Olly Mann
Olly Mann is a presenter, comedy writer and gadget columnist. He is a regular stand-in host on talk station LBC 97.3FM, and a weekly contributor to BBC 5 Live’s Saturday Edition and Let’s Talk About Tech, the UK’s No. 1 technology podcast.
With Helen Zaltzman, he co-presents Answer Me This!, the most popular independent podcast in the UK. The home-made comedy show, now in its seventh year, has won two Sony Radio Academy Awards, a European Podcast Award, and 100,000 loyal listeners. Helen and Olly were the UK’s first podcasters to be given their own radio show, and have since hosted a series of specials on 5 Live - the most recent, Helen & Olly’s Required Listening, in the prominent 2-5pm slot on August Bank Holiday 2012.
Olly can often be seen reviewing the papers on BBC Breakfast (BBC1), Lorraine (ITV), Sky News and BBC News Channel, and frequently appears on MacAulay & Co (Radio Scotland) and The Guardian’s Media Talk podcast. His other credits include Britain’s Secret Shoppers (Channel 4), The Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV), Jeremy Vine (Radio 2), Daybreak (ITV), Richard Bacon (5 Live), Lauren Laverne (6 Music), Front Row (Radio 4), What’s The Story (Radio Wales), Vanessa Feltz (BBC London) and This Morning (ITV).
Indulging his life-long love of gadgetry (he has no sense of direction and would literally be permanently lost had sat-nav not been invented), he is the gadget columnist for Reader’s Digest, and the technology correspondent for Steve Wright in the Afternoon (BBC Radio 2) and British Forces News (BFBS).
He writes for a wide range of comedy shows including Celebrity Juice (ITV2), Animal Antics (BBC1), Unzipped (BBC Three) and Keith’s LemonAid (ITV), and is a Programme Associate on Sweat The Small Stuff (BBC Three). He has also worked as a Producer-Director on The Culture Show (BBC2) and The London Programme (ITV), and has written for The Guardian, The Observer and The Daily Telegraph. His book, Answer Me This!, is published by Faber.
ollymann.co.uk
answermethispodcast.com
Olly is represented by Nick Canham: ncanham@thersp.com
Tina Daheley
Tina is a talented broadcaster with a wide range of live television and radio presenting experience in sport, news, current affairs and entertainment.
She currently broadcasts the news & sport to 8 million people every morning on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show alongside Nick Grimshaw. She was also a major part of the multi-award winning Chris Moyles Breakfast Show.
Tina is also a regular face on television - presenting 60 Second News, the Up For Hire series on BBC Three, E24 on the News Channel, as well as the current affairs programme Revealed for the Switch Zone on BBC2. She was part of the BBC presentation team for the London 2012 Olympics and has recently been signed to co-present the hit BBC3 series, Free Speech.
For BBC Sport Tina has been used to report for Football Focus and has presented on the Football League Show on BBC One.
Tina is just as comfortable interviewing the biggest names in sport and entertainment as she is grilling MP’s. In her time at Radio 1 - she’s hosted The Big Conversation at City Hall, a Q&A session with the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, covered the election, including outside broadcasts, and launched a lunchtime and evening news and sport programme on Radio 1’s digital sister station 1Xtra. She has recently started presenting a 3 hour live phone-in show for the BBC Asian Network.
Prior to getting her own show, Tina was the regular news and sport anchor for Trevor Nelson’s breakfast programme and she has also provided voiceovers for a number of radio documentaries.
Tina graduated with 1st class honours in Computer Science before pursuing a career in broadcasting. After completing a Masters in broadcast journalism, Tina won a sponsored placement with Channel 4 where she spent a few years working in production on programmes including T4 and Popworld before turning down a long-term contract in New York to move back to the UK, where she joined the BBC.
Away from broadcasting, Tina loves to dance and spend time with her Siberian Husky MJ.
Tina is represented by Nick Canham: ncanham@thersp.com
Jeff Salmon
Jeff Salmon is a one-off; serial entrepreneur, maverick art dealer, psychological magician. There is very little that Jeff cannot do.
He was the stand-out star of Channel 4’s hit format “Four Rooms” where his talent for negotiation put his contemporaries to shame and landed him some of the most acclaimed pieces across the 2 primetime series.
Jeff has built a hugely successful career in a very anti-establishment way. He challenges the status quo in ways others can only imagine. We’ll let Jeff tell you how:
“I knew very early on, after I failed my 11-Plus, that academic life was not for me and from the age of 8 I recollect my first ‘trading years’. I used to go to a couple of ponds with a very large straw basket tied with string with which I used to catch newts and sells them to friends at a Shilling (today’s equivalent about £1.50) each. However, every so often I caught a crested newt which I was able to charge the princely sum of One & Sixpence.
Even at this early age I was scouting around schools trying to find anything to buy and sell and by the age of 15 I was more than ready to enter the world of big business. However, my parents wanted me to become an estate agent which was what every boy with a big mouth was getting into, but I knew that this was not for me.
My first job was with a company called Multitone who were the inventors of bleepers (the forerunners of today’s mobile phones). I was bored silly and was earning the princely sum of £11 a week. My friends all appeared to be earning anywhere between £17- to £21 a week or doing the “knowledge” to become taxi drivers. It was at this point that I wanted to earn as much as my friends and saw an advertisement in the evening papers for a File Clerk with a minimum of 3 A-Levels and 8 O-Levels to work at Sotheby’s. I went for the interview not having a clue what Sotheby’s was and told them the good news that if they wanted to have the world’s greatest File Clerk then I was their man ... the bad news was that I only had one O-Level. I never heard from them for 3 weeks and then they did me a big favour and took me onboard three weeks later. I knew at this stage that I had to ‘learn and learn’ and train my voice the best I could with a plum in my mouth because everybody else spoke proper-like. Even Lady Muck’s pet poodle barked “Bow Wow” with a posh accent like!
I worked at Sotheby’s, the Auction House through much of the1970’s and apparently showed ‘aptitude’ (and attitude) and quickly made my way up from a filling clerk to become, in my opinion, the best valuation expert that Sotheby’s never knew they had. I was wheeling and dealing during my employment and a senior director asked me to make an important decision ... either stay and stop dealing or leave! I left and became the first dealer in the United Kingdom dealing exclusively with 20th Century Decorative glass.
In the early 1980’s there was a major recession and business fell off dramatically and I had to use all of my resourcefulness to decide what else I could do to earn some dosh while the recession was biting. I decided to try window- cleaning, proffering my services to the well-heeled houses of Hampstead and Highgate. I hated heights so I employed Australians who were in the United Kingdom for their gap-year to help clean all windows above the ground floor! I was sincerely the worst window cleaner in the United Kingdom but I certainly knew how to charge. My marketing was superb (it always has been!) and every morning at 4am I was distributing leaflets around the area extolling the services of ‘Mr Jeffries, Window Cleaner Supreme”. At one point we had 1500 houses on our books. This really was too much ‘like hard work’ and I closed the business after a couple of years but for 15 to 20 years later I was still getting telephone calls from potential customers who swore that a leaflet had just been put through their door that day, when, in fact, the leaflets probably got stuck into a drawer 15/20 years earlier. I had to make the continual excuse that Mr Jeffries had fallen off his ladder and died..
During this period I discovered my chameleon-like talent for starting new businesses and nearly every one of those businesses are successfully trading today. They include my first love Decoratum, (www.decoratum.com) which includes the two best (and largest!) 20th Century Furniture and Design Galleries in London. That’s not just my opinion; we have just been voted one of the Guardian’s top 10 ‘favourite shops’ in West London.
I have a diverse mixture of companies including the UK’s best known air conditioning company (www.airconco.com) which also goes under the guise of CucumberMan. I also run an Insurance Loss Adjusting/Assessing company (www.insuranceclaims.co.uk) a Complementary Health Practice (www.summithealth.co.uk) ramps for the disabled (www.rollaramp.co.uk) and an amazing Search Engine Optimisation company (www.getmeonthefrontpage.com)
For further information head over to my website by clicking here
Bridget Christie
Bridget Christie is a regular on the sketch and stand-up circuit, performing as herself, a human woman, A Ant, the circuit’s top ant comedian, Jason the War Donkey, the circuit’s top donkey comic and Rice Christie, the circuit’s top rice comic. She is a regular panellist on Radio 4’s News Quiz and the Broadcasting House Programme.
