Clary puts suicidal days behind him

Julian Clary has said he's now over the dark days that once led him to seriously contemplate suicide.

The comic once checked into a hotel room with a load of pills, intent on killing himself, but decided against it at the last minute.

"I understand about depression because I've been there," he said of his 1993 suicide bid, but added that dark days are behind him. "I'm very upbeat at the moment.

"I don't think I'm any more morose than the next comedian," he added. "We're not upbeat and funny 24 hours a day. We're quite pensive because we observe life all the time, that's where comedy comes from."

Clary, 42, says he is happy with his career and the single life.

"I'm not fuelled by ambition," he said. "I don't mind working, but I'm just as happy lazing around.

"And I'm probably happier without anyone in my life - it's exhausting having to think about someone else.

"Whether you are gay or straight, there is a basic urge to reproduce - but I've worked through those urges on stage and I'm happy about not having children now."

Clary was speaking to the Daily Express to promote his new role as Leigh Bowery in Boy George's West End play Taboo - a role for which he had to shave his head.

In the interview, he was also dismissive of Billy Connolly, whose biography he is now reading.

"There are constant references to him as a genius," he said. "I had no idea. It's been an educational read."

Clary's next role is in the panto Cinderella at Woking.

Published: 26 Sep 2002