Paul Merton - Biography

Rate: There's something really likeable about Mr Merton. Yeah, he's funny when he's on HIGNFY, but he's also a very intelligent guy who you can often see talking about his favourite subjects on BBC Four.

He started on TV with Whose Line Is It Anyway, the improvised comedy show before becoming a panalist on Have I Got News For You in 1990, a role he keeps today.

Paul also presented Room 101 after he replaced original host Nick Hancock. The final show was in 2007 and his guest was none other than Ian Hislop.

Although not a modern-day celebrity, Paul's relationships have been the subject of tabloid rumour and speculation. He married actress Caroline Quentin in 1990 but they ended up going through a divorce in 1998. He was in a relationship with fellow comedian Sarah Parkinson, although she sadly died from breast cancer in 2003 - the pair did marry 3 months before.

Paul presented a series on BBC Four looking at the history of Alfred Hitchcock and his work.