Born in a bath in 1946, sorry born in Bath in 1964, Bill Bailey may look like a shambling ex-hippy, but beneath the long hair and new-age appearance, he is. Actually, he is an all round entertainer, whose appeal transcends age, gender or coolness quota. He is quite simply, brilliant.

He is a classically trained musician, playing a wide variety of instruments, all of which he uses to coax cackles out of a helpless audience. Whether it be one of his many guitars, a didgeridoo or his keyboard, in the world of Bill Bailey music is the key to comedy. Some of his routines include the rock-n-roll didgeridoo solo, Bach's Toccata uncontrollably turning into the theme from Ski Sunday, classical cockney music and Medieval Porn Soundtracks (Ah, fair maiden, I have come to fix the harpsichord...).

Starting out in 1989 in a double act called The Rubber Bishops, it took five years for him to go solo, and only a year after won a 1995 Time Out Comedy Award. In 1996 he was nominated for a Perrier Award and 1999 brought him Best Live Stand-up winner at The British Comedy Awards.

He has made guest appearances on Have I got News for You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Bring Me The Head of Light Entertainment amongst others and already has a Channel 4 sitcom Black Books and a six part BBC2 series Is it Bill Bailey under his considerable belt.

His next assault on our consciousness came in the form of the Brenda Blethyn movie 'Saving Grace' playing a very spaced out comic shop owner who helps Grace to sell her home-grown wares. Small part, but perfectly formed.

Bill is a regular contributor to Mark Radcliffe's Radio 1 show, Radio 4's Loose Ends and wrote and performed in three series of Alan's Big One FM with fellow comedian Alan Davies.