Home / Arts and Entertainment / Comedian Julian Clary Reveals Dark Times Behind Iconic Joke
Comedian Julian Clary Reveals Dark Times Behind Iconic Joke
14 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Julian Clary made a controversial joke about Norman Lamont while experiencing personal tragedies.
- He battled drug addiction and grief over his boyfriend's death from AIDS at the time.
- Clary recovered from addiction and rebuilt his career, now enjoying a clear-headed life.
Comedian Julian Clary has opened up about the profound melancholy he experienced when he delivered a now-infamous joke about Norman Lamont at The Comedy Awards. At the time, Clary was grappling with severe personal tragedies, including a battle with drug addiction and the grief from losing his boyfriend to AIDS two years prior.
He admitted to taking a valium backstage before making the remark about the chancellor of the exchequer, a comment that led to a career hiatus. The comedian described his struggles, detailing his use of Rohypnol and Valium to cope with panic attacks. Clary views this period as a necessary clearing of his schedule for personal recovery.
Following this difficult period, Clary successfully achieved sobriety with counseling and began a career resurgence in 1996. He now expresses contentment with his clear-headed state, having been clean for years and settled with his husband. He continues to perform, recently starring in a pantomime, which he does for the love of the art and its decent pay.
