Multi-award winning comedian and actor, Ardal O'Hanlon,
is one of the most acclaimed artists to break through the
comedy industry in recent years.
LIVE
A spellbinding fusion of off beat stories and confident
polished material combine to make Ardal O'Hanlon's stand up
act, a hilarious journey touched with life enhancing observations
and unexpected twists. His sheer originality and talent ensure
that there is no other performer like him.
A previous winner of no less than three 'Best Comedian' awards,
along with a major British Comedy Award; Ardal has travelled
extensively as a live performer, completing successful tours
of Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Montreux
(television festival) and twice at the acclaimed Montreal
Comedy Festival (Juste Pour Rire). Ardal performed a sell-out
run at the Irish arts Centre in New York Jan 2000, and returned
to New York in March 2001 for an extended run and a special
solo TV recording for USA cable company, Comedy Central. In
addition, he has enjoyed three massive sell out tours of the
UK and Ireland and has released a live video, produced by
Working Title Films for a special full-length video ('Ardal
O'Hanlon Live'); released via PolyGram/Universal video. The
show has since been broadcast on Channel 4 prime time television.
Most recently, Ardal performed a special stand up special
for BBC1 hosted by Jack Dee: 'Live at The Apollo'.
ACTING/ BROADCAST
Ardal has an extensive list of both acting and comedy television
credits to his name, and demand from the TV Networks is such,
that he is currently developing his own solo television and
film projects.
Ardal has starred as the title role in the USA short feature,
'Another Bobby O'Hara Story' - which filmed on location in
LA/Hollywood and was considered for the 2002 Oscars. Ardal
also starred (as the lead, 'Eamon') in the ITV drama-comedy
series 'Big Bad World (2 series) and stars in the twin lead
roles (of 'George Sunday/ThermoMan') for the BBC 1 comedy
series 'My Hero (5 series). Ardal also provides the voice
of 'Robbie' for the award winning Comic Relief animation films,
Robbie the Reindeer.
Ardal featured in Neil Jordan's feature film 'The Butcher
Boy', and in the lead role of 'Johnny Eddy' in the award winning
short film 'Flying Saucer Rock 'n Roll'. He also previously
hosted three series' of the BBC1 series 'The Stand Up Show'.
It was, however, his consummate starring role in 3 series
of Channel 4's BAFTA winning series 'Father Ted', which initially
propelled Ardal in to public attention; his hilarious portrayal
of 'Father Dougal McGuire' gaining such reviews as:
'The true star of the show is Ardal O'Hanlon, the acclaimed
stand up whose comedy innocence and natural born acting ability
is well worthy of the genius of James Stewart' (The Independent
Newspaper) It is this performance which won Ardal the 'Top
Television Comedy Newcomer' award at the '95 British Comedy
Awards and earned him nominations for the 1996 Awards in the
'Best Actor' and 'Top Television Personality' categories,
and 'Best Actor' at the 1997, 1998 and 1999 Awards, along
with 'Best Comedy Actor' at the 1999 BAFTA awards. During
November and December 2004 Ardal is shooting the role of 'Coconut
Tam' in the feature film 'Greyfriars Bobby'.
August - December 2003, Ardal starred (and gained wide critical
praise; see Biog, page 3 ) in the West End production of 'See
You Next Tuesday' at the Albery Theatre, in the lead role
of Francois; following the successful run at the Gate Theatre
in Dublin the previous year.
WRITING
As an innovative writer, who has written for publications
as diverse as The Independent, and Total Sport Magazine, Ardal
secured a major publishing deal with Sceptre (the contemporary
fiction arm of Hodder & Stoughton) in 1998. His first
novel, 'The Talk of the Town', made it to the Best Seller
lists for a full year. The rights were sold to the US (where
the book has been renamed 'Knick Knack Paddy Wack', published
by Henry Holt) and reprised the UK success. Ardal is currently
writing his second novel for Sceptre.
ARDAL O'HANLON : REVIEWS,
STAND UP
"Eschewing any sort of flashy showmanship or high-tech
trickery, one man and a microphone held a packed Manchester
Apollo spellbound and rocking with laughter. There's a powerful
intelligence at work and crucially as well as being very,
very funny, he's also terrifically likeable, recounting tall
tales for all the world as if he was chatting to you in a
bar. It's a combination that seems likely to make Ardal O'Hanlon
one of the most popular live stand ups in the country
THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS
"O'Hanlon's timing and technique are outstanding in an
age when such things do not seem to matter as much as they
should. An inspirational performer poised on the brink of
greatness. The one thing that really matters about Ardal O'Hanlon
is that in a world already overpopulated by comedians, he
really makes a difference. See him - if you can find a ticket"
THE STAGE
"Ardal O'Hanlon appearing as 'himself' will be a revelation.
If you've only seen him in his television role as wide-eyed
eejit 'Father Dougal' don't miss his stand up performance.
Watch him turn innocence into a deadly comic weapon"
THE SUNDAY TIMES
"Displays a proficiency of delivery which puts him
well a head of the pack. He is a complete joy to watch, planting
the sort of silly images that bump around in your head forever."
THE GUARDIAN
"..Skilfully handled running jokes, his manipulation
of a capacity crowd is just as impressive..sharp and genial
observation . O'Hanlon is certainly a comedian to be reckoned
with" THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
"An hour of well-structured observational comedy, planting
verbal mines which later detonate in glorious pay-offs. Funnier
than one could imagine possible. Stardom surely beckons to
Ardal O'Hanlon on a second count"
THE SCOTSMAN
"His performance leaps between devilishly-delivered non-sequiteurs,
but keeps a common thread of outstanding observation too.
If you love comedy and smart talking - and only go to see
one comedy show, make it O'Hanlon" THE DAILY EXPRESS
SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY
WHAT THE CRITICS HAVE SAID
"For the belly laughs it is Father Ted's Ardal O'Hanlon,
showcasing his unrivalled skill at playing village idiots
who shines."
THE MIRROR
"Enter the wonderful Ardal O'Hanlon in an ill-fitting
suit, a portfolio of his scale models at the ready…O'Hanlon
as the chosen victim is a total joy. He's wonderful as the
sacrificial lamb, a performance of radiant sweetness that
gets our sympathy without begging for it."
DAILY EXPRESS
"It has its amusing moments thanks to the miraculous
comic timing of Ardal O'Hanlon"
THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
"Ardal O'Hanlon…makes a thoroughly decent and
engaging theatrical debut."
THE SUNDAY EXPRESS
"Ardal O'Hanlon is ideal as the useless Pignon, not
quite matching Father Dougal's plankton levels of gormlessness,
but exuding an irritating dimness from under his shiny, crumpled
suit, his comic tics as recognisable as those of Frankie Howerd
or Sid James."
THE SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE
"Ardal O'Hanlon plays Francois, and he is a delight.
A natural comic gift suffuses his goofiness, his anxieties,
his eagerness to please. For a moment, when he realises that
he has been set up as an idiot, he even achieves an unexpected
dignity."
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
"That the laughter comes louder and more often…is
thanks, for the most part, to the endearingly hapless presence
of Ardal O'Hanlon"
THE INDEPENDENT
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