*ABOUT BILL:
Bill Bailey is a comedian, musician, writer, actor, director, presenter and keen stand-up paddle-boarder known for his live shows such as Part Troll, Tinselworm, Qualmpeddler and Limboland and his work on the television programmes Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and QI.
2023-24
THOUGHTIFIER
Bill’s brand new live show launches in New Zealand in November.
A magical, musical mystery tour of the human mind, along with some other pressing matters about whales, biophilia and unrequited love. Amplified With Music. Welcome to Thoughtifier!
2023
Extraordinary Portraits, 6 part BBC series
Bill presents a new series of Extraordinary Portraits celebrating NHS heroes. Bill - a keen art lover - pairs up some of the most inspiring NHS staff with leading British artists to create breathtaking portraits of people with incredible personal and powerful stories - creating a picture of modern Britain.
2022
En Route to Normal
Bill takes his sold out new tour on the road.
★★★★
“A joyful reconnection – Tree snails, Coldplay and the current cabinet all get the full Bailey treatment in a zinging performance”
THE GUARDIAN
★★★★
“A sublime celebration of silliness - An ever-changing, never-boring two hour spectacular”
EVENING STANDARD
2021
Bill became the first British comedian to perform at the Royal Opera House, London, with Larks In Transit. The show is broadcast on BBC1 in September. Watch on BBC iPlayer
★★★★
“Scales the peaks of sublime silliness - Bailey’s honest enthusiasm for the marginal, the overlooked and the seldom juxtaposed is delightful”
THE GUARDIAN
★★★★
”Like a stand-up Midas - everything he touched turns to comedy gold.. wonderful” THE STANDARD
2021 Bill does a residency at Proud Cabaret, London
2019
Bill writes
Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide To Happiness published by Quercus Books.
2018
Bill features in comedy drama ‘In The Long Run’ created by Idris Elba for Sky.
2017
Curated the Cabinet of Curiosities exhibition at Hull Maritime Museum as part of Hull’s 2017 City of Culture.
Walked 100 miles along the Icknield Way and the Ridgeway Path to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer.
2016
Bill’s first book!
Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to British Birds published by Quercus Books.
Hardback (poster) and paperback pocket version.
2015
Bill Bailey re-imagines one of his most popular songs in this spoof music video, Love Song, co-starring the legendary Emma Thompson.
Bill raised over £10k for Cancer Research UK by walking 87 miles of the Ridgeway Path.
Limboland UK tour & Vaudeville West End run.
2014
Bill tours Scandinavia.
Performs live at Edinburgh Castle.
Tours Australia & New Zealand with Limboland.
2012
Bill started work on his new show, Qualmpeddler, taking it on a tour of the Highlands and Ireland in late Spring and on to Australia and New Zealand
Began filming Bill Bailey’s Jungle Hero, a two-part documentary about naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace for BBC Two
Bill headlined the Saturn Stage at the Sonisphere Festival, Knebworth, sharing a line-up that included Slayer, Motorhead, Biffy Clyro, Metallica and Slipknot and performing to 60,000 metal and comedy fans
Bill recorded the album Bill Bailey In Metal.
Toured New York, Boston, Chicago, and Toronto.
Appeared in the Doctor Who Christmas Special: The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe
2010
Bill gets stuck in a car park. Is it a conspiracy? You’ll need to watch the short film he made - Car Park Babylon (12 mins. 35mm). ★ Nominated for a Royal Television Society Award!
Written and directed by Bill and Joe Magee. First transmission Sky, Christmas 2010. Film Festival screenings: Atlanta Film Festival (Official selection) 2011, Palm Springs International Film Festival 2011, Rhode Island International Film Festival 2011.
