Editing Paul Merton (section)

=== Stage ===
[[File:Merton2008.JPG|thumb|right|Merton in 1998]]
Though he had harboured serious ambitions of becoming a performing comedian since his school days, it was not until April 1982, at the [[The Comedy Store, London|Comedy Store]] in [[Soho]], that his dream was realised.<ref name=jam>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/feb/16/paul-merton-manages-28-years-without-hesitation-repetition-or-deviation|title=Paul Merton on Just a Minute: 'Our worst contestant? Esther Rantzen'|author=Stuart Jeffries|date=16 February 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=17 February 2016|archive-date=17 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217065829/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/feb/16/paul-merton-manages-28-years-without-hesitation-repetition-or-deviation|url-status=live}}</ref> Merton commented that he made his professional debut, along with writing partner John Irwin, in [[Swansea]] in 1982 which led to having an "affection for Wales".<ref name="Owens">{{Cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/comedy-gigs/paul-merton-wales-thank-launching-6307885|title=Paul Merton on why he has Wales to thank for launching his comedy career|last=Owens|first=David|date=2013-11-15|work=walesonline|access-date=2018-04-17|archive-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192048/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/comedy-gigs/paul-merton-wales-thank-launching-6307885|url-status=live}}</ref> "What we did over the course of two weeks was perform 10 shows and it meant that our first time on stage if we made a mistake on the Monday we wouldn't repeat that mistake the next day."<ref name="Owens"/>

Merton recalls that on only his second or third night he found the dour role that has informed his comic approach ever since. After performing on the London [[Alternative Comedy]] circuit at places like [[The Comedy Store]] and [[Jongleurs (comedy club)|Jongleurs]], in 1985 his first foray to the [[Edinburgh Fringe Festival]] was with the show Have You Been on Telly where he shared the bill with [[Morris Minor and the Majors]] and [[Mark Steel]]. He has been a member of the London improvisation group [[The Comedy Store Players]] since 1985, and still regularly performs with them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://comedystoreplayers.com/ |title=Comedy Store Players |publisher=Comedy Store Players |access-date=3 March 2010 |archive-date=23 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923180009/http://comedystoreplayers.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Merton has performed in [[Paul Merton's Impro Chums]] at [[The Pleasance|Pleasance]] as part of the [[Edinburgh Comedy Festival]] every year from 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Edinburgh Comedy Festival kicks off|url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/leisure/showbiz/3558048.edinburgh-comedy-festival-kicks-off/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203050419/https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/leisure/showbiz/3558048.edinburgh-comedy-festival-kicks-off/|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2024|access-date=2021-01-28|website=Bucks Free Press|date=30 July 2008 |language=en}}</ref>

Merton was due to make his [[West End theatre|West End]] debut in the 2021 revival of [[Hairspray (musical)|''Hairspray'']] at the [[London Coliseum]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/paul-merton-hairspray-west-end_50762.html|title=Paul Merton to make West End musical debut in Hairspray with full casting announced {{!}} WhatsOnStage|website=www.whatsonstage.com|date=24 January 2020 |language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-24|archive-date=3 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303133643/https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/paul-merton-hairspray-west-end_50762.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, after several delays to the show it was confirmed that Merton would not be joining the company.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Les Dennis replaces Paul Merton in West End Hairspray {{!}} WhatsOnStage|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/les-dennis-paul-merton-west-end-hairspray_53979.html|access-date=2021-05-08|website=www.whatsonstage.com|date=7 May 2021 |language=en-GB|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508093331/https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/les-dennis-paul-merton-west-end-hairspray_53979.html|url-status=live}}</ref>