She has starred in a number of TV and radio comedies including Cardinal Burns on E4, Harry Hill’s “Little Internet Show”, Sarah Millican’s Support Group, Miranda Hart’s House Party and Dilemma. She has just filmed a cameo role in Anna and Katy’s Channel 4 series and a spot on Comedy Central’s new The Alternative Comedy Experience.
Bridget has written and performed seven critically acclaimed consecutive solo Edinburgh shows, which have been comedy picks in The Metro, Independent, Guardian, The Times, The Stage, The List, Scotsman, The Skinny, and The Sunday Times. Her 2010 show, A Ant, was in the Top 10 best reviewed shows for that year and was featured in BBC2’s The Culture Show. Her 2011 show, Housewife Surrealist, gained four 5 star reviews from Chortle, Skinny, The British Comedy Guide and Scotsgay. Her latest show War Donkey also featured on the Culture Show as one of Sue Perkins’ Top 5 Edinburgh shows and received 10 four star reviews. It was also one of GQ magazine’s Ten Essential Edinburgh shows.
Bridget was a finalist in Funny Women 2004, nominated for the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2005, won the inaugural Funny Women Best Show Fringe Award 2007 and was nominated for the Chortle Best Breakthrough Act 2009.
Look out for all her reviews over the years on her website Press page, which is full to the brim of hatred and swear words.
www.bridgetchristie.co.uk
SEETHA Hallett
Seetha was born in London to Sri-Lankan parents. Having gained a degree in finance, she worked in the City for a number of years as a business analyst for major American and Dutch investment banks, before a chance meeting led to her being asked to front a new property series for Channel 4 - A Place By The Sea, for which she has filmed 4 series to date.
Since moving into presenting, Seetha has worked on a variety of productions, which have seen her doing everything from debating current affairs and interviewing government ministers to feeding dolphins and trekking through rainforest… in genres as diverse as current affairs, travel, food, lifestyle & property for various broadcasters including the BBC, Channel 4, Discovery, ITV, More4 and UKTV.
Outside work, her love of wildlife and desire to experience new things have led her to travel to more than 40 countries so far and she has, amongst other things, climbed the mountains Kilimanjaro and Kinabalu, scuba dived with whale sharks, trekked to see mountain gorillas, driven across the desert to see desert elephants…
Seetha’s showreel can be viewed here: http://vimeo.com/10204865
Channel 4 (Property) - A Place By The Sea (presenter)
UKTV (Lifestyle) - Fantasy Homes Down Under (presenter)
BBC One (Current Affairs) - Inside Out (presenter)
BBC Asian Network (Current Affairs) -The Forum (regular guest)
UITV (Various) – United Indians Television (presenter)
NTL Broadband (Business & Finance) - NTL Broadband (presenter)
Rabo Bank (Corporate) – Rabo Development (presenter)
ITV (Entertainment) – Loose Women (guest)
UKTV (Food) - Market Kitchen (guest)
Low Cost Holidays (Corporate) – International Travel (presenter)
ELLIE Crisell
Ellie Crisell has been welcomed into our living-rooms for more than a decade and remains one of the youngest newsreaders in the country.
She kicked off her journalistic career newsreading for Channel 5 news and radio presenting and reporting for ITN.
Ellie currently presents the 8pm live news bulletin on BBC1 which draws up to 9 million viewers nightly. She is also a regular BBC news channel presenter, interviewing politicians and high profile individuals from all over the world.
Previous to this, Ellie spent 5 years as the face of ‘Newsround’, anchoring in studio and travelling round the world reporting news to the nation’s children.
Whether she is presenting live TV from the studio, reporting from the front-line, interviewing celebrities on the red carpet or covering the Olympic Games, Ellie Crisell’s warm approach has cemented her place as one of Britain’s most respected journalists and likeable presenters.
Ellie has presented and spoken at numerous events and award ceremonies, appearing for, among others, Bafta, London 2012, Amnesty and Rotary.
Ellie took part this year in ‘Celebrity Total Wipeout’, which was broadcast on BBC1 to peak audiences and the game show ‘Pointless’, also to be broadcast on BBC1.
Ellie appeared on stage in Trafalgar Square for the GLA introducing entertainment acts and interviewing, among others, Olympic athletes, as part of the One Year to Go to London 2012 celebrations.
In 2010 Ellie realised one of her personal dreams when she took to the stage with 2 fellow newsreaders for ‘Let’s Dance for Sport Relief’ which pulled in more than 8 million viewers.
Ellie juggles her busy working life with the demanding role of ‘mum’ to her young son and gives up precious spare time to volunteer locally. She has a keen interest in issues surrounding parenthood, psychology and economics, as well as a background in and passion for the creative arts.
Please contact Nick Canham for further information: ncanham@thersp.com
SCOTT Neal
Scott is still regarded highly for his feature film debut at the tender age of 17 in multi-award wining and ground breaking ‘Beautiful Thing’ where he took the lead role of ‘Ste’. He has had continued success in television, film and theatre inlcuding regular roles in television’s ‘London’s Burning’, ‘The Bill’ and lead roles in ‘Prime Suspect’, ‘The Smiths’ and ‘Bramwell’ to name a few.
His film credits include the forthcoming ‘The Education of Kieran’ as well as ‘Isolation’, ‘Tug Of War’ and ‘The Wonderland Experience’.
Please contact David Lazenby on DLazenby@richstonepart.co.uk for further information.
Sixth Form Poet
Since 2011, the mysterious figure known only as Sixth Form Poet has attracted over 54,000 followers on Twitter with his offbeat, witty and pun-laden observations on modern life.
Sixth Form Poet won the Funniest Citizen Tweeter category at 2011’s The Poke Awards and recently appeared in The Sunday Times 100 People To Follow On Twitter list.
His tweets have featured in Reader’s Digest, Metro, Evening Standard, The Independent and The Sunday Times, and his first book, The Sixth Form Poet: Deep Thoughts And Wise Words, is published by Summersdale in November 2012.
NATALIE Lowe
NATALIE IS MOST LIKELY KNOWN FOR HER ROLE AS ONE OF THE PROFESSIONAL DANCERS ON THE BBC’S HIT SHOW ‘STRICTLY COME DANCING’. SHE HAS BUILT UP A FOLLOWING OF DEDICATED FANS AND HAS BECOME A HIGHLY RECOGNISABLE FIGURE AND PERSONALITY IN THE WORLD OF DANCE.
There is so much to say about this insanely talented individual that we suggest you take a trip to her website for more info: www.natalielowe.com
Harriet Scott
A Sony Gold winning broadcaster, Harriet has hosted a string of radio programmes and has made a name for herself as one of the top radio DJs in the country.
Having started presenting her own radio shows at Viking FM whilst still a student at Hull University, Harriet went on to launch Britain’s first ever female headed Breakfast Show. In the late 1990s she was personally head hunted by Chris Evans to single handedly take over the Drive Time slot on national Virgin Radio.
A move to Heart 106.2 followed, with Harriet teaming up with Jono Coleman to present the Breakfast show - a show she now co-hosts with Jamie Theakston.
Since taking the reigns, Heart Breakfast regularly fights it out at the top of the audience figures for the No.1 commercial breakfast show in the most higly competitive radio market in the world.
Away from the radio Harriet has presented ITV1’s popular Crime Fighters and been the showbiz correspondent for Sky News. She has also made regular appearances on This Morning, Loose Women and BBC Breakfast.
Harriet particularly enjoys celebrity interviews and has notched up an impressive list of interviewees including George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Ricky Gervais, Ben Stiller, George Michael, Julia Roberts, Britney Spears, Stevie Wonder and Michael Buble.
Alongside her BA in History, Harriet also has a keen interest in astronomy, cooking, and all things showbiz.
In January 2010 she became mum to Louis and in 2011, her second son Max, was born.
For regular updates, blogs and further images of Harriet, please visit http://www.harrietscott.com
Harriet is managed by Nick Canham: ncanham@thersp.com
Aasmah Mir
Aasmah Mir is a double Sony Gold award winning radio presenter. Best known for presenting ‘Drive’ on BBC Radio 5 Live, she also appears weekly on ‘Lorraine’ on ITV as a paper reviewer. She’s covered for Jeremy Vine on his Radio 2 show and has presented 6 documentaries for Radio 4.
Born in Glasgow, Aasmah’s first job was reading the news for Scottish Television - but by then she already had some TV experience under her belt - presenting the BBC Scotland TV programme ‘The Insiders: Glasgow’ with actor Gordon Kennedy, at the age of 19.
After two years at Scottish Television, she worked as a producer for Radio Scotland and BBC London 94.9, and as a reporter for Central TV. In 2001, she moved to BBC Radio 5 Live, presenting ‘The Weekend News’, ‘Midday News’ and, since 2010, ‘Drive’. In 2011, 5 Live Drive won a Sony Gold for its coverage of the dramatic day the coalition was formed. And in 2012, the show won the Sony Gold Award for Best News and Current Affairs Programme.
Aasmah left 5Live in November 2012 in order to pursue other opportunities and is now a regular guest host on ‘Woman’s Hour’ and ‘You & Yours’ on Radio 4.
Throughout 2006 and 2007, Aasmah wrote a weekly column for The Sunday Herald Newspaper. She’s also narrated documentaries for the BBC, including ‘Middle Eastenders’ for BBC1. Throughout 2009, Aasmah also presented Fridays on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme and the World Service’s ‘Outlook’.
For more information and to read Aasmah’s blog, please visit www.aasmahmir.com
Aasmah is managed by Nick Canham; ncanham@thersp.com
RUTH Amos
Ruth Amos (born 1989) won Young Engineer for Britain 2006, with her idea, the StairSteady. StairSteady was designed as part of her GCSE resistant materials project as a response to a teacher’s challenge to design an aid to enable people with limited mobility to use their stairs. The product is now widely used by the NHS and care homes in the UK and is distributed on a global basis.
Ruth set up StairSteady Ltd in 2008 whilst studying for her A-Levels and now runs the company on a full time basis.
In addition to her Stairsteady work, Ruth talks to schools on a regular basis in order to encourage and promote enterprise and engineering on the curriculum. She is passionate about education and is an ambassador for STEM (www.stemnet.org.uk), CragRats (www.cragrats.com) and Make Your Mark - as well as being part of the Bloodhound SSC ambassador scheme.
Her list of achievements and accolades is testament to her skills and enthusiasm for her work; she was a runner up in Young Entrepreneurs (2006), a winner in Derbyshire Young Achievers 2006 and a finalist at the 2008 Intel Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta where she represented the UK in mechanical engineering.
In 2006 she was an invited speaker at the Institute of Electrical Engineers national conference where she presented alongside Sir Robin Saxby- Chairman of ARM holdings
In 2009 Ruth became the youngest person ever to have appeared on Management Today’s ’35 women under 35’ list. In the same year she won Women of the Future’s Young Star Award and, in 2010, Ruth was recognised as a ‘Woman of Achievement’ by the Women of the Year Foundation.
Between 2008 and 2011, Ruth recorded case study videos for the HMRC “Start Up Diaries” series to aid and encourage people to start their own businesses.
Ruth is managed by Nick Canham; ncanham@thersp.com
LUCY Johnston
Lucy is a cultural trends commentator and curator of creative talent, with a 12-year career background in global consumer trend analysis, brand strategy and journalism.
Lucy began her career in design/arts journalism and PR, before spending 8 years as executive editor of the Global Innovation Report, building a start-up publication into one of the world’s leading B2B global commercial trends publications. She spent much of that time travelling the world – from Europe and the US to Brazil, India, Japan and China – documenting worldwide innovation and consumer culture, delivering trend briefings and conference speeches, and working closely with the CEOs, CMOs and creative directors of brands including Virgin Atlantic, Starwood Hotels, Apple, Nike, Sony, LVMH, British Airways, L’Oreal, Richemont, Coca-Cola, Levi’s, Unilever and P&G.
Lucy founded curation studio The Neon Birdcage in 2009, to promote cultural innovation and investment in young talent across the commercial industries. Acting as a platform to bring together a wide collective of innovators and creative thinkers, The Neon Birdcage facilitates social-cultural initiatives and content creation for clients including Levi’s, Ford, Coca-Cola, Apple, Google, Department for Culture Media & Sport and the British Council.
Lucy is particularly interested in studying the sub-cultural origins of global consumer trends, and her ongoing consultancy work for brands includes providing insights and strategic steering across product development, digital evolution, brand positioning and campaigns.
Her latest production is BrightYoungBrits – an independent initiative that celebrates emerging UK creative talent – across disciplines including fashion, film, digital, written word, visual arts and performance – and looks to champion creative career opportunities for young people in a market where less will opt for higher education. This model is also being explored for the young Chinese creative economy.
Lucy writes regularly for the international industry press on global cultural/commercial trends; and is exploring a book concept around ‘the social and cultural trends that have influenced British consumer culture’. She will deliver a Four Thought talk for BBC Radio 4 later this year.
Additionally, for 10 years she has written regularly for the press on a variety of theatre/arts topics, including delivering over 100 feature interviews with leading actors, performers, directors and playwrights, including Derek Jacobi, Jane McDonald and Sir Alan Ayckbourn.
Lucy sits on the UK Superbrands judging council, is a Fellow of the RSA, is a new London partner for the InfluencerCon global network, a media ambassador for Courvoisier The Future 500, and was featured as a ‘one to watch’ in the Observer magazine.
Lucy is managed by Nick Canham; ncanham@thersp.com
AUSTIN Healey
Austin Healey (born on 26 October 1973) is one of the most highly regarded English rugby players in the modern era. Austin, who also played full-back for Leicester Tigers (with whom he won 2 European Cups), won 51 caps for England and toured with the Lions in 1997 and 2001.
Since retiring from playing rugby, Austin first worked as a successful banker for Credit Suisse and has since become a popular presenter on television and radio.
In 2008 Austin partnered with Erin Boag on Strictly Come Dancing, where he gained huge praise from the judges for his dancing skills and huge love from the women for his see-through shirts. In Austin’s first show head judge Len Goodman said “That was the best first dance for a man I have ever seen”
In February 2009, Austin took on the challenge of turning around the fortunes of 5 struggling rugby clubs as part of the ground-breaking, ad funded programme; The Big Tackle for ITV. Austin brokered the deal with o2 and hosted the show using all the experience he had gained from his prolific rugby career.
In June 2009 it was announced that Austin Healey was joining the primetime Saturday night BBC1 entertainment show Hole in the Wall; a series that regularly exceeded 6 million viewers. The show cemented Austin as one of the nations most charismatic sportsmen.
Austin put his dancing shoes back on and took to the road in 2010 as part of part of the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour wowing audiences in arenas across the country and winning over 30 of the of the 45 shows.
When ESPN won the broadcast rights to the Aviva Premiership Rugby in the autumn of 2010, they immediately signed up Austin to be their lead-analyst on live matches as well as presenting the highlights shows. In addition, he became the lead presenter for o2’s Inside Line and is a regular columnist for The Daily Telegraph on all matters rugby.
It was announced in the spring of 2013 that Austin will become one of the lead rugby presenters on BT Sport, the new sports channels launching on August 1st. He will work alongside other rugby greats fronting coverage of the Aviva Premiership, Top 14, JP Morgan 7’s and a myriad of other programming.
Austin lives in Leicestershire with his wife Louise and four daughters. He is managed by Nick Canham; ncanham@thersp.com
DI Dougherty
Di is a hugely experienced and accomplished live television presenter.
Having grown up in a sporting family she started her career as a runner at Sky, soon moving on to become a sub editor writing scripts and presenting bulletins on their website. Di’s natural talent in front of the camera was spotted and it wasn’t long before she was presenting Sky Sports News.
