{{Short description|English stand-up comedian}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use British English|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Ivo Graham | image = Ivo Graham at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe-5 (cropped).jpg | caption = Graham at the 2025 [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] | birth_name = Ivo Charles Graham | birth_date = | birth_place = [[Tokyo]], Japan | nationality = | education = {{ubl|[[Eton College]]|[[University College, Oxford]]}} | occupation = Comedian, actor | years_active = 2008-present | spouse = | children = 1 | website = {{URL|ivograham.com}} }}
'''Ivo Charles Graham''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|aɪ|v|oʊ}} {{respell|EYE|voh}}) is an English stand-up comedian and comedy writer.
==Early life and education == Ivo Charles Graham<ref name="cgn">{{cite episode|series=Celebrity Game Night|airdate=3 April 2019|title=Episode 5|network=[[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]]}}</ref> was born in [[Tokyo]], Japan. He attended day and boarding schools in Australia and the UK, as his family moved around for his father's work.<ref name =eton>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/jan/14/comedian-ivo-graham-im-obliged-to-talk-about-eton-its-my-only-usp |date=14 January 2014 |first=Alfie |last=Packham |title=Comedian Ivo Graham: 'I'm obliged to talk about Eton – it's my only USP' |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] }}</ref> In the UK, he was raised in the village of [[Aldbourne]] in [[Wiltshire]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harrison |first=Flicky |date=24 May 2018 |title=Ivo Graham brings Fringe show to Swindon |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/16247560.ivo-graham-brings-fringe-show-swindon/ |work=[[Swindon Advertiser]]}}</ref>
After attending [[Eton College]],<ref name =eton/> he studied French and [[Russian literature]] at [[University College, Oxford]], graduating in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Alice|date=7 March 2019|title=In Conversation with Comedian and Oxford Grad Ivo Graham |url=https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2019/03/07/alice-williams-talks-to-comedian-ivo-graham/|access-date=5 December 2020|website=The Oxford Student |language=en-GB|archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118010948/https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2019/03/07/alice-williams-talks-to-comedian-ivo-graham/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=This House is Overworked and Undersexed (Comedy Debate) {{!}} The Cambridge Union|url=https://cus.org/node/818|access-date=5 December 2020|website=cus.org|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805215916/https://cus.org/node/818|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Comedy career == Graham was the youngest ever winner of ''[[So You Think You're Funny?]]'' in 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://soyouthinkyourefunny.co.uk/winners/|title=SYTYF? Past Winners – So You Think You're Funny?|website=soyouthinkyourefunny.co.uk|access-date=8 September 2017|archive-date=9 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909005811/http://soyouthinkyourefunny.co.uk/winners/|url-status=live}}</ref> and was subsequently signed by UK talent agency Off The Kerb. He was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2010 [[Chortle Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/i/33526/ivo_graham|title=Ivo Graham, comedian : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide}}</ref>
His television appearances include ''The Stand-Up Sketch Show'' (ITV2), [[Live at the Apollo (TV series)|''Live at the Apollo'']], ''[[Mock the Week]]'', ''[[Live from the BBC]]'', ''[[Stand Up Central|Russell Howard's Stand Up Central]]'', ''[[Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled|As Yet Untitled]]'', ''[[Virtually Famous]]'', ''[[QI]]'', ''[[Sweat the Small Stuff]],'' and ''[[The Dog Ate My Homework]]'', and he is a regular on radio show ''[[Fighting Talk]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/programmes/schedules/2017/01/20|title=BBC – CBBC CBBC – Schedules, Friday 20 January 2017|publisher=BBC|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=14 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114170918/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/programmes/schedules/2017/01/20|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/nov/12/ivo-graham-soho-theatre-review|title=Ivo Graham review – old Etonian comic revels in inadequacy|first=Brian|last=Logan|date=12 November 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=16 September 2016|archive-date=21 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821014422/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/nov/12/ivo-graham-soho-theatre-review|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://offthekerb.co.uk/ivo-graham/|title=Ivo Graham – Off The Kerb Productions|first=Hazlitt Eastman|last=www.manta9.com|access-date=16 September 2016|archive-date=31 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831013425/http://offthekerb.co.uk/ivo-graham/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/1177/interview-rarely-asked-questions-%E2%80%93-ivo-graham|title=Interview: Rarely Asked Questions – Ivo Graham|date=24 October 2014|access-date=16 September 2016|archive-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921013959/http://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/1177/interview-rarely-asked-questions-%E2%80%93-ivo-graham|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2019 and December 2021, he competed on ''[[Richard Osman's House of Games]]'',<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009mlt/richard-osmans-house-of-games-series-3-episode-11 | title=Richard Osman's House of Games – Series 3: Episode 11 | access-date=24 October 2019 | archive-date=24 October 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024202923/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009mlt/richard-osmans-house-of-games-series-3-episode-11 | url-status=live }}</ref> and appeared on [[Paul Merton]]'s team on [[Have I Got News for You|''Have I Got News For You'']] on 8 November 2019.