He's one of Britain's best-loved comics but there's much about Michael McIntyre that he likes to keep private.
The iconic comedian, 47, has been delighting audiences around the world for 15 years and back in 2012 even earned the title of highest-grossing stand up comedian in the world. As well as his comedy performances Michael is also known for presenting with his most recent role as the face of game show The Wheel.
Here OK! took a look at the lesser-known facts about Michael's life including his early life and marriage to Kitty Ward who has some famous relatives.
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Early life
Born in London, to Thomas Cameron McIntyre and his wife Kati, Michael clearly had comedy in his blood from the offset, as his dad worked professionally as a comedy writer, under the name Ray Cameron.
Raised alongside his sister, Lucy, Michael grew up in London with both his parents, and even holds dual citizenship with Britain and Canada, as his dad was originally from there.
Enjoying a fairly standard childhood and education, the comedian’s life would sadly be rocked by tragedy at the age of 17, when his father suddenly passed away. Initially told it was the result of a heart attack, years later it sadly emerged that Thomas had taken his own life while abroad in Hollywood.
Career
After working the local comedy circuit in his late twenties, Michael was first propelled to widespread stardom after appearing on Live at the Apollo, on BBC One, in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively.
Airing in the highly sought after primetime slot, millions of people were given a firsthand look at his comedic stylings, with the star rapidly expanding his fanbase overnight.
As a result, a number of comedy panel appearances soon followed on shows such as Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of Ten Cats and Would I Lie To You?
Additionally, as well as enjoying a widespread bout of comedic success, Michael also turned his hand to presenting duties, when he began hosting his very own show, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow in 2009.
From there on out, the star began to dabble in various presenting duties dotted between his stand-up work, with several roles even allowing him to combine both of his talents to great success.
He was even invited to judge Britain’s Got Talent back in 2011, alongside Amanda Holden and David Hasselhoff, after original judge Piers Morgan stepped down from the judging role.
Among some of his notable work in recent years, Michael has presented The Michael McIntyre Chat Show, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, and most recently he has been the host of gameshow The Wheel both on the UK edition, and the US spinoff.
Personal life
One feature in many of Michael’s stand-up skits, is his wife Kitty Ward, with the star frequently regaling audiences with anecdotes about their life.
Describing their first meeting in his 2010 book Life and Laughing, Michael wrote: "She was the girl I had been looking for. In the romantic comedy that was my life, this would have made a good ending.
"We would fall happily ever after. Within moments of seeing her and chatting to her I was totally up for that ending. Unfortunately, she wasn’t."
Despite being initially uninterested, Michael was able to successfully woo Kitty and the couple later began dating - although not all of his family were thrilled with the news.
“Unfortunately my grandma didn’t really like it when I got a girlfriend,” Michael once revealed on Desert Island disks. She was trying to break us up which was funny for a while but then it became quite vicious, an untenable situation.”
Although the couple got off to a rocky start, true love soon prevailed and the couple went on to marry each other in 2003. Kitty currently works as an aromatherapist, and unlike her husband prefers to remain out of the spotlight.
However, this doesn’t mean Kitty is a stranger to fame, as she is in fact, the daughter of late film star Simon Ward and the sister of Young Sherlock Holmes actress Sophie Ward.
Michael and Kitty currently have two children, sons Lucas and Oscar, who have also been featured in a number of his comedy routines over the years. In one tongue in cheek moment, the star even previously joked: “You never love your children more than when they’re unconscious, but still breathing.”
Lavish home
Back in 2020, Michael’s net worth rocketed to over £75million, sparking a desire for a fresh start for himself and his family.
Celebrating his windfall, which largely came off the back of his successful BBC career and a Netflix deal, Michael decided to invest in a brand new London pad for the mere sum of £10million.
The eight-bedroom property boasts a swimming pool in the basement - as well as an ultra-modern cinema room. And Michael can even enjoy a spa after a workout in his gym when he’s not at the other home he shares with wife Kitty in Wiltshire.
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