Her career then took off and she was quickly anchoring major events for Sky Sports including the Masters from Augusta (with Colin Montgomerie), and the Ryder Cup – the latter of which was broadcast in over forty different countries.
Through her bubbly personality and ambition she has made her mark on what is predominantly a man’s world. Not only does she enjoy presenting golf she loves playing and currently has a handicap of 10 and has worked with and interviewed big golf fans including Samuel L Jackson, Hugh Grant, Luke Wilson, Vladimir Klitschko, Ant & Dec and Bruce Forsyth.
Not only content with sports Di has presented More Big Ideas for Sky One, the invention show that called on the public to display their inventions and gadgets. More recently she has been seen fronting live reports for Five’s ‘Live with Gabby’, working as a panellist on ‘The Wright Stuff’ and co-hosting Sky One’s ‘The People’s Rainforest’ alongside Richard Bacon.
The diversity of her TV career has translated into the ability to adapt to any situation and she is a popular choice across the board for business, sporting and entertainment events. Whether it’s a corporate conference, evening function, awards ceremony or golf day, Di provides an ideal mix of style and professionalism. Her credits include:
• European Tour Wentworth 2010 and 2011 Dinners. Interviewing Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and others.
• Co hosting the Motor Transport Awards with Rory Bremner.
• Co hosting the Champions League Final with Alan Hansen.
• Interviewing Laurence Dallaglio, Sean Fitzpatrick and Jason Leonard at Twickenham for The ‘Green Room’ corporate hospitality
• Presenting the EA Sports invitational Golf day with the England football team to name a few.
Diana has also recently been announced as the ambassador for Lynx Golf as they re-launch their range of golf equipment and apparel in the UK.
Please contact Nick Canham: ncanham@thersp.com
ANGELLICA Bell
Angellica is currently a regular reporter for ‘THE ONE SHOW’ (BBC1 7pm) the flagship daily topical show for the channel which regularly attracts viewing figures of 5 million. She has been part of ‘The One Show’ family since it began in 2005.
Her career started in 2000 at Children’s BBC and her progression from children’s TV presenter to adult factual and entertainment programming has been successful and seamless. Her intelligent and warm presenting style has given her BAFTA recognition when she was nominated for two consecutive years in the Best Children’s Presenter Award category. She also won the Best Presenter Award at the Screen Nation Awards.
2011 was an incredibly busy year for Angellica. As well as fulfilling her One Show filming commitments up and down the country, she was away for a month filming ‘71 DEGREES NORTH’ as one of the contestants in Norway. It was a hard but fulfilling challenge for her and was a chance of a lifetime. Despite being physically weaker than a lot of her rivals on the show, Angellica battled through to the final where she was narrowly beaten, after some controversy, in to 2nd place.
Since then she has appeared on ‘THE WRIGHT STUFF’ (Channel 5 - regular panellist), ‘DAYBREAK’ (ITV1), ‘GARDEN ER’ (Channel 5) and ‘BORN TO SHINE’ (ITV1) where she tap danced live on television with her husband, Michael Underwood, for the charity, Save the Children.
In December 2011, Angellica gave birth to her first child - Elijah. She now writes a weekly column for the Surrey Comet on her life as a new, working mum.
The last few years have also been busy. She launched ‘THE ZONE’ (ITV1 2010) and presented ‘THE BRITISH SOAP AWARDS AFTER PARTY’ (ITV2 2009 and 2010) both co-hosted with her husband Michael. She was also guest presenter on the hit BBC2 show ‘SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND’ (BBC2 2010).
‘THE GREAT BRITISH VILLAGE SHOW’ (BBC1) was another prime time show Angellica fronted alongside Alan Titchmarsh and James Martin. The show celebrated rural Britain and the final episode was filmed at Highgrove with huge involvement from HRH Prince Charles.
Angellica has travelled the world extensively as presenter of the primetime travel shows ‘DEPARTURE LOUNGE’ (Nick Knowles/Simon Calder) and ‘HOLIDAY HITSQUAD’ (Nick Knowles) both for BBC1 and also fronted ‘CELEBAIR’ (ITV2).
Other shows she has hosted include ‘DANCE XTRA’ (BBC3 Rufus Hound) the spin off show to Dance X for BBC1 where she had to manage the tears and tantrums of competing dance groups as they endured a public vote every week. She fronted ‘EASTENDERS EXTRA’ for BBC3 where she brought us an insight to behind the scenes action and gossip of Albert Square and in 2007 sang her heart out for charity in ‘COMIC RELIEF DOES FAME ACADEMY’ on BBC1.
RADIO
Angellica has had the opportunity to transfer her skills to radio. She presented ‘MAKING TRACKS’ for Radio 3 - an alternative music show for young people which also included fronting live musical concerts around the country with various BBC Orchestras and she also covered regularly for Ben Shepherd on Heat Radio on a show called ‘HOT OR NOT’ where she interviewed celebs, talked fashion and reviewed TV shows.
CHILDRENS TV CAREER
Angellica was the face of CBBC for 6 and a half years leaving officially on 1st December 2006. She presented high profile shows such as ‘THE SATURDAY SHOW’ ‘SHORT CHANGE’ ‘50/50’ as well as regular appearances on ‘BLUE PETER’. After leaving she was asked to present a half hour special called ‘ANGELLICA TIME TRAVELLER’ which looked at the abolition of the slave trade.
Angellica looks back on her early presenting career with CBBC fondly and therefore in 2008 returned to present ‘ELECTION’ with Jonathan Dimbleby, a political show for young people that went on to win a Children’s Bafta in 2009. The show then returned the next year with Angellica for a one off special called ‘THE ELECTION DEBATE’ with Andrew Neil where young people interviewed a representative from each of the leading political parties.
In 2010 she was also asked to present ‘PROJECT PARENT’ for CBBC, where children nominate their single parent for a makeover and choose a suitable date for a special night out.
Angellica is a versatile and intelligent presenter with a host of experience across several genres of television. Her professionalism and ability to make the difficult look both fun and easy has made her one of the country’s most sought after presenters.
Please contact Nick Canham: ncanham@thersp.com
MICHAEL Underwood
Few presenters can boast a CV quite like Michael Underwood. But then, few presenters can truly claim to have worked their way up from the very bottom with nothing but raw talent to propel them.
Whilst his days as a researcher at BBC Radio Northampton are long behind him now, over ten years of experience are always apparent whether Michael’s interviewing Hollywood superstars, hosting national awards ceremonies or presenting among the buzz of a live show or red-carpet event.
Even as a youngster, Michael’s love for TV was evident, when he appeared as a team captain on the first ever children’s special of The Crystal Maze. But while his roles may have changed, Michael’s love affair with the television industry still continues. After three years spent honing his skills working on live television providing the links, games and entertainment between the programmes on CBBC, Michael was poached by CITV where he went on to present four series of the hugely popular JUNGLE RUN, ELIMINATOR and THE BIG BANG before joining ITV’s flagship Saturday morning show, MINISTRY OF MAYHEM.
After showcasing his skills on CITV interviewing A-list stars including Will Smith and Tom Hanks, it became clear Michael was more than ready to make the step up to adult programming. He was instantly snapped up by GMTV and given the role of showbiz reporter and co-presenter of ENTERTAINMENT TODAY, leading him to three years of major showbiz events and huge celebrity interviews on both sides of the Atlantic.
More worldwide travel soon followed, as Michael was sent to Australia to cover I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, before returning to host the NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS, NATIONAL MOVIE AWARDS and the BRITISH SOAP AWARDS for ITV2. Perhaps Michael’s biggest talent is his ability to turn his hand to any job that’s thrown his way. Whether he’s dressed in a sharply-tailored suit presenting award shows; donning shorts to head into the Australian jungle or interviewing stars like Tom Cruise and Jennifer Lopez, Michael is at home in front of a camera.
His love for live television continues with frequent appearances on DAYBREAK, THIS MORNING and THE ALAN TITCHMARSH SHOW. He has also presented ITV’s BINGO NIGHT LIVE; a live interactive entertainment show, several film specials including AVATAR and THE X FILES, as well as Channel 5’s OK!TV and CELEBRITY WISH LIST!