<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Have I Got News For You |author-link=Have I Got News For You |user=haveigotnews |number=1192833459485585408 |date=8 November 2019 |title=Catch all-new #HIGNFY, hosted by @adilray, with panellists @IvoGraham and @helenlewis. Tonight at 9pm - Only on BBC One. https://t.co/7rsh5Nm53W |language=en |access-date=2 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108161715/https://twitter.com/haveigotnews/status/1192833459485585408 |archive-date=8 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/other-news/2019/10/30/44645/ivo_graham_to_make_have_i_got_news_for_you_debut| title=Ivo Graham to make Have I Got News For You debut| date=30 October 2019| website=chortle.co.uk| access-date=9 November 2019| archive-date=9 November 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109175924/https://www.chortle.co.uk/other-news/2019/10/30/44645/ivo_graham_to_make_have_i_got_news_for_you_debut| url-status=live}}</ref> Graham appeared again on the show, via webcam due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]], on 15 May 2020, and was again part of Paul Merton's team. In 2023, Graham competed on the fifteenth season of ''[[Taskmaster (TV series)|Taskmaster]]''.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1598436787373846528 |user=taskmaster |title=Your Taskmaster Series 15 cast! 🎉 @jennyeclair @IvoGraham @frankieboyle @kfRedhot @TheMaeMartin https://t.co/kbtWppqdgG |author=Taskmaster |date=1 December 2022 |access-date=2 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> [[File:Ivo Graham - Secret Comedy Podcast - 4 August 2013 - 15 (9435791299).jpg|thumb|Graham in 2013]] Graham regularly performs at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|Edinburgh Fringe]]. His shows ''Binoculars'' (2013), ''Bowties and Johnnies'' (2014), and ''No Filter'' (2015) all transferred to London for runs at the [[Soho Theatre]]. His 2017 show ''Educated Guess'' garnered good reviews<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2017/10/18/38184/ivo_graham:_educated_guess |title=Ivo Graham: Educated Guess : Reviews 2017 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |first=Steve |last=Bennett |website=www.chortle.co.uk |access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/oct/18/ivo-graham-review-soho-theatre-london|title=Ivo Graham: Educated Guess review – Eton schooldays and leftie laughs|first=Brian|last=Logan|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 October 2017|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=4 May 2020|archive-date=21 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821014504/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/oct/18/ivo-graham-review-soho-theatre-london|url-status=live}}</ref> and sold out, prompting several extra shows to be added, which were performed at the Soho Theatre in October.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://londonist.com/london/comedy/review-ivo-graham |title=Comedy Review: Ivo Graham's Educated Guess |date=5 January 2018 |website=Londonist |access-date=4 May 2020 |archive-date=29 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729180003/https://londonist.com/london/comedy/review-ivo-graham |url-status=live }}</ref>
Graham has also supported [[Josh Widdicombe]] on tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/events/josh-widdicombe-and-ivo-graham-warm-up-for-the-edinburgh-fringe-comedy-festival/|title=Josh Widdicombe and Ivo Graham - Warm-up for the Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Festival|access-date=4 May 2020|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725223107/https://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/events/josh-widdicombe-and-ivo-graham-warm-up-for-the-edinburgh-fringe-comedy-festival/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2019, Graham was included in the [[i (British newspaper)|i-news]] "50 of the best jokes of the Edinburgh Fringe" with his line: "Do I enjoy randomly appointing people to judicial positions? I'll let you be the judge of that".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/jokes/edinburgh-fringe-2019-festival-best-jokes-list-shows-495456|title=50 of the best jokes from the Edinburgh Fringe 2019|website=inews.co.uk|date=21 August 2019|access-date=8 November 2019|archive-date=8 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108222403/https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/jokes/edinburgh-fringe-2019-festival-best-jokes-list-shows-495456|url-status=live}}</ref> That year, he was nominated for Best Show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for his show, "The Game of Life".
In late 2021, Graham co-presented the Dave travelogue ''British as Folk'' alongside fellow comedians [[Darren Harriott]] and [[Fern Brady]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Golby |first1=Joel |title=British As Folk: three comedians in a campervan have fun with history |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/sep/11/dave-british-as-folk |website=The Guardian |date=11 September 2021 |access-date=14 September 2021 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821014422/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/sep/11/dave-british-as-folk |url-status=live }}</ref>
In May 2025, Graham replaced [[Ben Miller]] as the voice of [[Monkey (character)|Monkey]] in adverts for [[PG Tips]] tea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/07/pg-tips-monkey-is-back-and-married-to-emily-atack/|title= PG Tips Monkey is back and 'married' to Emily Atack|work= The Telegraph|last1= Leake|first1= Natasha|date= 7 May 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Graham is a supporter of [[Swindon Town F.C.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/interview/celebrity/ivo-graham-comedian/|title=Ivo Graham – Interview. The comedian and youngest ever winner of the prestigious 'So You Think You're Funny' award for new acts at the Edinburgh Fringe talks to Victoria Holdsworth, March 2018|date=18 March 2018|access-date=24 November 2019|archive-date=21 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821014424/https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/interview/celebrity/ivo-graham-comedian/|url-status=live}}</ref> He has a daughter, born in February 2019.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Graham |first=Ivo |author-link=Ivo Graham |user=IvoGraham |number=1098214988618104832 |date=20 February 2019 |title=https://t.co/8Rrhfd5ycW |language=en |access-date=2 December 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://ivograham.com/}} *{{IMDb name|5915865}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Ivo}} [[Category:1990 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century English comedians]] [[Category:Alumni of University College, Oxford]] [[Category:English male comedians]] [[Category:English male voice actors]] [[Category:English stand-up comedians]] [[Category:People educated at Eton College]] [[Category:Comedians from Tokyo]] [[Category:Comedians from Wiltshire]]