Clive Coleman

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Clive has delivered after dinner speeches to an array of UK based and multi-national companies, trade and professional bodies. As a conference host and link presenter, he has hosted numerous awards ceremonies where his combination of performing and writing skills have enabled him to write and deliver tailored ‘industry specific’ links that keep the pace up and the focus sharp and witty.

Joining the Bar

Clive was called to the Bar in 1986 and joined the chambers of Robin Stewart QC at 2 Harcourt Buildings, Temple (now at 199 Strand). Clive’s career started in spectacular fashion when he managed to get his first client off with a mere six-month prison sentence. That was for a parking offence, though, to be fair, he had just parked on top of his social worker!

As a criminal barrister Clive undertook defence work and prosecuted cases for the Crown Prosecution Service. His civil practice included personal injury, medical negligence, property and insolvency.  In his medical negligence work he has acted for both claimants and defendant insurers across a range of medical and clinical negligence claims.  He has worked closely with medical experts in the assessment of liability and damages, and at every stage of the pre-trial and trial process.

From 1990-99 Clive was also a Principal Lecturer in Law on the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law, where he helped to pioneer skills training for barristers. Clive lectured and wrote widely on advocacy, communication and the art of persuasion. He also taught Evidence, Civil Litigation, Drafting, Negotiation and ran the Professional Ethics course for aspiring barristers.

Accolades and Credits

During this period Clive started to develop his writing career. In 1992, he won the prestigious BBC Radio Light Entertainment Contract Writers Award (previous winners include Angus Deayton and Rory McGrath). Clive regularly contributed to ‘Weekending’, ‘The News Huddlines’ and wrote the sit-com ‘Hair In The Gate’, starring Allistair McGowan.

Clive’s television comedy credits include: ‘Spitting Image’, ‘Smith and Jones’ ‘Clive Anderson Talks Back’ and ‘Have I Got News For You’, though he is perhaps best know for ’Chambers’ his hit BBC1 sit-com about barristers, starring John Bird, James Fleet and Sarah Lancashire.

In 1998 he won the BBC’s inaugural ‘Frank Muir Award’, for outstanding comedy writing. His current writing commissions include a new sit-com for the BBC, and the feature film Dog Story for Samuelson Productions, directed by Martin Clunes. Clive also writes an occasional column for ‘The Independent’ in the guise of John Fuller-Carp, the character played by John Bird in ‘Chambers’.

Clive’s television drama credits include: ‘The Bill’ (for whom he also acts as a legal consultant on court based storylines), ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Crossroads’.

Clive has performed character-based sketches for Channel 5’s ‘Exclusive’ show. For the past ten years, he has regularly performed on radio with credits including co-writing and performing in Radio 4’s ‘Control Group 6’ (nominated for the 1996 Writer’s Guild Award for Best Radio Comedy), Radio Five Live’s ‘The Game’s Up’, with Allistair McGowan; and ‘You Cannot Be Serious’, with Kevin Day. Other regular guest appearances include Radio 4’s ’The Motion Show’, ‘Law In Action’ and ‘Loose Ends’ and he is now the main presenter on the BBC Radio Four flagship legal analysis programme, ‘Law In Action’.

Hilarious Orator

As a barrister, broadcaster and one of the country’s top comedy writers, Clive has the unique ability to write and deliver hilarious material on just about any subject. His years in court, working to a brief, combined with his skill in writing topical comedy to tight deadlines for some of the country’s best known television and radio comedy shows, allow Clive to specifically tailor his material to the needs of the company or organisation he’s speaking to.

Clive has co-hosted events and awards ceremonies with celebrities including Joanna Lumley and Graham Norton, as well as writing the scripts for awards ceremonies hosted by the likes of Jonathan Ross.

“Perhaps it is because barristers are so used to thinking on their feet that some of Clive’s best material ‘seemed’ to be completely off the cuff.  His quick wit and ability to tailor his speech to the requirements of our brief made for a marvelous evening”
          MD, Schering Plough

‘It’s no exaggeration to say that you ‘made the difference’ to our annual conference.  Your professional links and razor sharp humour kept the pace up and the tone light, without flippancy.  You were nominated ‘the best thing about the conference’ onthe majority of event evaluation forms.  Many thanks.
QA Training Plc

‘It is unusual to re-book a speaker, people tend to want a change. Clive is an exception. We’ve been entertained by him on a number of occasions, each time he has been different, very funny and written fresh material about our company, current projects and personnel.  We will be seeing him again.’
 Cable & Wireless

‘I wanted to take this opportunity to record our grateful thanks for the wonderful performance you gave last Friday at our Annual Marketing Awards. The feedback from  those who attended has been superb and as I indicated, you pitched your material exactly right for the mixed audience. We look forward to you joining us for a repeat performance next year.'
Chartered Institute of Marketing

For further information or to book Clive Coleman, please contact +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk