Editing Craig Charles (section)

== Early career ==
Charles began his career as a contemporary and urban performance poet on the British [[cabaret]] circuit. His performances were considered original, with Charles described as having a natural ironic wit which appealed to talent scouts. In 1981, Charles climbed on stage at a [[Teardrop Explodes]] concert and recited a humorous, but derogatory, poem about the band's singer, [[Julian Cope]]. Charles was invited to open subsequent gigs for the group, and went on to perform as a support act in pubs and clubs for the following three years,<ref>Housham, David. "Craig Charles: Compulsive Listening", ''Q magazine'', April 1987, pp. 25–26</ref> and at events such as the ''Larks in the Park'' music festival at [[Sefton Park]] (1982). He performed poetry reading poems by [[Vladimir Mayakovsky]], [[W. H. Auden]] and [[E. E. Cummings]],<ref name="issue">{{cite web|title=Craig Charles' struggle as a working-class artist still feels too familiar|url= https://www.bigissue.com/culture/tv/craig-charles-struggles-as-a-working-class-artist-still-feel-too-familiar/|website=bigissue.com|date=6 March 2020}}</ref> at Liverpool's [[Everyman Theatre, Liverpool|Everyman Theatre]] (1983), with such poets as [[Roger McGough]] and [[Adrian Henri]].<ref name="voice"/>

Charles was involved in the Liverpool music scene, writing and singing lyrics for a number of local rock bands.<ref>Charles, Craig. Introduction to ''No Other Blue'', Penguin Books Ltd, London, 1997</ref> In 1980, he played keyboards, bass and provided voice in the rock band Watt 4.<ref>Brown, Chris. [http://webspace.webring.com/people/wj/junostar/CCicnetwork.html "A club that rocked when punk was in its prime"], ''Daily Post'', 16 September 2003</ref> He performed his political rap lyrics as a 'Wordsmith'. In 1983, Charles was invited to record a session on the [[John Peel]] BBC Radio show, performing his poems backed by a band. This was his first professional engagement.<ref>''The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show'', BBC Radio 6 Music, 12 May 2012</ref> He recorded a further Peel Session in 1984.<ref>AL Peters, "Craig Charles The Wordsmith, ''The John Peel Radio Show'', 1984", [http://www.groovinrecords.co.uk/ Groovin' Records]</ref>

Charles realised he was using poetry as a vehicle for his sense of humour, and progressed into stand-up comedy. He was part of the ''[[Red Wedge]]'' comedy tour in 1986, which aimed to raise awareness of the social problems of the time, in support of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]. He also performed his first one-man show in 1986,<ref>[http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/sta/search/detaile.cfm?EID=19588 ''Raising the Roof for the Gateway Exchange''], 29 August 1986, Edinburgh Festival Fringe</ref> which premiered in [[Edinburgh]], and then toured internationally.<ref>Young, Andrew. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19870813&id=yDpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WFkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2116,2850085 ''The Fringe: Craig Charles''], ''The Glasgow Herald'', 13 August 1987</ref> Charles was a guest on programmes including [[Janice Long]]'s [[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]] show,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsoulsbury.com/2011/04/april-podcast-with-craig-charles-and.html |title=Mr Soulsbury: April Podcast with Craig Charles and Ewan Hoozami! |last=Make Design Enjoy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723034413/http://www.mrsoulsbury.com/2011/04/april-podcast-with-craig-charles-and.html |archive-date=23 July 2011 |access-date=2 July 2012}}</ref> and he was a regular panellist on [[Ned Sherrin]]'s chat show ''[[Loose Ends (radio)|Loose Ends]]'' (1987–88) on [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Burrell |first=Ian |date=7 March 2005 |title=Champion of funk soul brothers |work=[[The Independent]] |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/champion-of-funk-soul-brothers-6151442.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218144235/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/champion-of-funk-soul-brothers-6151442.html |archive-date=18 December 2013}}</ref>