Paul McDermott
Who Paul McDermott is
Paul McDermott is an Australian comedian, writer and illustrator who began as a busker with the Doug Anthony All Stars, the comedy trio with Tim Ferguson and Richard Fidler that grew out of street performing and was nominated for the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1988. He went on to host the satirical game show Good News Week, hosted and wrote for The Sideshow, appeared on Strictly Dancing and Room 101 and was quiz master on the ABC's Think Tank.
With the All Stars, re-formed with Paul Livingston, he returned to the Edinburgh Fringe, where the trio won the Spirit of the Fringe award in 2016, and in 2021 he toured the award-winning solo show Paul + 1 with musician Glenn Moorhouse. He studied at the Canberra School of Art, has illustrated several books and wrote and illustrated the children's book Ghostbear.
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At a glance
- Books
- Ghostbear
- On screen
- Good News Week, The Sideshow, Think Tank and 2 more
- Official site
- paulmcdermott.com.au ↗
On stage
No dated show on D.O.C.'s Comedy Calendar right now — their own site has their dates: paulmcdermott.com.au ↗.
Lineups belong to the rooms and the comedians, and can change; each listing has the last word. Their nights on the Comedy Calendar →
Specials, shows and podcasts
On screen
- Good News Week host
- The Sideshow host and writer, ABC
- Think Tank quiz master, ABC
- Strictly Dancing
- Room 101
Books and writing
- Ghostbear children's book, writer and illustrator
Comedians like Paul McDermott
Each linked to them by something on the record — a stage they both came through, a bill, a show, a style or a home town.
- Bridget Christie also in Room 101
- Eddie Ifft also in Good News Week
- Felicity Ward also in Good News Week
- Jimeoin also in Good News Week
Questions and answers
Where is Paul McDermott performing next?
No date is on D.O.C.'s Comedy Calendar right now; their own site has their dates: paulmcdermott.com.au ↗.
Have they written a book?
Yes: Ghostbear.
What TV shows and films are they in?
Good News Week (host), The Sideshow (host and writer, ABC), Think Tank (quiz master, ABC), Strictly Dancing and Room 101.
What is their official website?
Who are some comedians like them?
Bridget Christie (also in Room 101), Eddie Ifft (also in Good News Week), Felicity Ward (also in Good News Week) and Jimeoin (also in Good News Week).
Are you Paul McDermott?
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Your short address, for your bio: disciplesofcomedy.com/paul-mcdermott
The full SUCDb record
The full record — the career in order, the specials and credits, and the sources for each — is on SUCDb, with a button to add them to your D.O.C., your twelve.
Sources
- Official site (About) ↗ Began life as a busker with DAAS (The Doug Anthony Allstars); host of the satirical game show Good News Week; host and writer of The Sideshow; Strictly Dancing, Rm 101, quiz master on the ABC's Think Tank; the Canberra School of Art; illustrated books and his children's book GHOSTBEAR; the award-winning solo show…
- Official site ↗ Scribbler. Comedian. (as of 11 October 2026)
- Chortle — Doug Anthony All Stars announce London gig (25 May 2017) ↗ Tim Ferguson, Paul McDermott and Paul 'Flacco' Livingston; a one-off at the Shepherds Bush Empire; Near Death Experience at the Fringe; former street performers, nominated for the Perrier in 1988; re-formed with Flacco in place of Richard Fidler; the Spirit of the Fringe award in 2016 (as of 11 October 2026)
Updated 11 October 2026 · the record checked 11 October 2026