Paul Sinha
Encyclopedia
Paul Sinha is a British
stand-up comedian and broadcaster. Sinha is openly gay
, a subject he has discussed on stage.
and St George's Hospital Medical School
. While at medical school, he developed a taste for the stage in St George’s annual Revue
and refined his comedy as co-editor of the medical school Newsletter, popularly known as the Slag Mag.
while working as a junior doctor in hospitals in London and King's Lynn
. His early material drew on his sexuality and ethnicity with a high pun
concentration. In 1999, he was runner-up in the final of the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year
.
After several years of combining touring with his nascent medical career, Sinha's breakthrough came with his second solo Edinburgh show, Saint or Sinha?, which earned him an if.comeddie nomination in 2006
.
, on shows including The News Quiz
, The Now Show
, Loose Ends
, 28 Acts in 28 Minutes
, Shappi Talk, and Just A Minute
. His keen interest in football and cricket has led to appearances on Radio 5 Live, most notably Fighting Talk
.
He has appeared as a guest on Midweek
and Woman's Hour
, Broadcasting House
and as a political pundit on PM
.
On 12 March 2011, Sinha presented his own Radio 4 documentary Paul Sinha's Quiz Culture in which he explored the world of competitive quizzing. His second documentary, The Sinha Test aired on 14 July 2011 examining patriotism and sporting allegiance.
(where he was voted off 4th), Sinha has managed appearances on University Challenge
: The Professionals (lost), Are You an Egghead?
(lost in first round), Mastermind
(4th) and Brain of Britain
(3rd). Sinha is currently ranked 22nd in the National Quiz
Rankings (as of 5 February 2011).
Paul Sinha also plays in the Quiz League of London
for the Gray Monks.
He joined the ITV quiz series The Chase
as the fourth chaser from its fourth series from 8 September 2011.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
stand-up comedian and broadcaster. Sinha is openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, a subject he has discussed on stage.
Education
Sinha was educated at Dulwich CollegeDulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
and St George's Hospital Medical School
St George's, University of London
St George's, University of London is a medical school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. While at medical school, he developed a taste for the stage in St George’s annual Revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
and refined his comedy as co-editor of the medical school Newsletter, popularly known as the Slag Mag.
Stand-up comedy
Sinha began performing stand-upStand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
while working as a junior doctor in hospitals in London and King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
. His early material drew on his sexuality and ethnicity with a high pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
concentration. In 1999, he was runner-up in the final of the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year
Hackney Empire New Act of the Year
The Hackney Empire New Act of the Year was a long-running annual competition that ran at the Hackney Empire theatre in London in order to encourage, discover and promote new stand-up comedy and New Variety talent...
.
After several years of combining touring with his nascent medical career, Sinha's breakthrough came with his second solo Edinburgh show, Saint or Sinha?, which earned him an if.comeddie nomination in 2006
2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
-Events:2006 was the first Fringe following the introduction of the new legislation banning smoking indoors. During a photocall at the Assembly Rooms for a play in which he was playing Winston Churchill, the actor Mel Smith lit a cigar, flouting the ban...
.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows
- 2004 Aspects of Love, Actually
- 20062006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe-Events:2006 was the first Fringe following the introduction of the new legislation banning smoking indoors. During a photocall at the Assembly Rooms for a play in which he was playing Winston Churchill, the actor Mel Smith lit a cigar, flouting the ban...
Saint or Sinha? (if.comeddie award nomination) - 2007 King of the World
- 2009 39 Years of Solitude
- 2010 Extreme Anti-White Vitriol
- 2011 Looking at the Stars
Radio
Sinha has performed several times on BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, on shows including The News Quiz
The News Quiz
The News Quiz is a topical panel game broadcast on British radio BBC Radio 4.-History:It was first broadcast in 1977 with Barry Norman as chairman. Subsequently it was chaired by Simon Hoggart, Barry Took , and then again by Simon Hoggart until March 2006. Hoggart was replaced by Sandi Toksvig in...
, The Now Show
The Now Show
The Now Show is a British radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4, which satirises the week's news. The show is a mixture of stand-up, sketches and songs presented by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis...
, Loose Ends
Loose Ends
In common conversation, the phrase loose ends usually refers to unresolved issues.Loose Ends may also refer to the following:In music:* Loose Ends * Loose Ends...