In the autumn of 2012 Michael made it to the Grand Final of CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF after weeks of wowing the judges (as well as the British public) with his amazing culinary skills. Hot on the heels of gruelling weeks in the kitchen he turned his hand to MASTERMIND with his chosen specialist subject of ‘James Bond, the Roger Moore Years’.
But off-camera, too, his talents are endless. A huge movie and gaming fan, Michael launched his own Movie Blog in 2011, a site which snowballed in popularity, with fans clamouring for the chance to read his thoughts on the film industry and latest releases. He used his computing skills to help design and develop his new official website, which went live Summer 2011 and the same year also saw him host and judge the BAFTA Game award’s Game of the Year.
In 2012 he joined TalkSport as their resident gaming expert – a role which continues every Wednesday as part of the Hawksbee & Jacobs show.
In the spring of 2013 Michael became the new Breakfast Show host on Heart 96.7 on the South Coast. This hugely exciting leap back in to radio is an opportunity for Michael to showcase his infectious personality. There are very few people more ‘happy’ in the mornings and, already, the listeners are responding brilliantly to his enthusiasm and sense of humour.
When it comes to hobbies, Michael is a massive gadget fan and makes a point of researching on the internet to find the best tech (and prices) available, whether it’s a smartphone, TV or sat-nav system. He has reviewed tech for a number of publications and hosted a £50K gadget competition for GMTV.
A keen swimmer, Michael also indulged his love of sports by appearing on Dancing On Ice in 2008, a stint cruelly cut short by a broken ankle after just three rounds. In 2010, Michael tied the knot with fellow TV presenter Angellica Bell in New York. The couple announced the birth of their first child, Elijah, in December 2011. Michael & Angellica have recently announced that they are expecting their second child – perfect fodder for his regular blog on the Mama’s & Papa’s website.
Please contact Nick Canham: ncanham@richstonepart.co.uk
TONY Blackburn
Born in Guildford, Surrey in 1943, Tony was educated at Millfield Public School in Somerset, and Bournemouth College. The son of a doctor in Lilliput near Poole, Dorset, he made his first public appearance with the Ian Ralfini Dance Orchestra at the Bournemouth Pavilion while at College, and later appeared with various bands in hotels.
Having finished his education, Tony read in the music press that disc jockeys were wanted by a pirate radio station. He applied, got the job, and made his first radio appearance on 28th July 1964 on Radio Caroline South. In 1966, he joined Radio London and introduced the first ever soul programme in the UK.
Tony joined the BBC Light Programme in August 1967 and made his first broadcast on the “Midday Spin” programme. When BBC Radio One commenced broadcasting on 30th September 1967, Tony presented the daily Breakfast Show, and was the first disc jockey on the new network. He hosted the Breakfast Show until 1974 when he took over the morning show for several years, followed by Junior Choice. He remained with Radio One until 1984.
Tony then spent some time at BBC London where his soul programme and consequent weekly club nights called ‘Soul Nights’ became so popular it eventually took over Capital’s ‘Best Disco In Town Nights’. 6000 people were regularly turning up including Stevie Wonder on one occasion who wanted to thank Tony for introducing the UK to soul music. It could be said that Tony commercialised soul music and in the process reinvented BBC Radio London.
He left BBC London in 1988, to join Capital Radio on 2nd July to launch their new Capital Gold station where he presented his soul shows until December 2002. He subsequently presented Soul shows on Jazz, Smooth and the Real Radio Network before moving to the Classic Gold Network in 2003 to front the Breakfast show which he hosted until 2007.
He joined the Smooth weekend breakfast show in 2008 and added shows to his repertoire on KCFM in Hull and KMFM across Kent.
In November 2010 he took over the reigns on Radio 2’s legendary programme ‘Pick of the Pops’ following its two previous long-serving hosts, Alan Freeman and Dale Winton.
He continues to present a Sunday soul show on BBC London 94.9 and can now be heard on the Magic network across the north of England.
Tony is a legend of the airwaves and has become a household name through his DJ-ing, TV Shows, and he inspired the cult of the radio DJ. His passion for Soul music has been the main underlying factor in most of his shows.
Tony has thirty-six awards to his name including, in 1989, the Gold Award for Outstanding Contribution to Radio. He was also awarded the Best Breakfast Show (Contemporary Music) by Sony Radio Awards in 1993 and The Radio Academy Music and Media Award for outstanding contribution to Music and Radio in 1997.
Tony also co-presented ITV’s prime-time show “Animals Do the Funniest Things” which attracted over 7 million viewers on its last showing. Tony has made numerous other television appearances over the years, including the hosting of his own show “Time For Blackburn” in 1969. He is well remembered for presenting BBC’s world famous “Top Of The Pops” from the late 1960’s to throughout the 1970’s. He continues to make regular guest appearances on a wide range of television shows; in 2002 he was crowned ‘King of the Jungle’ in the first ever series of ITV1’s ‘I’m a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here’ and in 2012 he and his dancing partner, david Hamilton, were cruelly robbed by the judges on Let’s Dance…for Sport Relief.
Please contact Nick Canham NCanham@richstonepart.co.uk
NICKI Waterman
Nicki Waterman is one of the country’s most high-profile and highly-respected fitness experts.
She is a regular on television and in the national press including her weekly column for The Sun and monthly columns for Healthy Magazine and Spa World.
In addition, Nicki is a regular contributor to Grazia, Sainsburys Magazine, Health and Fitness, Zest, Top Sante, Womans Own, Cosmopolitan & Cosmo Bride, Marie Claire, Red, Now, Reveal, Closer and Harpers and Queen.
She has been the spokeswoman for some of the leading brands in the world including Kellogg’s, Lucozade, Neuro Drinks, Activia, Yakult and Asics and is in great demand for her opinions on the latest fitness and well-being products.
She is the author of numerous bestselling books including “Fight Fat, Fight Fatigue”, “Energy Makeover”, “The Work Book”, “The Sugar Addicts Diet” and “Nicki Waterman’s Flat Stomach Plan” all of which were published by Harper Collins. In 2012 she worked with Gino D’aCampo on his latest bestseller ‘La Dolce Diet’ and in 2013 is embarking on a major project with one of the leading diet plans in the world.
Nicki is one of the highest grossing fitness DVD personalities in the UK. Her groundbreaking ‘Your Personal Trainer’ product sold in excess of 200,000 copies. She then became the fitness consultant and choreographer for the Strictly Come Dancersize DVDs with, in year 1, Erin Boag and Karen Hardy and, year 2, Kelly Brook and Flavia Cacace. The 2008 release sold over 250,000 copies - by far the biggest selling fitness product of the year.
In addition to numerous appearances on ITV’s GMTV, Daybreak and Lorraine, she frequently contributes to LIVING’s ‘Britain’s Next Top Model’, and makes regular appearances on many health and fitness programmes across all of the major UK broadcasters.
She holds Fitness For Industry, ACE (American Council of Exercise) and Focus Training advanced certificates and is an accredited YMCA Personal Trainer. Her clients have included Rachel Hunter, Kelly Brook, Andy Gray, Robbie Williams; Mel C; All Saints Nicki & Natalie Appleton, Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis; Alison Moyet and Denise Van Outen.
Nicki commenced personal training in 1988 and formed her own company - Physical Attraction - in 1990. She was responsible for instigating personal training in the David Lloyd Health Clubs and was in charge of setting up and managing all gyms across the group until the Whitbread takeover, shortly after which she chose to leave and pursue her interests in the media.
Outside of the fitness world, Nicki is a very accomplished property developer with many successful renovations to her name.
Please contact Nick Canham on NCanham@richstonepart.co.uk
LIZ Fraser
After studying experimental psychology at Clare College, Cambridge, Liz started her career in television, making and presenting science programmes. She then moved on to present for BBC1’s Holiday and the Channel 4 science series The Virtual Body, before deciding to take a break and raise her three young children.
Somewhat bored at home and realising there was a gaping hole in the parenting market for a funny, honest book about motherhood, she wrote The Yummy Mummy’s Survival Guide in 2006. It was an instant Sunday Times bestseller, now selling internationally. This was followed by two further bestselling, humorous books about raising children the non-cotton wool, common sense way.