2010
Dandelion Mind tour… and getting a carnivorous plant named after him ‘Nepenthes Bill Bailey’
Bill Bailey’s Birdwatching Bonanza was transmitted in January 2010 on Sky1 HD and Sky1
Bill played the part of Angus the hangman for John Landis’ feature film Burke and Hare
Bill wrote and directed short film Carpark Babylon for the Little Crackers series for Sky1
2008
Bill wrote and performed his Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall with Anne Dudley and the BBC Concert Orchestra. This was broadcast on BBC Two in 2009 and went on to win two International Awards at the Banff International TV Festival
Bill appeared in Channel 4’s Skins, and performed at a host of summer festivals, including the inaugural Comedy Session at the iconic Eden Project in Cornwall
Tinselworm, 2007
2007
Bill took his audio-visual comedic extravaganza, Tinselworm, on a sold-out arena tour of the UK and a subsequent West End run at the Gielgud Theatre
2006
Bill appeared on our screens on Sunday afternoons hosting Wild Thing I Love You, a Channel 4 wildlife show
2005
At the Edinburgh Festival, Bill played the slouchy, unkempt Oscar in The Odd Couple. ‘…a role he was born to play.’ – The Telegraph
2004
Bill took the show Part Troll on tour in the UK and worldwide culminating in a DVD recording at the Hammersmith Apollo
2003
At the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bill joined the all-comedian cast in an extremely well-received production of 12 Angry Men, as the restrained Juror 4
2002
Bill took over as team captain on Never Mind the Buzzcocks. He remained in the captain’s chair on the show for 11 series before departing in 2008
2001
Bill’s tour Bewilderness played for an extended run in New York and was described in The New York Times as “a treat for the funny bone, the brain and the ear”, and The Telegraph pronouncing him “a hobbit with a wicked sense of humour”
2000
Bill appeared as a small-time drug dealer in the Craig Ferguson penned comedy film Saving Grace
1994
Bill teamed up with Sean Lock for their Edinburgh show Rock, before taking his first solo show to the Edinburgh Festival in 1995 and earning a Perrier nomination in 1996
1999
Bill appeared in acclaimed comedy Spaced as Bilbo Bagshot; comic store owner and die-hard Hawk the Slayer fan. Bill landed the role alongside Dylan Moran in the award-winning sitcom Black Books as increasingly deranged ex-accountant Manny Bianco
1998
Bill wrote and starred in BBC Two show, Is it Bill Bailey? - A mixture of musical parodies and surreal sketches
1995
Bill records and release Cosmic Jam
FAQS
Will there be another series of Wild Thing: I Love You?
Unfortunately, despite respectable viewing figures, Channel 4 have decided not to commission a new series. The programme did receive a lot of praise, however, and has left a positive impact in the environments of many endangered British animals.
What’s the name of the track at the end of Part Troll?
It’s Godless, by the Dandy Warhols, and is taken from their album “13 Tales of Urban Bohemia”.
What’s the instrument that Bill plays without touching?
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.
What is the name of the effects pedal Bill uses?
The pedal is a Roland GR-33, and works with the divided pickup Roland GK-3, which converts the strings into a digital signal. It is then possible to apply effects to the MIDI signal using the pedal, or to connect it to a MIDI-compatible device such as a keyboard or a computer.
Where is the Doctor Who section on the Cosmic Jam DVD?
It’s not there. The back of the DVD erroneously states that it’s on the Bewilderness DVD, but as far as I’m aware Bill never performed it as part of the Bewilderness tour. It was originally a sketch from Is it Bill Bailey, and a version of it is available on The Ultimate Collection… Ever!. The chapter selection on the Cosmic Jam also names Chapter 2 “Busking in Europe” when it is actually a three blokes in a pub joke.
Is Bill in Shaun of the Dead?
IMDB used to credit Bill as being in this film, and many people seem to be under the impression that he appeared as a zombie – probably confusing him with one of the two bald, beard-sporting zombie twins that feature prominently. Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright confirm on the DVD commentary that he was unfortunately busy with other commitments at the time, so could not have a role.
Will there be another series of Black Books?
Dylan Moran has stated in a recent article that there will not be, although he alludes vaguely to the possibility of transferring it to the stage.
What music does Bill like?
These are his top 10 albums, as listed in the Sunday Express S:2 magazine on 24th October 2004:
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 has also written that:
“I remain a big fan of The Clash, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads David Byrne of course..I was a hopeless devotee of Chrissie Hynde for many years – I do like a bit of twiddly but followed by something loud, like the Queens of the Stone Age, or Sugar..then quiet again with Yo La Tengo and a smidgen of Javanese Gamelan…then wistful with Beth Orton…then off again with the Chilli Peppers… In the car CD at the moment is PJ Harvey, Snow Patrol and The Streets…Top Geeza! My most recent gig I attended was Kraftwerk which was magnificent.”
I am looking for a download, lyrics or chords/tabs to one of Bill’s songs.
A songbook of some of Bill’s most popular tracks, with piano and guitar parts, is now available in our online shop here. A selection of other guitar tabs are available from 911tabs.com.
How do I get a signed photograph of Bill or his autograph?
For a signed picture send a stamped addressed envelope (size C5) to:
BB Fan Mail
PO Box 60815
LONDON
W6 6EG
Only one picture will be sent per envelope and please allow up to 1 month for delivery. International fans must enclose 2 x IRCs (International Reply Coupons), which are available from post offices and postal services of most countries, to cover return postage for a 20g C5 envelope to your country. Do not send any correspondence to this address, as it will not be answered.
Keep Dancin’