Bill Tops the Bill
Bill Bailey’s Booked for the Ball
What you see is pretty much what you get with Bill Bailey. One of the nation’s most loved, down-to-earth comedians, Bill is kept grounded by family life and a love of nature.
Did you know?
Bill lives in Hammersmith
He moved there when he was in his 20s when he came to London from The West Country and hasn’t left.
Bill once had a houseboat
He had to move from his beloved boathouse because in the night the keel would get stuck in the silt, the boat would tip, and he’d end up with his feet up the hull.
Bill’s an animal lover
His home is a menagerie of cats, dogs, snakes, chameleons, African land snails, parrots and cockatoos. If he stayed on his houseboat, it would be a Noah’s Ark.
Bill enjoys adventurous hobbies
Bill is partial to a bit of Paddle Boarding. You may spot him paddle boarding on the Thames, when he’s not riding his bike or bird watching.
Bill first appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks back in 2002
Bill joined the show at the request of Mark Lamar and Phil Jupitus. He took over from Sean Hughes as team captain as producers liked his quirky look.
True or false, Bill can play an instrument without touching it?
It’s true! It’s called a Theremin and has been most famously used in 1950s science-fiction films such as The Day the Earth Stood Still. Bill is one of the few modern representatives of the instrument and has presented a Radio 4 show called “Good Vibrations: The Story of the Theremin”, and written an article on the subject for the Guardian.
His taste may have changed, but back in 2004 his top 10 albums were:
Talking Heads – Remain in Light (1980)
The Clash – Combat Rock (1982)
Beck – Odelay (1996)
Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
King Curtis – Live at Fillmore West (1971)
The Dandy Warhols – 13 Tales From Urban Bohemia (2000)
Tom Waits – Blue Valentine (1978)
Lamb – Fear of Fours (1999)
Elvis Costello – When I Was Cruel (2002)
David Bowie – Ziggie Stardust (1972)
Bill is looking forward to playing to a packed house to celebrate The Railway Ball’s 20th anniversary.
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