Dave Gorman
A comedian who turned his own obsessive quests into a unique genre of documentary stand-up, blending data with delight.
Born 1971 (age 55)·English comedian and presenter·Birthday: March 2·Generation X
Biography
Dave Gorman redefined what a comedy show could be by placing himself squarely in the middle of absurd, self-imposed challenges. Moving away from traditional joke-telling, he built his reputation on a series of elaborate, real-life investigations that were as compelling as they were funny. His breakout show, 'Are You Dave Gorman?', saw him travel the globe to find other people sharing his name. This set the template for works like 'Googlewhack Adventure' and the television series 'Modern Life Is Goodish,' where he dissected the peculiarities of contemporary living with charts, graphs, and a palpable sense of bewildered curiosity. His style is less about punchlines and more about the shared thrill of the hunt, making him a distinctive voice who proves that truth, diligently pursued, is often stranger and more entertaining than fiction.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Dave was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dave Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Dave's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Created and starred in the BBC television series 'The Dave Gorman Collection' and 'Modern Life Is Goodish,' blending stand-up with multimedia presentations.
- Won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for Best Comedy Entertainment for his work on 'The Mrs. Merton Show.'
- Authored several bestselling books that document his eccentric real-life adventures, including 'Are You Dave Gorman?' and 'America Unchained.'
- Performed his critically acclaimed live show 'Dave Gorman's Powerpoint Presentation' on extended tours in the UK and internationally.
Did You Know?
He once attempted to live for a month without using any chain stores or corporations, documented in his book and show 'America Unchained.'
He is a former president of the famous literary club, The Sherlock Holmes Society of London.
He co-created the sitcom 'The Cockfields' with comedian Diane Morgan.
He holds a degree in mathematics from the University of Manchester.
“I found fifty-four other Dave Gormans, and it proved we're all statistically unremarkable.”
