Harry Hill: 'I panic without my shirts'

Harry Hill: 'I panic without my shirts'
Harry Hill: 'I panic without my shirts' (Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Harry Hill has revealed he can't perform without his big-collared shirts. The comedian and presenter of ITV1's Harry Hill's TV Burp told Zoo magazine that the costume helps gives him confidence. Harry revealed: "In the dressing room, before a live gig, it's become a bit of a ritual putting it on." He added: "On the opening night of one tour, I opened my bag and realised I'd just brought an ordinary shirt. I had a panic attack - I even phoned my wife to see if she could get a stage shirt to me on a bike!" But the 44-year-old comic has been considering other costumes. He revealed: "I drew up some designs to relaunch myself in this kind of white Elvis jumpsuit, with different words written on - the idea was that I'd strike a pose and the words would spell a message." "I realised I'd have to be a contortionist to make it work!" Harry originally trained to be a doctor but revealed he has forgotten all his medical skills. He said: "Recently, I was driving along and there was a kid in the road who had come off her bike. I stopped the car and said, 'I used to be a doctor.' And they said, 'Great!' Then I was thinking, 'What should I do?'" "This first-aider came along and said, 'Have you cleared the airways?' And I thought, 'Oh yeah, clear the airways!' Since then, I've decided I probably shouldn't get involved any more!" Get exclusive access to your favourite stars. Subscribe to TV Times magazine

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.