Dancing On Ice’s Darren Harriott says his career stopped him from a life of crime
‘I could have easily stabbed someone for nothing’: Dancing On Ice’s Darren Harriott says his comedy career saved him from a life of crime as he felt he had ‘nothing to lose’ at 14
Darren Harriott has spoken about how his career in comedy saved him from becoming a gangster and falling into a life of crime at a young age.
The 34-year-old comedian, who will appear in the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice, opened up about his childhood and how he carried a knife when he was just a teenager.
Darren’s father committed suicide while in prison for drug trafficking offences, as he described feeling “completely lost” when he was just 11 years old.
Hit rock bottom: Darren Harriott has spoken about how his comedy career saved him from becoming a gangster and falling into a life of crime at a young age.
He shockingly revealed, ‘At that time, when I was 14 or 15, I felt like I had nothing to lose. He could easily have stabbed someone for absolutely nothing.
The comedian referred to modern times as “devastating” where young teenagers are stabbed to death across London.
Darren walked away from his own gang after they turned on him and knocked him to the ground, resorting to comedy and standing up to help his sanity.
New project: The comedian, 34, who is set to appear in the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice, has opened up about his childhood and carrying a knife when he was just a teenager
Describing his ‘fresh start’, he said: ‘I was really depressed. I needed something to obsess over and take my mind off things and then I found comedy after going to an open mic night.
‘I did my first gig at 18 and still had that element of the ghetto kid, with a lot of anger. It’s like chasing that height, constantly trying to get that laugh and it helped me a lot.
Prior to this, Darren dealt with his grief by joining a group that also had what he called ‘daddy issues’.
They formed a grime music group called the Terror Lan Killerz in Oldbury where they were based, which was relatively untouched by gang crime.
However, Darren’s friends lived in the Birmingham suburbs, which were plagued by gang rivalries.
Moving on: Darren walked away from his own gang after they turned on him and kicked him to the ground, turning to comedy and standing up to help his sanity
Darren described seeing the mobsters as “heroes and movie stars”, due to their flashy clothes, cars and jewelry.
He recounted how his friends began to take gang culture more seriously and all started carrying knives, which he said he thankfully never had to use.
In 2004, on New Year’s Eve, Darren’s own group turned on him and he decided not to be in the same situation the following year.
Darren started working as a bouncer, including at the Hammersmith Apollo, which he later went on to head, before breaking into the comedy circuit and rising to fame.
Darren is best known for his stand-up work on the BBC Radio 4 series Darren Harriott’s Black Label and was nominated for the Best New Artist Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017 and the Best Show Award in 2019. .
He became the eighth celebrity to join the lineup along with previously announced actress and DJ Patsy Palmer, soccer legend John Fashanu, Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.
Eleven celebrities will embark on the ultimate challenge as they hit the ice each week, skating live in a bid to impress both the panel and home viewers.
Lineup: Became the eighth celebrity to join the lineup along with previously announced actress and DJ Patsy Palmer, soccer legend John Fashanu, Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu