About Hal

Hal Cruttenden is one of the top stand up comedians working in the UK today, as well as being a highly accomplished writer and actor.

He has made several appearances on ‘Live at the Apollo’, ‘Have I Got News For You’ and ‘The Royal Variety Performance’ as well as regular appearances on shows such as ‘Mock the Week’, ‘The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice’ and ‘The Apprentice: You’re Fired’. He’s written and starred in his own sitcom, ‘Hal’ on Radio 4 (co-written with Dominic Holland).

Hal’s stand up shows, ‘It’s Best You Hear It From Me’, ‘Tough Luvie’, ’Chubster’ and ‘Straight Outta Cruttenden’ are available on Amazon Prime. Other TV appearances include ’Would I Lie To You’, ‘Pointless Celebrities’, ‘The Weakest Link Celebrity Special’, ’Richard Osman’s House of Games’, ‘The One Show’, ‘Celebrity Mastermind’, ’Let’s Dance For Comic Relief’, ‘Celebrity Chase’, ‘Celebrity Tipping Point’, ‘Guessable’, ‘The Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala’ ‘The Jeremy Vine Show’, ‘The Wright Stuff’, ‘Edinburgh Comedy Fest Live’  ‘Comedy Central at the Comedy Store’ ‘Just For Laughs Gala’,  ‘New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala’, ‘7 Days’ and ‘The Project.

Hal has completed six nationwide tours: ‘It’s Best You Hear It From Me’ (2022/23)’Chubster’ (2018/19), ’Straight Outta Cruttenden’(2015/16), ’Tough Luvvie’ (2013/14), ‘The Tiny Rage Tour’(2011) and ‘Lively (2010). He is also a three time Chortle Award nominee and was nominated for the Perrier Newcomer Award back at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002. As well as writing and acting in his sitcom ‘Hal’, other Radio 4 appearances include being a team captain on ‘Britain versus the World’ , several spots on ‘Loose Ends’, ‘Act Your Age’, ‘Chat Show Roulette’ and ‘Four at the Store’. He has also appeared on many podcasts including ‘Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast’, ‘Evil Genius with Russell Kane’ and ‘Three Little Words’.

Having originally trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, Hal’s acting career includes roles on TV and film in ‘Shackleton’; ‘Eastenders’; ‘Kavanagh QC’; ‘Out of the Blue’; ‘Touching Evil’ and ‘Bramwell’. He also appeared in the movie ‘Mrs Dalloway‘. Theatre work includes ‘Brexit’ and ‘Making News’ at the Edinburgh Festival and ‘Orwell A Celebration’ at Trafalgar Studios, London and the Edinburgh Festival.

Hal will play Winston Churchill in The Man with the Plan, a film about politician William Beveridge’s vision for The Welfare State. Directed by Oscar nominee Christine Edzard and starring Simon Callow, the film is set for release soon.

Hal has appeared at Montreal’s Just For Laughs’ Festival three times and travelled all across Canada on their Just For Laughs Comedy tours. He has performed on two Just For Laughs Galas hosted by Joan Rivers (2008) and Howie Mandel (2012). Other international appearances include Kilkenny Cat Laughs Festival in Ireland and tours to India, Bermuda, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. For the British Armed Forces he has played gigs in the Falkland Islands, Cyprus and Germany.