Jonathan Ross reveals surprise role he played in securing Michael McIntyre’s big break

Ross was involved in a plan to get McIntyre on the 2006 Royal Variety Performance

Jonathan Ross has revealed the role he played in helping Michael McIntyre get his big break.

Appearing on Michael McIntyre: In His Own Words, the chat show host admitted that his agent used him as leverage to get McIntyre – a then-unknown comedian – a slot on the Royal Variety Performance in 2006.

Addison Cresswell, who also represented McIntyre at the time, told the Royal Variety organisers that Ross would only host the show if they added “his favourite comedian” to the bill, meaning McIntyre.

“I mean, obviously, it was a nice thing to be asked – for me to do. I was riding fairly high at the BBC at the time but I share an agent with Michael,” Ross recalled.

"Addison… was a super, super-talented, brilliant agent. As I understand it, he said to the BBC – he didn't tell me this – he said ‘Jonathan will definitely host it for you but only if you take his favourite comedian at the moment, Michael McIntyre.’”

Adding that he had “no idea” at the time, the presenter continued: “I did like Michael a lot. I didn't know that ... and so I think there was a quid pro quo went on there.

"I think Michael knew it was an important evening for him because he was going to be performing, potentially, in front of a far larger audience at home than he had ever been exposed to before."

Michael McIntyre: In His Own Words airs on 1 January at 9pm on Channel 5.

Additional reporting by Press Association