As a barrister and one of the country’s top comedy writers Clive has the unique ability to write and deliver hilarious material on just about any subject. His years in court, working to a brief, combined with his skill in writing topical comedy to tight deadlines for television shows such as ‘Spitting Image’ and ‘Have I Got News For You’, allow Clive to specifically tailor his material to the needs of the company or organisation he’s speaking to
Clive has delivered after dinner speeches to an array of UK based and multi-national companies, trade and professional bodies. As a conference host and link presenter, he has hosted numerous awards ceremonies where his combination of performing and writing skills have enabled him to write and deliver tailored ‘industry specific’ links that keep the pace up and the focus sharp and witty. Clive has co-hosted events and awards ceremonies with celebrities including Joanna Lumley and Graham Norton, as well as writing the scripts for awards ceremonies hosted by the likes of Jonathan Ross.
Clive was called to the Bar in 1986. His practice has covered both criminal (defence and CPS) and civil law (medical negligence, property and insolvency). His career started in spectacular fashion, when he managed to get his first client off with a mere six month prison sentence. That was for a parking offence…though, to be fair, he had just parked on top of his social worker!
From 1990-99 Clive was also a Principal Lecturer in Law on the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law, where he helped to pioneer skills training for barristers. He has lectured and written on a wide range of legal subjects, including : advocacy, communication and the art of persuasion.
During this period Clive started to develop his writing career. In 1992, he won the prestigious BBC Radio Light Entertainment Contract Writers Award (previous winners include Angus Deayton and Rory McGrath). Clive regularly contributed to ‘Weekending’, ‘The News Huddlines’ and wrote the sit-com ‘Hair In The Gate’, starring Allistair McGowan.
Clive’s television comedy credits include: ‘Spitting Image’, ‘Smith and Jones’ ‘Clive Anderson Talks Back’ and ‘Have I Got News For You’, though he is perhaps best known for ’Chambers’ his hit BBC1 sit-com about barristers, starring John Bird, James Fleet and Sarah Lancashire.
In 1998 he won the BBC’s inaugural ‘Frank Muir Award’, for outstanding comedy writing. His current writing commissions include a new sit-com for the BBC, and the feature film Dog Story for Samuelson Productions, directed by Martin Clunes. Clive also writes an occasional column for ‘The Independent’ in the guise of John Fuller-Carp, the character played by John Bird in ‘Chambers’.
Clive’s television drama credits include: ‘The Bill’ (for whom he also acts as a legal consultant on court based storylines), ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Crossroads’.
In the corporate world, Clive has worked on speeches with senior executives at major companies such as Cisco Systems and Tetrapak. Wit and humour can lift an executive’s presentation and make it memorable. Clive is skilled in researching the company, the audience and the speaker, so that the material delivered is relevant and natural.
Clive has also written the links for many corporate and industry awards ceremonies which have enabled the host to deliver tailored ‘industry specific’ links that keep the pace up and the tone humorous.
Clive has performed character-based sketches for Channel 5’s ‘Exclusive’ show. For the past ten years, he has regularly performed on radio with credits including co-writing and performing in Radio 4’s ‘Control Group 6’ (nominated for the 1996 Writer’s Guild Award for Best Radio Comedy), Radio Five Live’s ‘The Game’s Up’, with Alistair McGowan; and ‘You Cannot Be Serious’, with Kevin Day. Other regular guest appearances include Radio 4’s ’The Motion Show’, ‘Law In Action’ and ‘Loose Ends’.
To enquire about or book Clive Coleman for your event contact Arena Entertainment. Either send an email to info@arenaentertainments.co.uk or speak to one of our booking agents on 0113-239-2222.
