Julian Clary: Biography, Career, and Current Work

Few British comedians have travelled the arc from alternative club nights to family pantomime quite like Julian Clary. His career began with a drag act that borrowed a celebrity’s name and evolved into a national institution that now fills the London Palladium.

Born: 25 May 1959 (age 65) ·
Occupation: Comedian, actor, novelist, presenter ·
Years active: Mid-1980s–present ·
Known for: Camp comedy, pantomime, Taskmaster

Key biographical details of Julian Clary are summarised below.

What does Julian Clary do now?

Current tours and performances

Clary finished his latest tour, A Fistful of Clary, in June 2025 (Julian Clary official website). He continues to perform live across the UK, blending stand-up with anecdotes from his four-decade career.

Television appearances including Taskmaster

He appeared on Taskmaster series 16 in 2023, alongside Sue Perkins and Lucy Beaumont (Julian Clary official website). His participation introduced him to a new generation of viewers who appreciated his deadpan delivery in the absurd tasks.

Writing and children’s books (The Bolds)

Since 2019 he has co‑written the The Bolds series of children’s books with David Roberts (Julian Clary official website). His latest adult novel, Curtain Call to Murder, was published in October 2024 and later released in paperback (Julian Clary official website).

Pantomime roles

He is a regular pantomime dame at the London Palladium. His tenth consecutive pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, opens in December 2025 (Julian Clary official website). In previous years he has played dame in classics such as Jack and the Beanstalk (1998), Cinderella (2000) and Dick Whittington (2002) (BFI Screenonline).

The implication: his career illustrates how a comic can shift mediums without losing the audience.

Where does Julian Clary live now?

Home in Kent

Clary and his husband Ian Mackley live in Kent, though the exact location has not been publicly confirmed (IMDb). The couple have been together for many years and married on 19 November 2016 (IMDb).

Pets (dogs)

He shares his home with a beloved pet dog, which he often mentions in interviews. The dog’s name and breed are not publicly known.

The pattern: a public performer who values his private sanctuary.

Does Julian Clary wear a wig?

Controversy about his hair

For years viewers have speculated whether Clary’s signature dark, glossy hair is natural. He has addressed the topic in interviews, neither confirming nor denying outright (Evening Standard). Photographs over the decades show variations in length and style, which fuels the curiosity.

His own statements about his hair

In a 2023 interview with The Guardian — cited by the Evening Standard — Clary joked: “It’s a secret I’ll take to my grave.” The remark has been widely repeated, but no definitive answer exists (Evening Standard).

The takeaway: the ambiguity itself is a performative tool.

Are Julian Clary and Paul Merton friends?

How they met

Clary met Paul Merton on the alternative comedy circuit in the mid‑1980s (BFI Screenonline). Both were emerging from the London club scene, and they quickly bonded over a shared love of surreal, deadpan humour.

Their long‑standing friendship

They have appeared together on numerous panel shows, most notably Have I Got News for You and QI (Julian Clary official website). Merton has described Clary as “one of the funniest people I know” in a BBC Radio 4 interview (BFI Screenonline).

Collaborations on TV and stage

Beyond panel shows, the pair have shared the stage at charity gigs and comedy festivals. Their on‑screen chemistry is a staple of British comedy programming (Wikipedia).

What this means: their mutual respect adds depth to both careers.

What is Julian Clary famous for?

Camp comedy and The Joan Collins Fan Club

Clary rose to fame with his camp stage persona “The Joan Collins Fan Club”, which he first performed at the Comedy Store in London (BFI Screenonline). The act featured a ventriloquist dummy, Fanny the Wonderdog, and earned him comparisons to Kenneth Williams (BFI Screenonline). After Joan Collins objected to the name, he continued the style under his own name.

Pantomime career

He is now one of Britain’s most sought‑after pantomime dames, having performed at the London Palladium annually since the mid‑2010s. His 2025 production Sleeping Beauty marks a decade of consecutive appearances at that venue (Julian Clary official website). Pantomime allows him to combine camp humour with family‑friendly entertainment.

Alter ego and on‑stage persona

His on‑stage character is a flamboyant, sharp‑tongued raconteur who delivers double entendres with a straight face. BFI Screenonline notes that he “manages to be both outrageous and strangely proper” (BFI Screenonline). This precise calibration is key to his mainstream appeal.

The catch: his evolution mirrors a broader shift in British comedy tastes.

Timeline

• 25 May 1959 – Born in Surbiton, Surrey (BFI Screenonline)
• Mid‑1980s – Began stand‑up comedy on the alternative comedy circuit (BFI Screenonline)
• 1988 – Created The Joan Collins Fan Club; first TV appearance on Channel 4’s Cabaret at the Jongleurs (SpeakOut UK)
• 1990s – Regular on panel shows; team captain on It’s Only TV But I Like It (BFI Screenonline)
• 1998 – First pantomime role (Jack and the Beanstalk) (BFI Screenonline)
• 2005 – Published memoir A Young Man’s Passage (Julian Clary official website)
• 2010 – Married Ian Mackley (IMDb)
• 2012 – Won Celebrity Big Brother 10 (Wikipedia)
• 2019 – Co‑wrote children’s book series The Bolds (Julian Clary official website)
• 2023 – Appeared on Taskmaster series 16 (Julian Clary official website)
• 2025 – Tenth consecutive pantomime at London Palladium (Sleeping Beauty) (Julian Clary official website)

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

“He has often been called the next Kenneth Williams because of his camp style, wit, and persona.”

BFI Screenonline (authoritative film history archive)

“I’ve never actually confirmed or denied the wig thing. It keeps people guessing.”

Julian Clary, speaking to Evening Standard (London news outlet)

Clary’s career is a case study in how a comedian can evolve without losing core identity. For audiences who grew up with his club‑circuit material, the pantomime dame and children’s author may seem like an unlikely destination — but for Clary, it is a natural landing. The thread through all his work is a precise, unapologetic campness that works equally well for adults and families.

Frequently asked questions

Julian Clary has built a career on controlled ambiguity — witty, camp, too clever to be dismissed, too warm to be hated. For British comedy fans, the choice is clear: enjoy the pantomime dame, the Taskmaster contestant, the children’s author, or simply the man who proved that outrageousness and mainstream success are not opposites.