From footlights to fringe

Neil Mullarkey first worked with Mike Myers in the 1980s

August will see the return of comedian Neil Mullarkey to the Edinburgh festival with his one man show 'Don't be needy, be succeedy' featuring a new character L. Vaughan Spencer.

Having worked in television, film and radio, Neil's something of a comedy all-rounder and fans of the Austin Powers films should keep an eye out for him when Goldmember is released in the UK on Friday.

Click here to watch our interview with Neil Mullarkey

Neil appears in the latest Austin Powers film

Neil and Austin Power's star Mike Myers have been working together for more than 20 years.

They had a comedy act in the 1980s which was based on their love of cartoons, B-movies and bad TV; they played different inhabitants of a midwest town.

The pair toured the UK and played at Edinburgh before Mike returned to Toronto.

Neil's part in the first Austin Powers movie was at the request of Mike, who sent him the script and asked him what he thought about it.

Neil says: "Mike wasn't sure at the time whether it would work because it was so English. The preview of it was the worst ever - it was in an LA suburb where no-one knew who James Bond was so it didn't go down very well."

The film was a huge success, and Neil spent two weeks filming in March on Goldmember - the third Austin Powers film - that once again saw him working with his friend Myers.

He's a former president of the Cambridge Footlights, and founder of The Comedy Store Players, and has worked with Nick Hancock, Eddie Izzard and writes as well as performing.

Neil's many television appearances include: Whose Line is it Anyway?, The Manageress, Smith and Jones, Saturday Live and Carrott Confidential.

Neil's new show centres on our obsession with self-help and personal development and is described as the perfect antidote for anyone who has had to deal with management training.