Editing Rory McGrath

{{Short description|English comedian}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Distinguish|Roy McGrath}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Rory McGrath
| image        = Rory McGrath (3) (cropped).jpg
| caption      = McGrath in 2012
| birth_name   = Patrick Rory McGrath
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1956|3|17}}
| birth_place  = [[Redruth]], [[England]]
| education    = [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| occupation   = Comedian, writer
| years_active = 1979–2016
}}
'''Patrick Rory McGrath''' (born 17 March 1956) is a British comedian, television personality, and writer. He came to prominence in the comedy show ''[[Who Dares Wins (TV comedy)|Who Dares Wins]]'' and was a regular panellist on the game show ''[[They Think It's All Over (TV series)|They Think It's All Over]]'' for many years. He acted in the sitcom ''[[Chelmsford 123]]'' and appeared in the ITV reality show ''[[Sugar Free Farm]]''.

==Early life==
McGrath was born in [[Redruth]], Cornwall, England. He studied at [[Redruth Grammar School]] and [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge]], from which he received a lower second class degree<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/passedfailed-an-education-in-the-life-of-rory-mcgrath-comedian-1606797.html |location=London |work=The Independent |title=Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Rory McGrath, comedian |date=12 February 2009}}</ref> in modern languages.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 September 2011 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-5601467.html|title=How We Met|website=[[Independent.co.uk]] }}</ref>

==Career==
McGrath became a member of the [[Footlights]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Interview: Rory McGrath |url=http://cambridgetab.co.uk/culture/interview-rory-mcgrath|work=[[The Tab]]|date=15 May 2012}}</ref> while at Cambridge and met [[Jimmy Mulville]], with whom he wrote and performed. After university, they wrote BBC radio scripts for [[Frankie Howerd]] and [[Windsor Davies]]. McGrath also co-wrote ''[[Black Cinderella Two Goes East]]'' with [[Clive Anderson]] for [[BBC Radio 2]] in 1978. McGrath and Mulville went on to write for shows such as ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'' and ''[[Alas Smith and Jones]]'', and they were part of the team of writer/performers behind ''[[Injury Time (radio series)|Injury Time]]'' (1980–1982),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/transcripts/emma-thompson-a-life-in-pictures|title=Emma Thompson: A Life in Pictures|date=24 November 2013}}</ref> and the [[Channel 4]] comedy sketch series ''[[Who Dares Wins (TV comedy)|Who Dares Wins]]''. In 1981 McGrath wrote and performed in the radio show Glompus Van De Hloed's Tales From The Crypt alongside Andrew Sachs, Chrissy Roberts, Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith, from which an album was produced.<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Various-Glompus-Van-De-Hloeds-Tales-From-The-Crypt-/release/4532686 Glompus Van De Hloed's Tales From The Crypt], Discogs</ref>

In 1986, McGrath, with Jimmy Mulville and [[Denise O'Donoghue]], co-founded the independent British TV production company [[Hat Trick Productions]]. An early production was ''[[Chelmsford 123]]'' (1988 and 1990), which McGrath and Mulville wrote and performed. In 1990, he hosted the game show ''Trivial Pursuit'' on [[BBC One]], but in 1992 he was dismissed from Hat Trick. The confrontation came days after McGrath had left his wife and two young children.<ref name="bbcprofile">{{cite news |title=Rory McGrath profile |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1149958.stm |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 February 2009 |date=3 February 2001}}</ref> He was a panel member on the BBC comedy sports quiz ''[[They Think It's All Over (TV series)|They Think It's All Over]]'' (1995–2006). He was presenter of the series ''Rory's Commercial Breakdown'' (1997), where humorous adverts were shown from different countries. He has made two football DVDs, ''Own Goals and Gaffs – The Premiership'' in 2002 and ''More Own Goals and Gaffs'' in 2003.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hurrey|first=Adam|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/babb/11700506/Whatever-happened-to-the-football-blooper-DVD.html|title=Whatever happened to the football blooper DVD?|date=26 June 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=22 March 2020}}</ref> McGrath also appeared in an episode of the Sooty Show (Time Capsule), as a scuba diver who appeared from anywhere to stop Matthew Corbett and Sooty from burying their time capsule.

From 2006 to 2011, McGrath starred in the BBC's ''[[Three Men in a Boat (TV series)|Three Men in a Boat]]'' series, alongside [[Dara Ó Briain]] and [[Griff Rhys Jones]]. The series has included the trio rowing up the [[River Thames]] (similar to the eponymous 1889 novel ''[[Three Men in a Boat]]'' by [[Jerome K. Jerome]]), sailing from London to the [[Isle of Wight]] for a sailing yacht race, borrowing numerous [[Marine vessel|vessels]] to make their way from [[Plymouth]] to the [[Isles of Scilly]], taking to the Irish canals and rivers along with Ó Briain's dog ([[Snip Nua]]), travelling in the [[Mediterranean]] to [[Venice]] and attempting to find a boat to take to the anniversary of the [[Statue of Liberty]], where in response to a challenge between Ó Briain and Rhys Jones (who had each secured a boat and refused to give it up to use the other's), he secured permission to use the [[Nantucket Lightship]]. He also hosted [[Industrial Revelations]]: Best of British Engineering, series 5, first broadcast in 2008.

His first book, ''Bearded Tit – Confessions of a Birdwatcher'', was published by Ebury Press on 1 May 2008 and was serialised by BBC Radio 4.

