Editing Al Murray (section)

==Early life and family background==
Murray was born in [[Stewkley]], [[Buckinghamshire]]. His father was a [[lieutenant colonel]] in [[131 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers|131 (Parachute) Regiment, Royal Engineers]]<ref>Watching War Films with My Dad by Al Murray</ref> and worked for [[British Rail]].<ref>[https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80023593 www.iwm.org.uk]</ref> A descendant of the novelist [[William Makepeace Thackeray]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/comedy/3663518/Prime-time-gentlemen-please.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228113724/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/comedy/3663518/Prime-time-gentlemen-please.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 December 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |title=Prime time gentlemen, please |first=Dominic |last=Cavendish |date=3 March 2007 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=143. Dunkirk - Day Three|url=https://play.acast.com/s/wehaveways/dunkirk-daythree|language=en|access-date=21 July 2021}}</ref> Murray's grandfather was the [[Ambassador|former British ambassador]] [[Sir Ralph Murray]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/a/604/al_murray |title=Al Murray's Biography |work=[[Chortle]] |access-date=27 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107210356/http://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/a/604/al_murray |archive-date=7 January 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> from the [[Scottish people|Scottish]] [[aristocracy]] and married into the Kuenberg family, [[Imperial Count|Count]]s of the [[Holy Roman Empire]].<ref>[https://debretts.com/peerage-and-baronetage/ www.debretts.com]</ref> His maternal grandfather was [[killed in action]] at the [[Battle of Dunkirk]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wehavewayspod.com/ep-143-dunkirk-day-three/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926012656/https://wehavewayspod.com/ep-143-dunkirk-day-three/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=26 September 2021|title=Ep 143: Dunkirk - Day Three|date=28 May 2020}}</ref>

Murray was educated at [[Bedford School]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lovebedford.co.uk/towncentreguide/history-of-bedford.php |title=Harpurs Trust |work=BedfordBID}}</ref> He played percussion in the Bedfordshire County Youth Orchestra,  which was based in Bedford; the orchestra played concerts with the Bedfordshire county choirs. He also performed in the [[Bedfordshire]] second youth orchestra, in Dunstable. With the orchestra he performed in Spain, France and Scotland.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04dfljt Radio 3 interview]</ref>

Murray later said of his time at school: "When I was nine I was sent to boarding school, which I despised. The first five years were hideous because I wanted to be at home. I guess I resented my parents a little and it put tons of distance between us. One of the things I took from boarding school is that it made me emotionally self-sufficient."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wintle|first=Angela|date=23 May 2014|title=Al Murray: My family values|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/23/al-murray-my-family-values|url-status=live|access-date=21 July 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|type=Interview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523214934/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/23/al-murray-my-family-values |archive-date=23 May 2014 }}</ref>

Murray read [[History|Modern History]] at [[St Edmund Hall, Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/about-college/comedy-writers |title=Comedy Writers |work=St Edmund Hall |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714014629/https://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/about-college/comedy-writers |archive-date=14 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He performed in the comedy group the [[Oxford Revue]], in a show directed by [[Stewart Lee]].<ref name="multiple">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/profiles/al_murray.shtml |title=Al Murray |publisher=BBC |work=BBC Comedy |access-date=27 December 2006}}</ref>