Julian Clary (born 25 May 1959) is an English actor, comedian, novelist, and presenter. Julian started TV appearances in the mid-1980s. Before that, he appeared in films, on TV, and in stage productions, including many pantomimes. He was also the winner of Celebrity Big Brother 10 in 2012.
Early Life and Education
Clary was born on 25 May 1959 in Surbiton, Surrey, to Brenda (née McDonald) Clary, a probation officer, and Peter J. Clary, a police officer. He has two older sisters. According to his testimony, he was conceived “in broad daylight” in Clacton-on-Sea in 1958. Two of his great-grandparents were Germans who had emigrated to Britain at the end of the nineteenth century. He comes from a family that was raised as Roman Catholics. He was a student at St Benedict’s School, Ealing, and later, he read English and Drama at Goldsmiths’ College, University of London.
Where does Julien Clary live?
Clary has a house in Camden, North London.
Music
Clary often performs comical renditions of musical numbers in his stage and television appearances, ranging from old classics to original material. He released a music single in 1988 credited as the Joan Collins Fan Club, a humorous rendition of “Leader of the Pack,” which he frequently performed in his stage and television appearances during the period. The single was produced by Rupert Hine and peaked at number 60 on the UK Singles Chart. Another single, “Wandering Star,” was issued in 1990. The single featured a B-side, the self-penned track, “Uncanny and Unnatural.” Clary appeared on The Big Fun Show in 1988.
Radio
Clary appeared on The Big Fun Show in 1988. In 1992 Clary hosted a radio show for the BBC called Intimate Contact, the premise of which was for him to act as a genial ‘Mr. Fix-it’ for a wide range of ‘punter’ problems. Clary attempted to solve these issues over the telephone, with the assistance of roving reporter “Hugh Jelly” (actor Philip Herbert). It originally aired on BBC Radio 1 for two series; the pilot and 6-part first series have since been repeated on BBC Radio 4 Extra several times.
Does Julian Clary wear a wig?
Clary looks as resplendent as he usually does in an over-the-top wig and tight, glittering panto clothes.
Is Julian Clary a Stoke City fan?
He says he is a huge Stoke City fan and has attended the bet365 Stadium several times.
Did Julian Clary win Strictly?
Actresses Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett were announced as series winners on 11 December 2004; Olympic heptathletes Denise Lewis and Ian Waite came second, and comedians Julian Clary and Erin Boag came third.
What programs has Julian Clary been in?
Several appearances on Friday Night Live in the mid-to-late 1980s, saw Clary co-present the short-lived ITV game show Trick or Treat in 1989 with Mike Smith. It was later that year that he achieved greater success with his own high-camp Channel 4 game show, Sticky Moments with Julian Clary. The list of his famous works includes:
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- Tom & Lauren Are Going OOT! Podcast Series. Neil. 2024
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- Trouser Bar. Short. 3rd Familiar Face (uncredited) 2016
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- Little Princess. 5.5. TV Series.
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- My Family. 7.5. TV Series. Mr. Walker. …
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- Neighbors. 5.6. TV Series. Julian Clary. …
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- Hotel Babylon. 7.5. TV Series. Julian Clary. …
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- The Baby Juice Express. 5.1. Jason. 2004.
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- Taboo
Films
Clary appeared in the film Carry On Columbus (1992), an unsuccessful attempt to revive the “Carry On” series of films. It was widely panned by critics but was more financially profitable than the two other Columbus films released the same year: 1492: Conquest of Paradise and Christopher Columbus: The Discovery.
Clary returned to film in 2001 in the film The Baby Juice Express, which starred Lisa Faulkner, Samantha Womack, Ruth Jones, and David Seaman, about a prisoner who is desperate to find some way of conceiving with his wife while he is in prison, but the sperm ends up getting hijacked. It was released on DVD in 2004.
Theatre and Pantomime
In 2002, Clary played Leigh Bowery in the West End of London musical Taboo. He also appeared in a touring production in 2004.
From 2 October 2007, he played the much-coveted role of ‘Emcee’ in Rufus Norris’s Olivier Award-winning production of Cabaret, which was in its second year in the West End. Clary was with the show until 19 April 2008. The following year he took part in the Strictly Come Dancing Tour in January and February 2009. He was partnered with Lilia Kopylova.
Clary played Michael in Le Grand Mort, the play written especially for him by playwright Stephen Clark, the latter of whom predeceased his script in 2016 and co-starred with James Nelson-Joyce as Tim at Trafalgar Studios 2 in London’s West End from 20 September to 28 October 2017.
What was Julian Clary’s dog called?
Fanny the Wonder Dog, who came into Julian’s life when he was somewhat adrift, propelled him up the ranks of the alternative comedy circuit and onto television.
Does Julian Cary have a child?
Julian happens to be in a relationship. However, he doesn’t have any children.
Success in Standup comedy
Clary started working under the alias Leo Hurll, a pseudonymous keyboardist for the pop group Thinkman, a recording project initiated by Rupert Hine. He moved into alternative comedy in the early 1980s, first under the name Gillian Pieface and then as The Joan Collins Fan Club. He wore heavy glam make-up and dressed in outrageous clothes, often leather/PVC and hinting at bondage. His pet dog, Fanny the Wonderdog, a whippet mongrel, is also used in acts. Julian has performed various tours. Here is the list:
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- The Mincing Machine Tour
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- My Glittering Passage
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- Natural Born Mincer
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- Lord of the Mince
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- Position Vacant: Apply Within (2012–13)
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- The Joy of Mincing (2016)
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- Born to Mince (2019)
Who did Julian Clary marry?
Clary’s boyfriend Christopher died of AIDS in 1991. Clary has been in a relationship with Ian Mackley since 2005, and the couple married on 19 November 2016. They lived at Goldenhurst Farm, a seventeenth-century manor house once owned by Noël Coward, in Aldington, Kent, until 2018.
What is Julian Clary doing now?
He is touring here and there with Jesus Christ Superstar, giving his Herod. On 7 September 2005, the University of London’s Goldsmiths College made Clary an honorary fellow. In July 2014, the University of East Anglia awarded Clary an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law.