Jimmy Carr is famed for his comedy, his distinctive laugh, and some dodgy accounting. But the Last One Laughing host is also known for his love of going under the knife.
In a new BBC series, Alison Hammond’s Big Weekend, the comedian told the This Morning presenter all about his taste for personal “tweakments” while the pair relaxed at a London wellness spa, before bracing an icy cold plunge pool. The six episode series follows Hammond as she spends 48 hours with celebrities, including Perrie Edwards and Luke Evans.
“I’ve had loads done,” says Carr, flashing a smile. “The gateway drug is getting your teeth done.” Carr says his pearly whites are a full set of veneers placed onto every tooth. His teeth were an insecurity that he was “hung up about” and fixing them helped improve his self-esteem and confidence.
“It made me smile more, and you do genuinely feel happier, it’s very odd.”
Carr also details his “14 hour long” hair transplant and says that he’s “done a bit of botox”. Unlike Carr, Hammond reveals she has never tried botox and shocks the comedian during their discussion, reminding him: “this face can move”. “Are we buying this?” Carr says to the camera in mock-disbelief.
Carr has been candid about his cosmetic surgery in the past. During an interview with friend Stuart Goldsmith at the Savoy Theatre, Carr said he was “basically in an arms race with Katherine Ryan on plastic surgery”, his co-host of Your Face or Mine?
His decision to start treatments came out of “a bit of a midlife crisis” and his desire to stay looking youthful whilst being an older parent. “Famously you can’t avoid death and taxes… I’m trying to do both”, he joked.
Whilst Carr doesn’t claim that botox can magically make you more attractive, he does credit its ability to slow the ageing process.
“Maintaining is the thing,” the 52-year-old told Gabby Logan on her podcast The Midpoint. “I don’t think there’s anything you can do plastic surgery wise, or augmentation wise, that makes you look better, you can just sort of stay the same, that’s what you can hope for.”
Carr is not the only male celebrity to admit to getting cosmetic procedures. Other stars such as Robbie Williams, Rylan Clark and Paddy McGuiness and Made in Chelsea’s Miles Nazaire have all spoken publicly about their decisions to undergo enhancing treatments.
Male cosmetic surgery is continuing to grow in popularity generally as more men are choosing to enhance their looks through treatments such as rhinoplasty and dermal fillers.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of Botox treatments for men increased by 27% over the past decade, and many men often use the term “Brotox” on social media in videos and posts about getting procedures done.
In particular, a rise in men requesting face and neck lifts seemingly points to a growing interest in anti-ageing procedures, reports the The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
Dr Kaywaan Khan, a Harley Street Aesthetics Practitioner and Private GP at Hannah London Clinic, has seen a rise in men opting for treatments. “As men notice lines, wrinkles, or changes in their physique, the urge to retain a more youthful appearance can become quite strong. This often intertwines with the ambition to boost self-confidence,” says Dr Khan.
Although a little tweak here and there is often motivated by wanting to look better, Dr Khan suggests that for some men, choosing cosmetic procedures is for reasons beyond vanity. “Feeling good about one's appearance can have a ripple effect, positively influencing different aspects of life, from personal relationships to their professional image.”
While conversations surrounding botox on social media tend to be female-led, Khan thinks it is important for men to be able to share their cosmetic journeys without feeling judged, and this is helped by celebrities like Carr being candid about their own nip and tucks.
“The influence of celebrities and social media has normalised these procedures and made them more mainstream,” says Dr Khan. “This has caused a shift in perception and helped reduce the stigma once surrounding male grooming and cosmetic tweakments.”
