NOEL BRITTEN
From the days when he first walked on to the nation's comedic stages some 15 years ago, Noel Britten has been splitting, amusing and confusing audiences up and down the country and further afield. But he has been entertaining people for far longer as a magician since he was a little boy growing up in the west country Early on noel Britten was described as "the country's finest emerging stand-up talent" by the now sadly defunct Comedy Review magazine and in 1996 completed an impressive award double as winner of the prestigious Hackney Empire New Act of the Year and Ha Bloody Ha New Act of the Year gongs. Comedian Noel Britten's mix of quick witted dry humour with a smattering of good and bad magic tricks has led to comparisons with the late, great Tommy Cooper. He delivers a series of fast paced gags with razor sharp timing while retaining a sense of the bizarre and something beyond control – something only really possible from a seasoned professional in full control of his act and his audience. A regular at the all-conquering Comedy Club among others across Britain, he is regularly invited to perform in the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, Dubai and Canada and is particularly popular at festivals in almost every corner of the globe. Back in the west country, he is infamous for the Bizarre Bath comedy tours of his home city which have been running nightly through the summer months for more than 10 years. Despite promising “no facts, no figures and no history” and being described as a “walking game show” complete with cash prizes, it is recommended by all the major tourist books, rough guides, travelogues and websites both at home and abroad. Now seen as a "must do" for visitors to Bath, many fans come back time and time again. Among the not so keen however are some of the owners of the properties outside which he regales his walking audiences. Noel and his fans have been subjected to abuse and even had rubbish thrown over them over the years. But there's nothing rubbish about Noel's diverse abilities or any other examples of this strange and diverse man's humour. Top comic Noel Britten is also a street performer by day and a regular at many festivals including near neighbour Glastonbury. In between trawling the streets of Bath and the comedy clubs of the world, Noel Britten is also a highly respected figure in the upper echelons of the magic world. He is the compere and talent booker for the annual International Magic Convention in London after taking his first bow as a child performer back in 1976. Among the occupational hazards Noel Britten can do without are councils with strict rules concerning flames and animals on stage and ... "I have a low tolerance for acts that use confetti," he says. And you can't argue with that. WHAT THE CRITICS SAID "Magic" - The Comedian "Comedic" - The Magician "Has to be the funniest comedy Magician since Tommy Cooper… had everyone rocking with laughter." - The Stage "Something of a hot property" - Venue "Brilliantly unforgettable" - Holiday, BBC 1 "Noel Britten brilliantly combines very funny material and visual gags with abundant self-effacing charm." - Channel 4's Gas