John Oliver, 31, has gone from being a Bedford schoolboy, playing
humourous parts in Bedfordshire Youth Theatre productions, to a hit
comedian, television personality and movie star.

"I moved to Bedford from Birmingham with my family when I was about six years old, as my dad got a job at Hastingsbury Upper School," he said.

"I now live and work in New York, but my mum and dad still live in Bedford and I'm back every Christmas to visit them.

"I started off when I was a teenager doing Bedfordshire Youth Theatre while going to Mark Rutherford Upper School. It proved very helpful as I got involved in making productions and seemed to often get cast in the funny parts and found I enjoyed it.

"I followed comedy through, went to the University of Cambridge, studied English and was vice president of Footlights Dramatic Club. I started doing comedy nights, and then when I left I wanted to do stand-up and have been doing it ever since.

"I did the Edinburgh Fringe Festival every year in August and then started doing two shows, The Department and Political Animal, on BBC Radio 4.

"Then about two years ago I landed my current job working for The Daily Show and I love it. It's my dream job.

"I was quite proud when I got a letter of complaint from
Buckingham Palace about two years ago. I was doing something for BBC Radio 4 and I put the Queen's Christmas message to music, and that's obviously something you're not allowed to do, messing with the mighty words of the monarch.

"I asked Buckingham Palace for more copies of the letter and I think it was at that point they understood it was not being taken
seriously. Years ago I would have been beheaded for
something like that.

"The comedy interviews I do for The Daily Show are actually really tense. Absolutely nothing is set up, it's not funny at the time, you just have to think about what it will be like in the edit.

"I sometimes wonder how I get away with stuff but that is the beauty and the curse of freedom of speech.

"My advice for anyone interested in getting into comedy is just do it. It's one of those things you learn by doing, you can't get it out of a book. I would always recommend stand-up to anyone. The crowds will soon let you know if you're any good at it."