Witty and hilarious stand-up comedian, Hal Cruttenden, is best known for his punchlines and comic storytelling. Hal is also a highly accomplished writer, TV presenter and actor, having made several appearances on Live at the Apollo, Mrs Dalloway, Have I Got News for You and more. Part of his sweet success was touring the UK and Ireland for eight years, and he is well-credited for being one of the best comedians working in the business.

Hal Cruttenden's Off Screen Life

Born Hal Dominic Bart Cruttenden in West London, 1969, Hal Cruttenden hatched into a family of creatives. Hal's older sister, Abigail Cruttenden, is an actress known for The Theory of Everything (2014) and Sharpe (1993). His late mother, Julia Cruttenden, owned Greasepaint, the renowned stage make-up school in London. But before turning to comedy, Hal Cruttenden would major in Acting at the University of York and also trained at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama. Hal later married his wife, Dawn Coulter-Cruttenden, and the couple have two daughters together.

Hal on TV

The trained actor had a few cameo roles on popular TV shows like the soap drama Eastenders, Kavanagh QC and Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway in the early to late 1990s. At 27 years old, Hal performed his first comedy gig on the TV series Live at Jongleurs. In 2010, he made his debut in stand-up comedy on a few popular British shows like Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow and on a special episode of The Royal Variety Performance. Hal was nominated "Best Newcomer" at the Edinburgh Comedy Fest Live in 2002, before landing a gig on Channel 4's Would I Lie to You. The next decade would take Hal by a storm, leading to the biggest step in his comedy career.

Hal's Big Break on Live at Apollo

In a saturated market of comedians, one of the best stage shows to boost a comic's career is Live at the Apollo (BBC One/Two), which has featured Joe Lycett, Sarah Millican, Frankie Boyle, Eddie Izzard, to name a few. The show boasts an audience of over 1 million viewers across the UK.

Between 2013 to 2015, Hal Cruttenden would not only star in the show, but also host it. After this incredible breakthrough, the comedian gained a seat on Mock the Week for 4 years and Have I Got News for You on BBC One. Some of his writing has also featured on The Omid Djalili Show and The Rob Brydon Show.

An Extra Slice of Hal

Amongst many titles, Hal Cruttenden can now add Rugby Pundit to the list. He hosts a podcast alongside Dan Skinner called "Rugby Jubbly" and a streaming show for Saracens Rugby Club fans called "The Huddle". He also wrote his own sitcom titled "Hal" which aired on BBC Radio 4.

What is Hal Cruttenden Doing Now?

In October 2021, the comedian announced on Facebook that he would be raising money for the Brain Tumour Charity in light of his mother's passing. Hal created a Just Giving page to sponsor him doing the Sahara Trek challenge, although he postponed the date of the walk as he was stuck in Morrocco with all UK flights paused. In the meantime, Hal is keeping busy with comedy, his podcast and various TV castings.… show more