, 28 Acts in 28 Minutes
28 Acts in 28 Minutes
28 Acts in 28 Minutes is a stand-up TV comedy show aired on the UK's BBC Three. It comprises 28 acts, each given a minute to perform. A 3-part series also aired on BBC Radio 4 in June 2006, chaired by John Humphrys.- Show One :- Show Two :...
, Shappi Talk, and Just A Minute
Just a Minute
Just a Minute is a BBC Radio 4 radio comedy panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons. Its first transmission on Radio 4 was on 22 December 1967, three months after the station's launch. The Radio 4 programme won a Gold Sony Radio Academy Award in 2003....
. His keen interest in football and cricket has led to appearances on Radio 5 Live, most notably Fighting Talk
Fighting Talk
Fighting Talk is a topical sports show broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live during the English football season. Its first series aired in October 2003, and was presented by Johnny Vaughan. The second series featured Christian O'Connell. It is currently hosted by Colin Murray and is aired on Saturday...
.
He has appeared as a guest on Midweek
Midweek (BBC Radio 4)
Midweek is a British weekly radio magazine series broadcast on BBC Radio 4 it is aired on Wednesday at 09.00 and is repeated later the same day at 21.00...
and Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
, Broadcasting House
Broadcasting House (radio programme)
Broadcasting House is a current affairs programme on BBC Radio 4, presented by Paddy O'Connell. It is broadcast every Sunday between 09:00 and 10:00....
and as a political pundit on PM
PM (Radio 4)
PM, sometimes referred to as the PM programme to avoid ambiguity, is BBC Radio 4's long-running early evening news and current affairs programme.-Broadcast times:...
.
On 12 March 2011, Sinha presented his own Radio 4 documentary Paul Sinha's Quiz Culture in which he explored the world of competitive quizzing. His second documentary, The Sinha Test aired on 14 July 2011 examining patriotism and sporting allegiance.
Quizzes
After an appearance on The Weakest LinkThe Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
(where he was voted off 4th), Sinha has managed appearances on University Challenge
University Challenge
University Challenge is a British quiz programme that has aired since 1962. The format is based on the American show College Bowl, which ran on NBC radio from 1953 to 1957, and on NBC television from 1959 to 1970....
: The Professionals (lost), Are You an Egghead?
Are You an Egghead?
Are You an Egghead? was a BBC quiz show presented by Dermot Murnaghan. It is a spin off from the quiz show Eggheads, with its goal to find a further Egghead to complement the existing team. The first series was aired weekdays from 20 October to 2 December 2008 and was won by Barry Simmons...
(lost in first round), Mastermind
Mastermind
-In psychology:* Genius* Mastermind , one of the 16 role variants that the Keirsey Temperament Sorter is based on* INTJ , a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator-In games:* Mastermind, classic board game...
(4th) and Brain of Britain
Brain of Britain
Brain of Britain is a BBC radio general knowledge quiz, broadcast on BBC Radio 4.-History:It began as a slot in What Do You Know? in 1953 before becoming a programme in its own right in 1967. It was chaired by Franklin Engelmann until his death in 1972.-Format:The format of the quiz is simple...
(3rd). Sinha is currently ranked 22nd in the National Quiz
Quiz
A quiz is a form of game or mind sport in which the players attempt to answer questions correctly. In some countries, a quiz is also a brief assessment used in education and similar fields to measure growth in knowledge, abilities, and/or skills.Quizzes are usually scored in points and many...
Rankings (as of 5 February 2011).
Paul Sinha also plays in the Quiz League of London
The Quiz League of London
Quiz League of London is a United Kingdom quiz league based in the capital, London. Founded in 1990 as the Quiz League of South London, it was southern England's first independent self-administered Quiz League...
for the Gray Monks.
He joined the ITV quiz series The Chase
The Chase (game show)
The Chase is a British game show, broadcast on ITV . It is hosted by Bradley Walsh. The chasers are Mark Labbett, Shaun Wallace, both of whom have been Chasers since Series 1, Anne Hegerty, who joined them in Series 2, and Paul Sinha, who debuted in Series 4.-Format:A team of 4 contestants attempt...
as the fourth chaser from its fourth series from 8 September 2011.