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reviews_and_ramblings) wrote2015-05-25 11:35 pm
reviews_and_ramblings) wrote2015-05-25 11:35 pm
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Julian Clary (born May 25, 1959)
Since graduating from Goldsmiths College University, London in the Eighties with a degree in English Drama, Julian Clary has gone on to become one of the country's most recognisable entertainers, and during his 17 years in showbusiness has turned his hand to comedy, acting, presenting, writing and even performing as a novice dancer on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, where he reached the final. Julian has appeared on Television programmes ranging from Friday Night Live (Ch4), Sticky Moments and Terry and Julian, It's Only TV But I Like It, four ITV Christmas pantomimes,The National Lottery show, Come And Have A Go and Who Do You Think You Are? for BBC1.
He has toured the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand many times and also appeared in Boy George's memorable West End musical, Taboo and as the Emcee in Cabaret at London's Lyric Theatre. His indelible impact on the entertainment world was recognised in 2001 when he was awarded 'the big red book' by Michael Aspel on This Is Your Life.
His Autobiography, A Young Man's Passage
, was published by Ebury Press in June 2006 and was a Sunday Times bestseller, and his first Novel, Murder Most Fab: You'd Kill to be that Famous
, was published in 2007. He has just finished dancing with Lilia Kopylova on the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour and his second novel, Devil in Disguise
, has just been published by Ebury Press in May 2009. Source: http://www.julianclary.co.uk/
Further Readings:
A Young Man's Passage by Julian ClaryPublisher: Ebury Digital; New Ed edition (October 31, 2011)
Amazon Kindle: A Young Man's Passage
This is Julian Clary's story, in his own words - the tale of an awkward schoolboy who became a huge worldwide success on stage and screen.
After a sheltered suburban upbringing, Julian was sent to St Benedict's, where beatings from 'holy' men gave him some brutal life lessons, and other 'unholy' boys his first awakenings of sexuality. He had just one true friend and ally, Nick - to his other school peers, Julian's aloof demeanour made him an enigma or simply a figure of ridicule. In school he was just another pained adolescent, but inside Julian was a new Jean Genet or Quentin Crisp bursting to get out.
Leaving St Benedict's thankfully behind him, Julian went on to college where he found his true vocation as an entertainer with a peculiar comic brand of smut and glamour. At the same time, he was finding as much sex as he could, sometimes with remarkably less-than-glamorous characters.
Periods in community theatre and the singing telegram industry followed before Julian hit the big time with cabaret co-star Fanny the Wonder Dog as The Joan Collins Fan Club. Soon, the world was his oyster. But fame came at a price, as Julian struggled not only with the reality of being a high-profile gay man in the 1980s but also the pain of losing his lover to terminal illness.
Far more than just another celebrity autobiography or 'funny book', this is a touching, beautifully written and wryly witty account of a unique progression from shy child to comedy icon.
More Spotlights at my website: www.elisarolle.com/, My Lists/Gay Novels
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I vividly recall going to a recording of a sketch comedy where Julian was a guest performer, playing a character called "the whip-happy masked bandito" in one sketch I remember. The thing was, because it was radio he wasn't in costume, he was just this unremarkable (though quite cute) looking young guy, wearing jeans and a T-Shirt. Then he stepprd up to the microphone, went into character and brought the house down!
I can't remember anything about the show, or who else was in it, but Julian had that star quality you can't ever forget. I knew I hadn't seen the last of him.
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I like so much this comment, it's nice to have an insight on the past of this author.
Elisa
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