She is currently writing her fourth book, “How To Screw Up Your Kids.”
- the ultimate anti parenting book.
Liz writes regularly for many publications including Red, SHE, Grazia and FeMail. She appears frequently on television and radio as a parenting expert for BBC Breakfast, ITV1’s Daybreak, This Morning, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio London and many others and she regularly presents The Afternoon Show for BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
For all enquiries please contact Nick Canham: NCanham@richstonepart.co.uk
BamBam
Bam Bam is one of the most creative, award winning radio presenters in the UK. On top of that, he consistently delivers audience growth.
As host of the multi-Sony Gold winning ‘Bam Bam Breakfast Show’ on Kiss 100 he won & held market lead amongst 15-24 year olds in London for 7 years, and was number one 15-34 on exit.
In his first 9 months on his Capital FM (London) evening show the audience increased by over 50%.
He recently boosted audience to his new JACK fm breakfast show by 52% (that, in the first 6 months)
Not to mention hitting his year three target in the first sweep at the birth of Kiss 105 Yorkshire, or gaining the biggest figures for mid mornings in Atlantic 252’s history.
But, if you don’t care for the numbers, maybe the awards will impress.
Beating down the Radio 1 breakfast show in 2000 to win the Sony Gold, Bam was nominated in best breakfast five years running. He’s won further gold & silvers, and has a New York to his name.
He’s a cre@tive-bastard.com as well, having devised the format for Faceless (a radio concept so disruptive that it attracted front page attention from the national press & NBC flew a reporter in from New York).
That email address up there works by the way. See what we mean?
Bam also created TV format ‘In Your Face’ which ran on Bravo for two series.
Please contact Nick Canham: ncanham@richstonepart.co.uk
SANDI Toksvig
Sandi Toksvig was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and brought up around the world in Europe, Africa and the United States. She began her comedy career at Girton College, Cambridge where she found time to write and perform in the first all-woman show at the Footlights as well as achieve a first class degree.
Sandi is well known to UK audiences as a broadcaster having begun her career in children’s television playing Ethel in the long running Saturday morning show Number 73. Since then her television career has included celebrated series such as Call My Bluff (as regular team captain) Whose Line Is It Anyway? and most recently host of Antiques Master for BBC2 and 1001 Things You Should Know for Channel 4. She is about to play Emmeline Pankhurst in a new drama for BBC 4. Sandi is also a familiar voice for BBC Radio 4 listeners as the chair of The News Quiz. She was recently inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.
Sandi is passionate about live performance. She performed at the very first night of The Comedy Store in London and for many years was a member of The Comedy Store Players, an improvisational comedy team. For two years she was the executive producer of Playhouse Live for Sky Arts, producing specially commissioned live drama for television and last year Executive Produced six new half hour films (one of which she wrote) produced by Sprout Pictures which she co-owns with Stephen Fry and Gina Carter.
Much of Sandi’s time is devoted to writing. Last year she published a new novel entitled Valentine Grey and a light-hearted book of women’s history, Heroines and Harridans. She has more than twenty fiction and non-fiction books for children and adults to her credit. She has just completed a book on manners which will be published in October. She has written a monthly column for Good Housekeeping magazine for more years than she can remember. For the theatre Sandi co-authored the musical Big Night Out at the Little Palace Theatre (with Dillie Keane), the Shakespeare deconstruction, The Pocket Dream (with Elly Brewer) which transferred to the West End and Charity Begins for Playhouse Live. Her latest play Bully Boy starring Anthony Andrews was the opening production at the new St James’ Theatre in London last September.
Sandi is Chancellor of Portsmouth University.
RHYDIAN Roberts
Rhydian is a classically trained baritone, crossover artist, actor and television presenter who has sold in excess of one millions records worldwide.
He was the runaway star of ITV’s The X Factor showcasing his incredible vocal range with show stopping performances including a full theatrical account of ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ to putting a classical spin on Pink’s ‘Get The Party Started’ to reducing the judges to tears with his version of ‘Somewhere’. Dueting with Katherine Jenkins in the final he became the audience favourite, and, despite being runner up Simon Cowell swiftly signed him to Sony BMG the very next day.
His debut eponymous album was released to critical acclaim and proving his ever growing popularity became the highest selling album by a male newcomer going platinum in the UK alone and selling in excess of 700,000 copies.
In the same year he entertained an audience of over 30,000 at Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 60th Birthday Party in London’s Hyde Park and HRH Prince Charles invited him to become an ambassador of The Prince’s Trust. Off the back of his growing success Rhydian embarked on a 27-date sell out UK solo tour, proving his versatility as a vocalist and performer and proving the perfect platform to showcase eagerly anticipated tracks from his second album.
His second album ‘O Fortuna’ continued his success by being certified gold in the UK within 2 months of it’s release and included collaborations with Kiri Te Kanawa and Bryn Terfel. The album was met with astounding reviews and was nominated for Best Album at The Classical Brit Awards 2010.
In the same year, Rhydian’s career broadened to incorporate musical theatre when he starred as Parson Nathaniel in the sell out production of Jeff Wayne’s eagerly awaited ‘War Of The Worlds’.
Rhydian starred in three galas at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Two of them were classical - the Classic FM Live concert and the Classical Brits Awards - and the third, Classic Response, for charity. In addition, he performed as a special guest performer in Hayley Westenra’s Christmas Wishes at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and in Christmas concerts at the Barbican Hall and the O2 Arena, London. He performed a sell out 2011 Christmas special at Bath Forum and performed at the Opening Ceremony for the Ryder Cup.
His third album ‘Waves’ was released in 2011 and was a risky departure from his pop opera roots and saw him move into synth heavy 80’s inspired pop music covering much loved 80’s hits along with original songs. The risk paid off and he was met again with critical acclaim.
Continuing in his quest to diversify he went on to appear as Khashoggi in the smash hit musical ‘We Will Rock You’ in it’s UK tour, and took the role of Teen Angel in the musical ‘Grease’.
Rhydian has performed at almost every arena and concert venue around the UK with some of the world’s biggest artists including the Stereophonics, Sugababes, Charlotte Church, Celine Dion, Bryn Terfel, Girls Aloud, Michael Buble and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
For the BBC Rhydian has guest presented ‘Songs Of Praise’ and for S4C he fronted a one off special of ‘A Night With…’ which was followed by a documentary charting his rise as a performer titled ‘Rhydian, One Year On’. In late 2011, Rhydian fronted an eight-part television entertainment series for S4C, featuring, among its guest stars, Hayley Westenra and Claire Jones which tied in with the release of his fourth studio album ‘Welsh Songs: Caneuon Cymraeg’ containing covers of classic Welsh songs, as well as his own original compositions.
Follow Rhydian on twitter; @RhydianMusic
or on his website; www.rhydianroberts.com
PHIL Clifton
When Phil moved to London he submitted a demo to radio station Xfm, where he was given his first presenting gig, hosting the Early Breakfast Show across the network. After just a few short months he was nominated for the prestigious Sony Rising Star Award and quickly promoted to the Weekend Breakfast slot. During his time at Xfm, Phil also produced shows for the likes of Danny Wallace, Rick Edwards and Dave Berry while providing presenting cover for various slots across the schedule.
He was quickly picked up by MTV to host their chart content and present across MTV programming. His regular gig, The Official Rock Chart, became a constant ratings smash and Phil continues hosting various shows across the MTV Europe Network.
In the summer of 2010 Phil hosted the ‘Backstage Show’ for Channel 5’s Don’t Stop Believing and by September was asked to join the presenting team for Channel 4’s popular morning music show Freshly Squeezed, together with Jameela Jamil, Matt Edmondson and Georgie Okell.
Phil featured in the Red Pages’ Hot 100 to Look Out For list which predicts the up and coming names in the world of fashion, music, TV, film, politics, sport and society.
Along with presenting, and his background in producing, Phil DJ’s regularly and is repeatedly booked to hosts live events. His talents do not end there and he has been known to write for the productions he has worked on also does the odd bit of acting.
