Comedian Phil Ellis has revealed he underwent a hair transplant after seeing his thinning locks from above on Channel 4's Taskmaster. The 44-year-old, who appeared on series 20 of the show last September, said the procedure gave him 'a bit more confidence'.
A career-changing call
Ellis, who has spent 20 years as a comedian's comedian, was performing at a festival to a sparse audience when he received the call that changed his career. Backstage, a fellow comedian asked why he had never been on Taskmaster. Ellis replied, 'Well there's so many comedians, it's a big queue isn't it? They're not going to get me on, no one knows who I am.'
He then returned to host the tent, where only 12 audience members were present. When he asked if they wanted to move forward, they declined, leaving 'a gap of like a mile'. During a break, his agent rang with an invitation to appear on Taskmaster. 'I couldn't believe it, and you couldn't tell anyone, so I just had to go back out and carry on.'
From fringe to national tour
Following his appearance alongside Ania Magliano, Maisie Adam, Reece Shearsmith, and Sanjeev Bhaskar, Ellis's career has transformed. He now secures well-run gigs and is touring his show Bath Mat across the UK for the first time, with many dates already sold out.
'I can actually go out and perform to like 500 people a night in some venues, which I'd never have dreamed of before,' he said. Previously, his shows began and ended at the Edinburgh Fringe, as he lacked an audience to tour to.
Hair transplant and fan moments
Ellis was gifted a hair transplant in January after discussing his hair on a podcast. He chose a hairline based on a photo of Jude Law but compromised with the doctor when it became apparent it might not suit him. 'This is a very different man,' he joked.
He has also enjoyed memorable fan interactions, including being recognised on a train. Looking ahead, Ellis hopes to write a sitcom, his original ambition for entering stand-up. 'It's nice to say you're the guy on the edge of a comedy,' he said. 'But it's also quite nice to be in the tent with everyone else.'
