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Pete Harris opened the first 'Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club' at the Rose and Crown in Hampton Wick on Wednesday 26th October 1988. He plucked a then unknown Eddie Izzard, an old school friend of his brother's, from obscurity to be his resident compère.
Over the next few years Pete opened a couple more venues and nurtured his find, giving him the stage time and space to experiment and grow. In 1991, Pete took Eddie to Edinburgh where he was nominated for the then very prestigious 'Perrier Award'. In 1992, Pete and Eddie opened 'H&I Management Ltd', a management company set up to not only manage the increasingly well known Izzard but also to apply Pete's management techniques to others. In 1993, Pete single-handedly produced Eddie Izzard at the Ambassador's Theatre in the West End of London, the show being such a sell-out success it extended twice.
Pete was then made Managing Director of Ella Communications, Eddie's production company. In 1994, two days before Izzard's second West End run, Izzard inexplicably cut all ties with Pete. Due to financial commitments already agreed to and his cash-cow walking out on him, Pete found himself with a large debt. The comedy circuit was stunned and appalled by the split and many of the better known comedians - including Lee Evans, Lee Hurst - got together to produce a benefit show at the Wimbledon Theatre.
In 1995 Pete formed Stone Ranger Productions for the Richard Stone Partnership. Here he toured many comedians including Rich Hall, Greg Proops, and Scott Cappuro. He started the still successful Big Value Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Festival which spawned such stars as Lee Mack and Stephen K. Amos.
In 1996, Pete was asked to tour the then unknown comedian, Lee Hurst. The BBC TV show 'They Think It's All Over' was screened later that year and Lee became an overnight star. Pete started to manage Lee in March 1997 and they worked exclusively together producing tours, videos, and corporate appearances.
From 1991-2001 Pete successfully produced and promoted many shows at the Edinburgh Festival. His last Edinburgh Festival was in 2001 where he not only had his own shows but also ran the venue, The Cafe Royale. One of the shows that year was 'Rubbernecker', a stand-up show with Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Jimmy Carr, and Robin Ince.
In Oct 2001 Pete hung up his comedy coat and semi-retired to Phuket in Thailand where he lives to this day. Comedy followed him there and between 2007 and 2012 he slightly came out of retirement to help promote the Phuket Punchline Comedy Club which puts on five shows per year.
