# Paul Shearer

Paul Shearer is an English actor, best known for his roles in The Fast Show and The Russ Abbot Show. Together with Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, and Hugh Laurie, Shearer was a member of the Cambridge University's Footlights ensemble which won the first ever Perrier Comedy Award in 1981. As of 2024, Shearer works as a property journalist.

## Personal life and education

Shearer attended Lancing College between 1973 and 1978. He graduated from St John's College, Cambridge in 1981 with a degree in computer science. After graduating he lived in a flat with Peter Cook and Hugh Laurie. He married actor Vicky Licorish in 1994. On 30 October 2024, their 25-year-old child Cal Shearer, who was transgender, non-binary and autistic, was found dead in their dorm room at St John's College, Oxford, in an apparent suicide by hanging.

## Footlights

On the Footlight committee, Shearer held the position of "Club Falconer", which, according to Fry, "went back to the days when the Footlights were quartered in Falcon Yard." He partnered with Nick Hytner in a sketch Graffiti on the Wall. He also wrote for A Sense of Nonsense and The Cellar Tapes.

## Television

A selection of television appearances include:
| Year | Title | Channel | Notes |
| 1982 | There's Nothing to Worry About! | ITV (Granada) | With Ben Elton, Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry. Shearer was replaced by Robbie Coltrane after the first series. |
| 1983 | The Crystal Cube | BBC | Pilot |
| 1983 – 1985 | CBTV | Presenter | |
| 1984 | Jigsaw | | |
| 1986 | Chocky's Challenge | | |
| 1987 – 1989 | The Russ Abbot Show | BBC | Sketch show |
| 1989 | Anything More Would Be Greedy | ITV | Comedy mini-series |
| 1991 | Five Children and It | BBC | Children's drama |
| 1991 | Birds of a Feather (TV series) | | |
| 1992 | Tales from the Poop Deck | ITV | Children's sitcom |
| 1992 | The South Bank Show s.15 e.13 "Douglas Adams" | | Played 'Electric Monk' during fictional sequences in interview with author Douglas Adams |
| 1994 – 1997 | The Fast Show | BBC | Sketch show |
| 1995 | Proud Love | ITV | Sitcom |
| 1995 – 1996 | Cone Zone | ITV | Children's sitcom |
| 1998 | Stressed Eric | BBC Two | Comedy animation |
| 2003 | CBeebies | BBC Two | |
| 2006 | The Message | BBC Three | Sketch show |
| 2020 | The Fast Show: Just a Load of Blooming Catchphrases | Gold | |
Also, Les Dennis Laughter Show, Abracadabra – children's comedy, CHBC, The Max Headroom Show and Who Dares Wins.

## Film

* 1997: Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis
* 1997: The Man Who Knew Too Little

## Radio

| Year | Title | Channel |
| 1985 | Ninety-ninety four | BBC Radio 4 |
| 1985 | The Fosdyke Saga III | BBC Radio 2 |
| 1986 | The World at Once Upon a Time | BBC Radio 4 |
| 1988 – 1991 | Gorham and Swift | BBC Radio 2 |
| 1991 | Week Ending | BBC Radio 4 |
| 1995 | In the Red | BBC Radio 4 |
| 1995 | Next of Kin | BBC One |
| 1996 | Chambers | BBC Radio 4 |
| 2011 | Cabin Pressure | BBC Radio 4 |
| 2015 | The Lentil Sorters | BBC Radio 4 |
| 2015 – 2017 | Cracking Up | BBC Radio 4 |

## Theatre

1988: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at Cambridge Arts Theatre 1991: Teechers at Duke's Theatre

## Writing

Shearer was a writer on the following shows:
* 1982: There's Nothing to Worry About
* 1983 – 1984: Alfresco
* 1985: Once Upon a Time… BBC Radio 4
* 1994: The Fast Show
* 1994: Nice Day at the Office – sitcom for BBC
* 1995: If You're So Clever, Why Aren't You Rich? – Radio 4 comedy
* 1999 – 2001: See It Saw It children's game show for BBC One
* 2011: Kees & Co
As a property journalist Shearer has written for The Financial Times, The Times and France Magazine.