Michael Smiley broke into stand-up in 1993, when he made the final of the So You Think You’re Funny new act competition. He performed at every Edinburgh Fringe from that year until 1998, and has gone on to become a regular at all the major clubs and several international comedy festivals. He has also performed stand-up on The Comedy Store and Live at Jongleurs shows on TV.

In 2000 he broke into TV acting, and has appeared as cycle courier Tyres O'Flaherty in Spaced, a handful of small roles in Al Murray’s Time Gentleman Please, as an Irish itinerant in Sean Lock’s 15 Storeys High and Phil Squod in the 2005 adaptation of Bleak House.

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Saw him just over two hours ago headlining The Stand in Glasgow, and proved himself to be a wonderful performer and storyteller. Immense work, Michael!

Andy, August 2009

Smiley was a boarder at St McNissis college (very middle class) with me during the 1970s. He wasn't funny then either.

Sheen, June 2009

Smiley's cut price comedy night at the Hackney Empire was fantastic!

Mini-Kev, March 2009

As far as an ice-breaker of a standard opening line, I can assure you Michael was the first to be out there doing it. But hey, that would mean you would have to do research....

Andre Vincent, March 2009

From the stories of his childhood in Belfast to dealing with parenthood, you can't help but love Smiley. Parts are heart-warming, shocking and ultimately hilarious! If all you have caught is his stand-up material, you really haven't seen Smiley's full range. I've seen his trilogy of plays and the warmth of the man really shows through, especially when talking about his parents and job as a cycle currier. Of course, continually selling out the place speaks for Smiley s talent in itself. A natural storyteller and talent to be treasured.

Dylan, May 2005

I found him offensive and crude, he lacks originality - completely uneducated rubbish. The coward wouldn't even come to the stage door to answer my question as to how he thought making fun of having a cleft lip and palate (a birth defect) was ok. To have multiple facial re-constructive surgeries to improve appearance is far from easy. To have idiots like him spoiling a good night out for my work colleagues who were as shocked as myself at the crass comment really shows him up. Get with the times, "harelip" isn't a term used in the 21st century.

Bill Bailey fan, November 2004

"Comedian"? Totally unfunny, unwitty, untalented and full of himself.

Humour Fan, December 2003

Absolutely brill.

EDL, December 2003

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