He attended Collingwood Secondary Modern school and went on to do an Ordinary National Diploma in Business at Brooklands However drink and drug problems forced him to drop out after the first year. In the late 1980s he attended Clouds House, a 12-step drug treatment centre for his heroin addiction, and has been drug-free ever since.
He is most notable for his performance on Michael McIntyre"s Comedy Roadshow and for appearing in nine episodes of First Rate (at Lloyd's) Murray"s Time Gentlemen Please. Born in Barnet, Gunn is married and has two boys. Struggling with drug addiction, Mike took on many varied jobs, including packing pickled gherkins in the Netherlands, manufacturing irrigation pipes in Israel, and repairing photocopiers in London.
lieutenant was during his rehabilitation that Mike took up stand-up comedy, performing his first gig at Jacksons Lane Community Centre, North London, in 1995.
Stand-up Comedy
Mike spent a few years on the comedy circuit performing as himself, but soon took on a different persona as a funeral director This character act culminated in his first solo Edinburgh show, which was entitled "Good Grief" (2002).
Just a year later, Gunn made his second Edinburgh solo appearance with "Uncut", an honest and funny narrative exploring his 10 years as an addict, and following through to his recovery. lieutenant was highly acclaimed and received an Arts Council grant, leading to it being performed for years all over the United Kingdom, in treatment centres, prisons, and schools, to anyone who had an interest in addiction and recovery from addiction.
In 2012 Mike teamed up with fellow comedian Sean Collins and embarked on a United Kingdom tour with their show "Still on the Roadshow".
He has supported Jo Brand and Alan Davies on national tours and is on the road again this year (2014), with Lee Mack on his forthcoming tour "Hit The Road Mack". He has performed internationally in countries including the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Australia, where he completed a five week sell out run at Melbourne"s International Comedy Festival. Mike became the first comedian to play in Kuatan, East Malaysia and has also entertained troops in the Falkland Islands.
Shortlisted for Time Out Dubai - Music & Nightlife Awards: Best Comedy Gig as part of The Laughter Factory along with Justin Moorhouse and Paul Sinha.
The show received "Highly Commended" for Best Comedy Gig. television Appearances & Filmography
Mike has appeared in various programs, both as an actor, and as himself.
Mike spent four years educating young children about drugs by working on the 2Smart4Drugs roadshow which was funded by Essex police. Gunn has been a contributor for The Guardian, and has also written for Time Out, The List, The 11 O’clock Show (CH4) and even Match of The Day Magazine.
Appearances include Harry Hill"s television Burp ( Independent Television), Celebrity Deal or no Deal (CH4), Soccer Department of Administration and Management (SKY1), The Comedy Store, and The World Stands Up (Comedy Central), and is a regular on the Sky Poker channel (SKY).
