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Born in 1971 in Dundrum, N. Ireland, Patrick Kielty began as a stand up whilst studying psychology at QueenтАЩs University Belfast and quickly made a name for himself as the host of Northern IrelandтАЩs first comedy club тАЬThe Empire Laughs BackтАЭ.
His fearless satirical routines, in which he regularly attacked both Republican and Loyalist paramilitaries drew praise from both critics and those on the streets of pre ceasefire Belfast, not least because he himself had lost his father to loyalist gunmen aged 16.
The BBC were quick to pick up on his ability to both provoke and charm in equal measure and his big break came in 1995 with Comic ReliefтАЩs St PatrickтАЩs Day Stand Up Special along side established stars such as Ben Elton and Jo Brand. His first 2 stand up titles went triple platinum and an RTS award winning series тАЬPK TonightтАЭ for BBC Belfast quickly followed.
Channel 4тАЩs тАЬLast Chance LotteryтАЭ, saw Kielty make the move to network television and he was soon a household name with shows such as тАЬFame AcademyтАЭ. His chat show тАЬPatrick Kielty Almost LiveтАЭ hit the screens in 2002 and ran for 6 seasons on BBC1. In 2006 he returned to stand up.
A sell out UK tour and a best selling DVD тАЬPatrick Kielty LiveтАЭ confirmed him as one of IrelandтАЩs most successful comedy exports. His return to the top of the stand up tree was completed the following year headlining тАЬLive at The ApolloтАЭ with Joan Rivers for BBC1.
A straight acting debut in тАЬA Night in NovemberтАЭ at BelfastтАЩs Opera House saw things come full circle тАУ back on the stage of the theatre that launched his Comic Relief stand up debut, a dozen years earlier.
It was a role that charmed both critics and audiences and a transfer to LondonтАЩs West end quickly followed in 2008. More recently he has become a regular voice on BBC Radio 2 as well as fronting both their BBC New Comedy Awards and live New Years Eve Special тАЬStomping at The SavoyтАЭ.
The last 2 years has also saw him return to CH4 hosting тАЬStand Up for the WeekтАЭ and appearing regularly on their Comedy Roasts. The end of 2011 saw him back on stage, topping the bill on BBC1тАЩs Live at the Apollo.
