Paul Sinha is known to television quiz-show aficionados for his super-sarcastic and impeccably dressed alter ego, The Sinnerman, as seen on the popular ITV game show The Chase. There, hopeful contestants take on professional quizzers in pursuit of cash prizes, often managing to humiliate themselves and their loved ones in front of the nation along the way.
What many viewers may not realise is that the certified boffin is also a qualified physician. Sinha worked as a GP throughout the 1990s and early noughties before eventually leaving the world of medicine to pursue his dream of becoming a professional quizzer and comedian. Fuelled by a lifelong love of quizzes, an encyclopaedic brain crammed full of knowledge and trivia, and a self-confessed addiction to pub quiz machines, he has made a remarkably successful transition.
Sinha is officially ranked as one of the top quizzers in the UK, having claimed the title of British Quizzing Champion in 2019. He has also appeared on The Weakest Link, Mastermind, Eggheads and University Challenge.
“But what about the comedy?” I hear you cry. Rest assured, he’s doing a bloody good job of that too, with awards, glowing reviews and loyal audiences to prove it.
Paul’s material is packed with sharp self-deprecation regarding his celebrity status, slick one-liners, musical comedy performed at the piano, outrageous anecdotes and a refreshing sense of self-awareness. He never shies away from topics some audience members might consider too personal, including his sexuality, Bengali heritage and life with Parkinson’s disease. This is a performer who can – and does – joke about absolutely anything.
This year, Dr Sinha is travelling the length and breadth of the UK with his new stand-up show, ‘2 Sinha Lifetime’, marking his 30th anniversary in comedy. The show debuted at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, a festival close to his heart. It is also, famously, where he suffered two heart attacks during a previous run – events he now cheerfully describes as “comedy goldmines”. Proof, if any were needed, that nothing is off limits.
Paul Sinha performs at The Stand, Newcastle and The Witham, Barnard Castle.
Tickets, priced from £17.00 in advance, are available at thestand.co.uk and thewitham.org.uk.
