About the Author

Jimmy Carr is an award-winning comedian, television host and writer, goddamnit.One of the biggest-selling comedy acts in the world, Jimmy consistently does stand-up to sell-out crowds, performing his shows at venues in over forty countries. That's a lot of countries. In fact, the only thing that's been on a more extensive world tour in the last five years, is coronavirus.Before making the move to streaming, Jimmy was one of the bestselling acts in the comedy DVD market, selling over 2 million copies. And to this day his DVDs continue to form the centrepiece of many Oxfam Shop window displays.His last tour, 'Best of Ultimate Gold Greatest Hits', sold over half a million tickets globally with the current show, 'Terribly Funny', looking set to exceed that figure by the end of 2022. Unless someone eats another bat pangolin sandwich.Jimmy is a household name in UK television, well-known for hosting Channel 4's 8 Out Of 10 Cats, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Big Fat Quiz Of The Year in addition to presenting Comedy Central's Roast Battle UK and Your Face Or Mine. He is a regular on all the top panel shows, including QI and A League Of Their Own, has performed as part of The Royal Variety Performance three times, and a judge on BBC1's I Can See Your Voice. Jimmy's hair has appeared in both The LEGO Movie (2014) and The LEGO Movie 2 (2019).He was also the first UK comedian to sign a stand-up deal with streaming behemoth Netflix in 2015, releasing two specials on the platform, Funny Business (2016) and Best Of Ultimate Gold Greatest Hits (2018).Before & Laughter is his first attempt at an autobiography. He might even write another one. Depending on next year's tax bill.

Reviews

Riveting
*Daily Mail*

Riveting
*Daily Mail*

An utterly sincere guide for people to achieve bigger things in life
*Guardian*

An utterly sincere guide for people to achieve bigger things in life
*Guardian*

Very funny and very beautiful, packed with jokes and genuinely wise advice
*Chris Evans*

Very funny and very beautiful, packed with jokes and genuinely wise advice
*Chris Evans*

So good. I've loved every second of reading it
*James Corden*

So good. I've loved every second of reading it
*James Corden*

A hilarious book that will be adored by Jimmy's fans. Both of them
*David Walliams*

A hilarious book that will be adored by Jimmy's fans. Both of them
*David Walliams*

Made me laugh, made me think, what more do you want from a comedian's memoir?
*Alastair Campbell*

Made me laugh, made me think, what more do you want from a comedian's memoir?
*Alastair Campbell*

I was really annoyed at how good this book is and that's the biggest compliment I can give
*Romesh Ranganathan*

I was really annoyed at how good this book is and that's the biggest compliment I can give
*Romesh Ranganathan*

Very, very funny - a great read
*Gary Davies, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show*

Very, very funny - a great read
*Gary Davies, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show*

At last, a selfless biography that aims to inspire and does. Also, of course, very, very funny
*Rich Hall*

At last, a selfless biography that aims to inspire and does. Also, of course, very, very funny
*Rich Hall*

It's the first life advice book from someone whose life you would actually want
*Katherine Ryan*

It's the first life advice book from someone whose life you would actually want
*Katherine Ryan*