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Ric Michael is our resident comedy confidante. Uncle Ric's on hand to dish out help and advice accrued through years working in the entertainment business, and his current role as Head of Development at Baby Cow Manchester.

If you have a question for Ric to get his teeth into, email us at the usual address. But please, comedy questions only, not even Ric can fix your marriage or help you sell your house. Click here for his first set of advice...

Career Path
I always loved broadcasters, commentators and people who could ad-lib and bring laughs from nowhere. I also liked being out all night and a little bit of late night entertainment so I would work where needed so long as it was around entertainment, events and artists. But I hated being on stage on my own and I love working with and developing artists who have the drive, ambition and talent to succeed.

Singer, Stand-Up and Voice Over Man
Club Promoter and Manager
Festival and Events Manager and Director
Part-Time Actor and Writer
Art and Regeneration Manager
Programme Consultant, Baby Cow
Head of Development, Baby Cow Manchester

Highs:
Supporting Norman Cook on his first solo gigs
Promoting Seamus Heaney in the week he got his Nobel Prize.
Making a programme for BBC3 on poetry
Seeing Red Velvet on Channel 4
BBC4 commissioning Stuck, which I had seen first.

Lows:
Going bust as a live music promoter the day after Man United won the league - a very bad week.
Blackpool Comedy Festival - at least we tried.
Working in local government for a spell

Proudest Moment:
My interview about Manchester's music scene going on Newsbeat ahead of the invasion of Kuwait (first Gulf War). It was good to know what the nation's priorities were.

Going on stage in Las Vegas

Must see recommendations for the site:
The forums are full of hidden gems

Live favourite:
Russell Peters wowed me recently, I was not expecting him to be so good. Alan Carr is fantastic live.

Sketch Show favourite:
Mitchell and Webb

TV favourite:
Curb Your Enthusiasm, Lead Balloon, anything by Baby Cow (obviously), Porridge is still my favourite ever sitcom.

Animation:
2DTV is eminently watchable and very well-written but The Simpsons is still king.

Word of Advice for 4Laughs users:
Keep trying but be prepared to learn from the comments of those you respect and aspire to work with.

My Web Address:

Baby Cow