In 2012 Phil was announced as the host of all of the official online and radio content for The BRIT Awards. He then went on to host the L’Oreal Colour Trophy Hairdressing Awards, before being announced as the new host of Friday nights across the Xfm Network.
JAMIE Howard
My name is Jamie Howard and I am 24 Years of age (at the time of writing) I have been doing stand up comedy for 3 years. I have appeared on 1xtra with Tim Westwood, Sarah-Jane Crawford and Twin B and I was a Semi-Finalist in FHM’s ‘New Stand-Up of The Year’ competition (whoop whoop). I have since gone on to form a tight bond with ‘Highlights’ Comedy Chain and ‘Jongleurs’ performing in their venues up and down the country. I run and host my own monthly comedy show in London called Laughing Boy. (www.laughing-boy.com)
I have worked ‘Coming of Age’ and ‘The Jason Lewis Experience’ for BBC3, as well as being in a new feature film called ‘The Kid’ and have just finished working with Kswiss to present their new show ‘Gonzo Fit’.... Where some fit men (Men that work out, not phwaarrr, fit men) teach me tips and tricks on how to get fit, and beat me up whilst people film it. (www.gonzoworld.com)
I like making funny Facebook status’ and tweeeeting. (twitter.com/jamiehowardhaha) I like to moan about things that don’t make sense and always want to phone LBC to give my opinion on things but never find the courage. I love doing a job I enjoy and pretending I will be on time for things. I like eating bagels on Brick Lane at 2am and pretending i’m a little bit urban. I love going to watch live music (providing its music I like) and I have a real passion for stand-up comedy.
I want to be famous for not being on Big Brother, and I want to change everyones opinions about Smart Cars for the better.
I have a video camera and a few off my videos have made it on to youtube. (casper118118) I also have 65 unreturned pokes on facebook.
I mainly listen to songs that are on my ipod, but sometimes I listen to the radio….....
I also look look forward to taking over South West London and beyond.
Indy Selvarajah
Indy studied at the Bartlett School, UCL before embarking into the visual art world. He has shown work at The Whitney Museum of Modern Art in NY, The Serpentine, Tate, Barbican and ICA.
In 2008 Indy was commissioned by Channel 4 to write and create the comedy show ‘Aint it Funny Being Coloured?’ which won a Broadcast award for comedy and was a Guardian Top 50 show of the year.
He and his writing partner, Sean Cook (Spooks) are currently developing shows for C4 and the BBC.
Indy has created campaigns for Amnesty, Red Cross, Nike and Cancer UK.
Quotes
“he doesn’t think like other people and yet the work is inclusive and daring and smart and very funny. A wonderfully skewed look at the world”
John Landis (Film Director)
“He’s a very fresh voice, both in the world of comedy and the world of racial issues. He has the ability to talk about issues of identity without it becoming polemic, and that runs through all his writing.”
Charlie Brooker (TV Broadcaster / writer)
press for Aint it Funny Being Coloured
Top 50 Must see shows of 2008 – Guardian
Pick of the Week – Times
Pick of the Day – Independent & Time Out
**** - Metro NY
To order any of Indy Selvarajah CDs Click Here
Jim Tavaré
Jim Tavaré is an internationally acclaimed actor and comedian with a highly distinguished career. Jim co-wrote and starred in ITV’s ‘The Sketch Show’, which won a BAFTA and syndicated worldwide. To date, ʻThe Sketch Showʼ has been remade for audiences in seven different countries.
He wrote and starred in six highly acclaimed short silent films for BBC2 called ‘Jim Tavaré Pictures Presents’. This was followed by his own comedy sketch series ‘The Jim Tavaré Show’, a thirteen part series co-written with Ricky Gervais, who also starred.
Following three appearances on The Royal Variety Performance, Jim performed at several private functions for the British Royal Family, including a private Christmas party for HRH Prince Charles and a Gala held at Highgrove in front of Her Majesty the Queen and thirteen Crowned Heads of State. Jim Tavaré is renowned for being Prince Charles favourite comedian.
His success as a stand-up comedian has spread to the United States. He was the winner of ʻInternational Starsearchʼ (USA), had an episode of NBC’s ‘Wings’ written around his act. He also holds the distinction of being the only international act ever to reach the final of NBC’s ʻLast Comic Standingʼ. As a finalist, he embarked on a 63 date national US tour with NBC as part of the ʻLast Comic Standing World Tourʼ.
Jim Tavaré‘s film debut came in 2004 when he played Tom the Innkeeper in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’. He has since made several US film and television appearances, including landing a recurring role on Showtime’s ‘Californication’ alongside David Duchovny.
Ian Moore
Almost single-handedly leading the resurgence of all things mod, comedian Ian Moore has achieved great success on the London and National circuits and is a regular headliner at London’s famous Comedy Store.
Ian’s laconic observations on life, from the problems of using the wrong vocabulary in a German Pizza Hut to an almost pathological hatred of most forms of physical exertion, have proved hugely successful with live audiences all over the world from Australia to China, and the Phillipines to the Middle East. He hasn’t performed in South America, but feels no reason why they wouldn’t love him there too.
Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival where he appeared with Catherine Tate, Ian was one of only seven British comics selected to appear at the pinnacle of all comedy festivals - Montreal’s Just for Laughs. Alongside the likes of Jimmy Carr, Ian performed in the sellout Britcom showcase proving to be such a success he subsequently went on to headline the Worldcom show at the festival’s finale.
Ian was also, briefly, the warm up comic for the BBC’s ‘Friday Night with Jonathon Ross’ show, until the DAVID BOWIE incident, of which the less said the better. Ian has headlined at The Reading and Leeds music festivals, but he is too well dressed to consider appearing at Glastonbury
JAMES Allenby-Kirk
At the ripe old age of 23 James is already a veteran on the comedy scene, he started his first sketch group age 16 called All The Milkman’s Children, who went on to win the BBC Radio Scotland New Comedy Talent Award 2004. At the Edinburgh Festival in 2006 they performed a one off hour show that was recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland. James is now one third of award winning comedy troupe How Do I Get Up There and is also a stand up comedian.
As a stand up James won the 2010 “So You Think Your Funny” award and he was nominated for Best New Comedian at the Scottish Variety Awards 2011. In July James will be heading over to Montreal for the Just for Laughs festival. Over the Summer James can be seen at the Edinburgh Festival doing 15 days with two other up and coming Scottish comedians at Bannermans as part of the PBH free fringe.
James’s acting credits have seen him appear in Rab C Nesbit, Gary: Tank Commander and The Ushers at The Tron Theartre. James has also written for The Ellis and Clarke Show for BBC Radio Scotland.
Annabel Giles
Annabel Giles started her working life as a secretary in advertising, but was turned into a model by make-up artist Barbara Daly. She became the only British model under contract to a major make-up house, Max Factor.
She then moved into TV and radio presenting, making her name with Sarah Greene on ‘Posh Frocks and New Trousers’. She also presented on ‘Night Network’, ‘Hit the Road’, ‘Help Squad’ and “Bob Monkhouse’s Memory Masters’, and was a regular panellist on many gameshows. She is the only celebrity ever to have guessed her Noel Edmonds ‘Gotcha!’. She also appeared in the tv drama version of Jilly Cooper’s ‘Riders’, and has starred in a couple of pantomimes too.
A regular on ‘Loose Ends’ for some years, Annabel wrote and performed a one-woman show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which also went to the Adelaide Comedy Festival.
After the birth of her son, she wrote three novels, published by Penguin, and a potential comedy drama series for television, ‘Poppy and Prue.’ She then stopped work to focus on her son’s special needs, but has recently begun compering comedy gigs, and is due to take up where she left off at the Brighton Fringe Festival 2011 [and possibly Edinburgh too], with her new show ‘Annabel Giles Talks Too Much.’
She has a grown-up daughter, Molly, and lives with in Brighton with her son Ted and a one-eyed pug called Godfrey.