First airing in August 2008, McGrath co-starred in a four-part television series with British comedian [[Paddy McGuinness]], broadcast on [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]], ''[[Rory and Paddy's Great British Adventure]]''. In the series McGuinness and McGrath embarked on a nationwide road-trip, "on a mission to explore Britain's sporting heritage by probing the hidden life of its towns and villages". The series documented numerous arcane sports such as [[Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake|cheese rolling]], [[toe wrestling]] and [[Swamp football|swamp soccer]]. In 2011, McGrath presented ''Pub Dig'' for [[History (UK TV channel)|History]]. He presented two series of ''The Lakes'' for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] and in 2016, he took part in ITV's ''Sugar Free Farm'' which saw him go sugar free for two weeks.

==Personal life==
McGrath is married to Nicola. They met at Cambridge, but married other people. After both their marriages ended, she contacted him and they restarted their relationship in 1995.<ref name="bbcprofile" />

McGrath supports [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] and [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=625811459516301313 |user=rorymcgrathA1 |title=I just love being an Arsenal fan (with Celtic and Plymouth Argyle as my back-ups). #montheredandwhitesandgreensandgreensandwhites |date=27 July 2015 |access-date=9 March 2021|last=McGrath |first=Rory}}</ref> He and [[Peter Cook]] (a [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham]] supporter) used to have a friendly rivalry over their [[North London derby|respective clubs]]. On the night that Cook died in January 1995, Tottenham had beaten Arsenal. McGrath found out about his friend's death after failing to receive Cook's usual abusive phonecall the next morning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/richard_herring_edinburgh/2013_06_rory_mcgrath_josh_widdicombe/ |title=2013 #06: Rory McGrath, Josh Widdicombe and Carly Smallman – Richard Herring's Edinburgh Fringe Podcast – British Comedy Guide |work=Comedy.co.uk |access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref> McGrath is a friend and fan of [[Ralph McTell]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=4151 |title=Ralph McTell - Affairs of the Heart 4 CD set |access-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=dead |date=14 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302014511/http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=4151 |archive-date=2 March 2010 }}</ref> He contributed sleeve notes to ''Affairs of the Heart'', a McTell compilation album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ralphmctell.co.uk/news.php |title=Valentine Release |access-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210152006/http://www.ralphmctell.co.uk/news.php |archive-date=10 February 2010 }}</ref>

==Criminal record==

In May 2013, McGrath assaulted two people whilst intoxicated, leaving one person with a bloody nose and scratches. He received a caution.<ref name="tic_caution">{{cite news |title=Redruth-born comedian Rory McGrath cautioned for three assaults |first=Katri |last=Iivonen-Gray |url=http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Redruth-born-comedian-Rory-McGrath-cautioned/story-19483549-detail/story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705174302/http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Redruth-born-comedian-Rory-McGrath-cautioned/story-19483549-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 July 2013 |newspaper=This Is Cornwall |publisher=[[Local World]] |location=Cornwall, United Kingdom |date=5 July 2013 |access-date=5 July 2013 |quote=Redruth-born comedian and writer Rory McGrath has been cautioned for three assaults in Cornwall. ... In May a spokesman for the force [Devon and Cornwall Police] said: "Police were called to a property in the Pool area, near Redruth, following a report that a man had assaulted a male and female couple, who, it is understood, were attempting to assist this man who was heavily in drink." }}</ref><ref name="bbc_caution">{{cite news |title=Rory McGrath cautioned over Cornwall assaults |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-23202182 |work=BBC News |date=5 July 2013 |access-date=5 July 2013 |quote=McGrath was arrested by police called to a house in Pool, near Redruth, on 10 May last year. At the time, the force [Devon and Cornwall Police] said a man had assaulted a male and female couple "who it is understood, were attempting to assist this man who was heavily in drink".}}</ref>

In January 2017, McGrath was sentenced to 10 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months, for harassing a former lover.<ref name="bbc_harassment">{{cite news|title = Rory McGrath admits harassing woman in Cambridge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-38756508 |work=BBC News |date=26 January 2017 |access-date=26 January 2017 }}</ref>

==Publications==
* {{cite book |year=2008 |title=Bearded Tit |last=McGrath |first=Rory |place=London |publisher=[[Ebury Press]] |ref=none |isbn=978-0-09-192269-6}} (story of the author's life among birds)
* {{cite book |year=2011 |title=The Father, the Son and the Ghostly Hole: Confessions from a Guilt-edged Life |ref=none |last=McGrath |first=Rory |place=London |publisher=[[Ebury Press]] |isbn=978-0-09-192461-4}} (A memoir of a lapsed Catholic who can't quite fully escape)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/mar/05/rory-mcgrath-catholic-mum-guilt |title=Rory McGrath: 'Look away now, Mum!' |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=5 March 2011 |access-date=3 January 2014 |last=Hattenstone |first=Simon}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0569874|name=Rory McGrath}}
* https://dave.uktv.co.uk/dave-faces/rory-mcgrath/article/rory-mcgrath-profile/

{{Authority control}}
{{unreferenced category|date=June 2024|cat1=English people of Irish descent}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McGrath, Rory}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:People from Redruth]]
[[Category:Hat Trick Productions]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:People educated at Redruth Grammar School]]
[[Category:Birdwatchers]]
[[Category:People convicted of harassment]]
[[Category:Comedians from Cornwall]]