC Online}}</ref>
Lamarr made a return to comedy in September 2020, appearing in an episode of the [[BBC Radio 4]] sitcom ''Phil Ellis Is Trying'' as the voice of Billy Bonker, the reclusive owner of a [[Cup-a-Soup]] factory.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Radio 4 - Phil Ellis Is Trying, Series 3, Billy Bonker and The Cup A Soup Factory|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mb2z|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315231037/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mb2z|archive-date=15 March 2021|access-date=15 March 2021|website=BBC Online}}</ref>
Line 74: Line 70:
===Stand-up videos===
===Stand-up videos===
* ''Uncensored And Live'' (17 November 1997)
* ''Uncensored And Live'' (17 November 1997)

==Personal life==
Back in circa 2004, Lamar was involved in an altercation where he got absolutely smacked about by a local man with an Australian accent for backchatting.


On 1 September 2018, the [[Metropolitan Police]] charged Lamarr with [[common assault]] and [[false imprisonment]].<ref name=CommAss>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45532153|title=Former Buzzcocks host Lamarr charged with common assault|publisher=BBC News|date= 15 September 2018 | access-date=15 September 2018}}</ref> He was due to appear at [[Uxbridge]] Magistrates' Court on 2 October 2018 to face the charges,<ref name=CommAss/> but on 1 October 2018 the case was discontinued, with the [[Crown Prosecution Service]] confirming "there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45713740|title=Former Buzzcocks presenter Mark Lamarr's assault case discontinued|publisher=BBC News. 1 October 2018 | access-date=1 October 2018}}</ref> On 22 March 2019, Lamarr received an apology from the Crown Prosecution Service about the discontinued case, where it was observed that "the prosecutor who authorised the charges... did so in error".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47672556|title=Mark Lamarr receives apology over discontinued assault case|publisher=BBC News. 22 March 2019 | access-date=23 March 2019}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Television personalities from Wiltshire]]
[[Category:Television personalities from Wiltshire]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Comedians from Wiltshire]]

Latest revision as of 07:27, 24 October 2024

Mark Lamarr
Born
Mark Jones

(1967-01-07) 7 January 1967 (age 57)
Swindon, Wiltshire, England
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • disc jockey
  • television presenter
Years active
  • 1985–present

Mark Lamarr (born Mark Jones; 7 January 1967) is an English comedian, radio disc jockey and television presenter. He was a team captain on Shooting Stars from 1995 to 1997, and hosted Never Mind the Buzzcocks from 1996 to 2005.

Career

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Lamarr first came to the public's attention as a co-presenter of the early 1990s late night variety show The Word. The magazine format of the series allowed for interviews, live music, features and even game shows. The flexible late-night format meant that guests could do just about anything to be controversial. Talking about his TV career to Jo Brown of Cheers Magazine, Lamarr said The Word was:

No fun at all; it was a horrible, horrible, repulsive environment to work in, mainly due to the company. They were just very... just an obnoxious group of people to deal with and I think that came across in the shows they ended up producing.[1]

After leaving The Word, Lamarr was an outside presenter on The Big Breakfast from 1992 to 1996. Between 1995 and 1997 he appeared as a team captain in the surreal panel show Shooting Stars,[2] where he displayed a mixture of dour boredom and contempt towards hosts Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer who, in turn, mocked his "50s throw-back" appearance.[2] Lamarr declined to return for the fourth series in 2002, claiming he did not want to be typecast for appearing on panel shows.[citation needed] He said of his experience on the show:

Shooting Stars was strangely no fun whatsoever, because I was sort of playing a particularly moody, almost mute character and you end up just doing that... I mean it was always fun with Vic and Bob because they are old friends and it was nice working with them, but no, it wasn't fun.[1]

Lamarr was host of Never Mind the Buzzcocks when the show launched in 1996 and continued in this role for 17 series until 2005. Under Lamarr, the show gained a reputation for scornful treatment of the boy bands and the pop music that had dominated the music scene since the early 1990s, a position that was maintained by his successor. Lamarr left the show in 2005 and initially claimed he intended to return after one series away. However, Lamarr later confirmed via Twitter in 2022 that he said that to avoid questions about leaving the show.[3] He was ultimately replaced by Simon Amstell from the 19th series.[4]

The second series of the sitcom 15 Storeys High was co-written by Lamarr with comedians Sean Lock and Martin Trenaman, although Lamarr was credited under his original name, Mark Jones.[5] Lamarr made a cameo appearance in the fourth episode of series two.[6]

Radio

[edit]

Lamarr has previously presented shows on BBC GLR, BBC Radio 5 and BBC Radio 1. He also often guest presented the late night BBC Radio 2 show, sitting in for Mark Radcliffe.

On 20 July 1998, Lamarr launched a new show on BBC Radio 2 called Shake, Rattle and Roll, where he played tracks from his own record collection of obscure rock and roll. He also presented The Reggae Show series and Mark Lamarr's Alternative Sixties, playing lesser known tracks from the 1960s.

On 22 April 2006, Lamarr started a new Radio 2 show called God's Jukebox. The show aired from midnight to 3.00am on Saturdays and featured a wide variety of music from the previous 70 years including soul, ska, reggae, country, gospel and rap. He also, with Jo Brand, regularly covered the Jonathan Ross Saturday morning show on Radio 2 when Ross was away. His final God's Jukebox show was broadcast on Christmas Eve/Day, 2010. At the end of 2010 Lamarr left Radio 2, claiming the station had lost interest in non-mainstream music.[2][7] In a 2013 interview with music website “Famous Last Words”, Lamarr stated that he would return to radio in the future. [citation needed]

Lamarr presented a music show for British Airways on-board listeners as part of their in-flight entertainment.[8] In this show he presented a mix of rock and roll, blues, reggae, soul and R&B.

Post-radio career

[edit]

Lamarr has continued to produce compilation albums for several record labels, with an emphasis on lesser-known rock 'n' roll tracks.[9] He produced a compilation for Vee-Tone Records in 2015.[10] Lamarr joined Twitter in 2018 and uses the platform to showcase lesser known music.

Lamarr made a return to comedy in September 2020, appearing in an episode of the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Phil Ellis Is Trying as the voice of Billy Bonker, the reclusive owner of a Cup-a-Soup factory.[11]

Stand-up videos

[edit]
  • Uncensored And Live (17 November 1997)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Brown, Jo (March–April 2003). "Mark Lamarr Interview". Cheers magazine. Association of Young People with ME. Archived from the original on 18 June 2004. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  2. ^ a b c John Plunkett (3 December 2010). "Mark Lamarr to leave Radio 2". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media.
  3. ^ "Buzzcocks to get guest presenters". BBC News. 14 November 2005. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Amstell cued up to host Buzzcocks". BBC News. 23 August 2006. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  5. ^ "Filmography, Mark Lamarr". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  6. ^ "Sean Lock's Sitcom 15 Storeys High Comes To BBC iPlayer Following Comedian's Death". Yahoo! News. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  7. ^ John Plunkett (3 December 2010). "Mark Lamarr hits out at Radio 2". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media.
  8. ^ "On Board". Lime. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  9. ^ Nathan Olsen-Haines (30 September 2013). "Time For A Recall To The Airwaves". Famous Last Words.
  10. ^ "Wild Streak Rock 'N' Roll". Discogs. 13 August 2023.
  11. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Phil Ellis Is Trying, Series 3, Billy Bonker and The Cup A Soup Factory". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
[edit]
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