Simon Amstell - Life and Career

Life and Career

Amstell's first television appearance was in 1993 when he appeared as a contestant on the Channel 4 game show GamesMaster. He also appeared on Good Morning with Anne and Nick performing an impression of Dame Edna Everage. In 1994, he appeared in an episode of Family Catchphrase, describing himself as a budding magician and showing one of his tricks to the show's presenter Andrew O'Connor, himself a magician. Amstell and his family won a television and a video recorder.

Amstell started performing on the comedy circuit when he was in his early teens and later became the youngest finalist to appear in the BBC New Comedy Awards. His first professional television appearance was in 1998 as a presenter on the UK children's channel Nickelodeon. He claims he was sacked for being "sarcastic and mean to children" although the potted biography on his website also, in jest, claims:

"He started his TV career at Nickelodeon where he was fired for making pop stars uncomfortable. He then began presenting the Channel 4 show, Popworld – where he gained a huge following for his groundbreaking work in making pop stars uncomfortable."

His is openly gay) and Jewish which occasionally figure in his work. He is a vegan and teetotal.