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Boothby Graffoe (born James Martyn Rogers in 1962), is an English comedian, singer, songwriter and playwright. He is particularly known for his surreal sense of humour.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Stand-up comedy 3 Radio 4 Television 5 Music 6 Stage plays written by Boothby Graffoe 7 Books 8 See also 9 External links

He was born in 1962 in Hull, East Yorkshire, England.

He is a regular performer at the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Although originally from Beverley, East Yorkshire, he claims (probably correctly) to be the only comedian in the world named after a Lincolnshire village.

Boothby incorporates his guitar playing skills into his stage act, through his oddball (and usually slightly twisted) songs, including such titles as "Planet Dog", "Woof" and his album's title track "Wot Italian" (sometimes referred to as 'Umbrella Head Boy'). Some of his song titles are still more surreal, in that they do not reflect the subject matter, such as "Giraffes Don't Play Harmonicas, So It Can't Be a Giraffe" and "The Consequences of Living in a Container". He is currently accompanied by the violinist Nick Pynn, having previously toured with acoustic guitarist Antonio Forcione.

On his latest tour of Scotland in February/March 2007 he announced his intention to retire from stand-up comedy and concentrate on writing for Omid Djalili.

He has won several awards, including the 2002 Adelaide Fringe Award for Excellence, and the Time Out Comedy Award. He has also been previously nominated for British comedy's most prestigious award, the Perrier Award.

He started his career in 1988 on BBC Radio Lincolnshire when he presented a two hour programme (Boothby Graffoe Live), on Friday evenings for a few years.

He appears regularly on Radio 4's Loose Ends with Ned Sherrin.

• The Big Booth BBC Radio 4 (2001-2002)
• Boothby Graffoe in No Particular Order BBC Radio 4 (2003-2005)

In 2003, he appeared on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brian

In 2004 he released his first album of songs with Antonio Forcione, Wot Italian? A second disc followed in 2006, a live recording of a show in Brighton billed as Boothby Graffoe & the Following People, the backing band including Pynn.

Boothby has twice acted as support for Canadian band Barenaked Ladies on two of their UK tours, first in 2004 for the Barenaked For The Holidays Tour, and again in 2007 on the Barenaked Ladies are Me tour. Boothby mostly performs solo, with various members of the band joining him to play bass (Jim Creeggan), keyboard (Kevin Hearn) and drums (guitarist Ed Robertson) for some of the songs.

He has championed the work of surreal songwriter Syd Meats, often including Meats's songs such as Far Too Serious in his set.

• The Condition of the Virgin 2001
• One Night Stand: God and Adam 2002
• Hitler Sells Tickets 2004

All three plays were subsequently adapted for BBC Radio.

• Sit-Down Comedy (contributor to anthology, ed Malcolm Hardee & John Fleming) Ebury Press/Random House, 2003. ISBN-10: 0091889243; ISBN-13: 978-0091889241

• Boothby Graffoe - the Lincolnshire village

• Official website