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Jimmy Carr is no stranger to controversy and has repeatedly sailed close to the wind during his 13-year career.

The 39-year-old Cambridge University graduate turned professional funnyman in 1999 and swiftly became known for his brutal, deadpan one liners.

Prior to stepping up to the comedy circuit he had spent four years as a marketing executive at Shell Oil before making his breakthrough.

Throughout his time in the spotlight so far it had been his vicious on-stage quips and near-the-knuckle gags that landed the 2002 Perrier award nominee in hot water.

Carr hit the headlines in 2006 after he joked on the weekly BBC Radio 4 show Loose Ends that gypsy women smell.

The comic told listeners: "The male gypsy moth can smell the female gypsy moth up to seven miles away - and that fact also works if you remove the word 'moth'."

In the wake of criticism from the Gypsy Council the BBC was forced to issue an apology.

It said: "This joke should never have been transmitted. We apologise for any offence caused."

In 2009, he again flirted with controversy after a photograph apparently taken inside a court building appeared on his Twitter account.

The picture was posted after the star faced speeding charges at Sudbury Magistrates' Court, in Suffolk.

Police later said no offence had been committed.

The prosecution against Carr for speeding was eventually dropped on a technicality.

Later the same year Carr was again forced to back down after poking fun at injured squaddies.

The 8 Out Of 10 Cats presenter drew criticism when he told an audience at the Manchester Apollo: "Say what you like about servicemen amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan, but we're going to have a f***ing good Paralympic team in 2012."

He was forced to pull the joke and later admitted he felt "terrible" about the offence caused.

Last year he again sparked criticism after cracking jokes about handicapped children and the Variety Club's Sunshine minibuses.

Carr later said he believed there were no taboo areas in comedy and any subject is "up for grabs".

The comic, who was crowned a comedy legend last year at the Loaded Lafta awards, has also turned his sharp tongue on his own family.

In 2004, together with his brother Colin, he accused his father of sending them abusive emails and faxes. Mr Carr senior was later acquitted of all charges.

The comic has, however, also shown a more positive side to his character, taking part in a short stretch of a charity ride from John O'Groats to Land's End to raise money for Sport Relief.

Schooled at Burnham Grammar and the Royal Grammar School, near Slough, Carr went on to study political sciences at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.