Jasper Carrott Net Worth

What is Jasper Carrott's net worth?

Jasper Carrott is an English comedian, actor, and television personality who has a net worth of $50 million. Jasper Carrott first gained national attention in 1975 with his novelty hit single "Funky Moped," which led to a series of successful comedy albums and television appearances. Carrott's blend of observational humor and long-form storytelling helped establish him as a pioneer of British stand-up comedy. Over the decades, he became a fixture on British television, starring in hit shows such as "The Detectives" and "All About Me," while also mentoring younger comics who went on to major careers. Beyond performing, he was a founding shareholder in Celador, the production company behind "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?," which brought him a substantial financial windfall. Carrott has remained a beloved figure in entertainment, admired for his clean humor, business savvy, and enduring ties to his Birmingham roots.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Robert Norman Davis was born in the Acocks Green area of Birmingham and attended Acocks Green Primary School and Moseley Grammar School. After leaving school, he worked as a trainee buyer at the Beehive department store. In 1969, he co-founded "The Boggery," a folk club in Solihull, where he was the resident compère. Initially, he performed folk songs, but his comedic patter soon eclipsed the music. It was at this time that he adopted the stage name Jasper Carrott.

Carrott showed early entrepreneurial instincts, even recording and selling his own comedy album "In the Club" in 1973 directly to fans. His style leaned on shaggy dog stories and observational routines, including insurance claim form gags and the famous "I've got this mole" sketch, which made his reputation. These routines set him apart from gag comics of the time and helped him develop into a full-fledged stand-up performer.

Rise to Fame

Carrott's breakthrough came with the 1975 release of "Funky Moped," produced by Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra. The single reached number five on the UK Singles Chart, while its B-side, the monologue "Magic Roundabout," earned him widespread recognition. He followed this success with more live albums, honing his craft as a raconteur.

By the late 1970s, Carrott had become a major television presence. His 1978 special "An Audience with Jasper Carrott" showcased his stand-up routines, and in 1983, he launched "Carrott's Lib," a BBC sketch show that won a BAFTA and became a launchpad for emerging talents including Hugh Dennis, Steve Punt, Jo Brand, Rik Mayall, Ian Hislop, and even Emma Thompson. He also made an international impression, performing in comedy clubs in the United States, where Robin Williams once saw him incognito—later greeting him by name outside the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, a moment Carrott described as one of the greatest of his career.

Television Career

Carrott's television career remained strong throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He fronted "Carrott's Commercial Breakdown" in 1989, a light-hearted show built around humorous international adverts. In 1993, he co-created and starred in the sitcom "The Detectives" alongside Robert Powell, a parody of police procedurals that became a cult hit.

A key collaborator during this period was writer Steven Knight, a fellow Birmingham native who would go on to create "Peaky Blinders" and script James Bond films. Knight worked with Carrott on "Commercial Breakdown," co-wrote "The Detectives," and later created "All About Me" (2002–2004), a sitcom in which Carrott starred as the head of a multicultural family with Meera Syal. Though Carrott later admitted he felt miscast in the role, the project demonstrated his versatility.

In 2007, he reinvented himself as a game show host with ITV's "Golden Balls," which introduced him to a new generation of viewers. Though modest about his performance, Carrott said it was a valuable experience and another step in his varied career.

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Business Ventures

Beyond performing, Carrott made shrewd moves as a businessman. He was a founding shareholder in Celador, the production company that created "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?." He also helped bring Steven Knight into the company, cementing a partnership that would bear fruit in multiple projects. When Celador was sold in 2006, Carrott and his wife, Hazel, reportedly made around £10 million from their stake. He has said the deal secured his family's financial future, though he avoided extravagant spending.

Later Career and Live Performance

In the early 2000s, Carrott experienced burnout and stepped away from stand-up for several years, losing his passion for live performance. He rediscovered it in 2022 when his longtime friend Bev Bevan, the drummer of ELO, encouraged him to tour again. Their "Stand Up and Rock" shows in smaller venues reminded Carrott of the intimate appeal of comedy and reignited his love for performing.

Throughout his career, Carrott has navigated shifts in comedic taste without ever relying on offensive humor. He has said he doesn't have "funny bones" like Peter Kay, but instead wins audiences over with wit and storytelling. Today, he cites Stewart Lee, Orny Adams, and Peter Kay as comedians he admires, and he has expressed fondness for the divisive sitcom "Mrs Brown's Boys," partly because it irritates "the comedy police."

Personal Life and Honors

In 1973, Carrott married Hazel Jackson, a journalist and former women's editor at the Sunday Mercury. The couple has four children, including actress Lucy Davis, known for her role as Dawn in the UK version of "The Office." Carrott is also a devoted Birmingham City Football Club supporter and remained close friends with the late football legend Trevor Francis.

He has long stayed rooted in the Midlands, preferring Birmingham over London despite the career advantages of relocating. His circle of lifelong friends includes Bev Bevan, Jeff Lynne, Tony Iommi, and broadcaster Gary Newbon.

Carrott was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003 for his charitable services and holds honorary doctorates from Aston University and the University of Birmingham.

Legacy

Jasper Carrott is widely regarded as a pioneer of modern British stand-up comedy. He helped define a style of storytelling humor that moved beyond one-liners, paving the way for a new generation of performers. He nurtured rising stars, collaborated with future heavyweights like Steven Knight, and maintained a career that spanned music, stand-up, television, business, and game shows. Above all, he is admired for staying true to himself, maintaining deep ties to his hometown, and continuing to bring laughter to audiences more than five decades after first stepping on stage.

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