Catch a clip of Annabel chatting about her new show and generally being hilarious on The Wright Stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iTzpt8sWKo
Watch another clip of Annabel being fabulous here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBPT978QbG8
Susan Calman
“Glasgow-born comic Calman is a dead-cert-one-to-watch; she’s got an infectious bubbly manner but a caustic edge too, and both can yield comedy gold”
Susan Calman used to be a corporate lawyer but in 2006 she decided to give it all up to be a comedian. She reached the semi-finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards and ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ and was a finalist in the prestigious ‘Funny Women’ competition in 2006. She ‘Best New Comedian’ at The Real Radio Scottish Variety Awards and Best MC at the Chortle awards in 2012.
In 2007 Susan was cast in ‘Ugly Kid’, a sketch show which was a sell-out at the Edinburgh Festival and following critical acclaim, was commissioned as a pilot for Channel 4. The show was renamed ‘Blowout’ and the cast went on to be awarded a Scottish BAFTA that same year.
On Radio 4 Susan has appeared on The News Quiz, The Unbelievable Truth, Now Show, Dilemma, So Wrong it’s Right and presented Woman’s Hour. She regularly presents Macaulay and Co on Radio Scotland and has even appeared on “And the Winner is” with Matt Lucas on Radio 2.
Sometimes Susan is allowed on television and has so far acted in How Not to Live your Life”, Rab C Nesbitt, Dead Boss and Fresh Meat. She’s also appeared on Have I Got News for You, QI (which she won), Don’t Sit In The Front Row, Comedy Rocks, Show and Tell and Comedy at the Fringe.
Susan continues to gig around the country and this year performed her fourth solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Selling our every night “This Lady’s Not For Turning Either” is running for a two weeks at the prestigious Soho Theatre in London.
“Feisty Scot Calman is one of the best female comics to ever come out of the land of bagpipes and haggis. She’ll make you chuckle your pants off” – Time Out 2009
“Calman fizzed manic energy, alternating between confessional tales and playing with facts she teased out of the audience…a perfect start to a fun-filled evening” – Edinburgh Evening News
“Rarely have I observed an audience uniformly laugh so much… Not only is absolutely every person laughing, but they are falling about. And they don‟t stop for the entire hour.” – Scotsgay
“Who better to be locked away with at the end of the world than The Calminator?…Fabulous” – One4Review.com
“Calman can wring humour out of an Asda chicken and bacon bake… Sharp, warm and massively entertaining, Calman’s show is not one to miss if you take your pleasures seriously” – Chortle
Michael Caines
Michael Caines is one of Britain’s most acclaimed chefs. AA Chef’s Chef of the Year in 2007, and awarded an MBE in 2006 for services to the hospitality industry, Michael is an Operational Partner and Director of ABode Hotels and Michael Caines Restaurants, in overall charge of all food and beverage operations throughout the fast-growing group. He is also Executive Chef at Gidleigh Park, the acclaimed and prestigious country house hotel on the edge of Dartmoor where he has earned his reputation - as well as two Michelin stars - serving distinctive modern European cuisine utilising the finest local and regional produce and ingredients. Since February 2009, he has been Executive Chef at The Bath Priory, Bath, Gidleigh Park’s sister establishment.
In 2000, he founded Michael Caines Restaurants and subsequently a chance encounter with Andrew Brownsword led to the creation of ABode Hotels. Amongst numerous other recent accolades, Michael has cooked in 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister, and he took part in ‘The Great British Menu’ chef’s competition broadcast on BBC2 for the honour of cooking for the Queen’s 80th birthday.
Michael was born in Exeter in 1969 and adopted into a large and loving family. He gained his passion for food from his mother who he used to enjoy helping in the kitchen.
Michael attended Exeter Catering College where his precocious talent was already evident, earning him the accolade ‘Student of the Year’ in 1987. He subsequently spent a year and a half at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane in London, before embarking on three influential years under his mentor Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire. From here he then moved to France for a further formative period of training, honing his profession under the guidance of such superstars chefs as the late Bernard Loiseau in Saulieu and Joël Robuchon in Paris.
Michael returned to Britain in 1994 to take up the position of Head Chef at Gidleigh Park. Gidleigh’s restaurant was already rated amongst the most prestigious in the country so the position represented a massive challenge and opportunity for a young and ambitious chef. Yet, only two months into the job, Michael suffered a terrible car accident in which he lost his right arm. Remarkably, he was back in the kitchen part time within two weeks, and full-time after just four. With the support of then owners Paul and Kay Henderson and an unwavering belief in his own ability to overcome obstacles, he returned to the kitchens of Gidleigh Park more focused and determined than ever to pursue his dream of reaching the top of his profession.
In 1999 he was awarded a second Michelin star and in 2001 he won Chef of the Year at the prestigious Cateys Awards.
Underlying Michael’s philosophy is a passionate belief that good food – and yes great food – should always be inclusive not exclusive, accessible to all, at whatever level.
Isabella Price
Isabella Price is a student at Durham University, where she was awarded a Drama Scholarship (formerly known as Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship for the Arts).
She played the lead female role of “Becky” in the feature film Oscar’s Date, and recently played Phebe in the Kent Shakespeare Company’s production of As You Like It at Mount Ephraim, Faversham.
When at school, she played “Tess Durbeyfield” in Tess of the d’Urbervilles (for which she was awarded the Arabella McDonald Figurine for Best Actress of the Year), “Mia” in That Face, “Martha” in The Children’s Hour, “Adela” in The House of Bernarda Alba and “Lady Capulet” in Romeo and Juliet (for which she was awarded the Lillis Award for Outstanding Shakespearean Performance).
A-level work includes playing “Helga” in Kindertransport for which she was awarded full marks by the examiner.
Please contact David Lazenby on 020 7497 0849 or dlazenby@richstonepart.co.uk for further information
Casper Allpress
The youngest of the Allpress clan, Casper, only 6, has appeared in campaigns for Marks & Spencers, Cath Kidston, B&Q and Milk&More.
He has just completed his first film ‘THE BOY WITH CHOCOLATE FINGERS’ in the lead role of Donald for Gorgeous Productions opposite his brother Ted Allpress.
Please contact David Lazenby on 020 7497 0849 or dlazenby@richstonepart.co.uk for further information
Kate Walsh
A finalist of ‘The Apprentice’ in 2009 Kate Impressed Lord Sugar right to the end and was consistently cool under fire. Kate’s business career was set in motion at Marston’s Brewery in Burton-on-Trent, where she joined as a graduate trainee before working in marketing and operational roles acting and as a business consultant for 45 pubs and restaurants. Kate continued to ascend the corporate ladder moving to work in an account management/business development role for Starbucks.
Self-described as positive, tenacious, and confident, Kate established herself as a talented, intelligent, and proficient individual. Her highly motivated personality and sharp work ethic led her to success on series five of The Apprentice.
Although Kate Walsh didn’t win the Apprentice she was still offered a job with Lord Alan and worked with him until being offered a job on ‘Live From Studio Five’ for Channel 5
Kate was been a joint anchor from September 2009 when she took to the screen alongside Melinda Messenger and Ian Wright on ‘Live From Studio Five’. She remined the longest serving and only original presenter until joining OK!TV in 2010, presenting alongside Matt Johnson. Kate has successfully worked with a range of presenters holding her own amongst some big personalities and studio guests.
Also taking on reporting duties for the show Kate has won a number of A list celebrities over with her down to earth interviewing style including: Leonardo Dicaprio, Drew Barrymore, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lopez to name but a few.
Other TV credits include business/fashion slots for GMTV, guest appearances on Market Kitchen, BBC3 comedy panel show ‘The King is Dead’ and a one-off ‘SATC2 Movie Special’ episode filmed on location in New York with red carpet interviews in the UK.
Born in Cannock, Staffordshire, Kate was raised in the West Midlands. Her mother, a dinner lady and teaching assistant, and father, a mine worker-turned-mechanic, divorced when Kate was 16. A straight ‘A’ student, she furthered her education with the completion of a first-class honours degree in Psychology and Management from Aston Business School.
A relentless enthusiast, Kate fills her spare time with cooking classes, gym workouts, and travel. She enjoys attending social events, and enjoys a challenge - as part of ‘Live from Studio Five’ Kate has tried dance lessons, sky diving, RAF training and even wing walking.
Donna Air
Donna is an established actress and presenter, having started her career aged 10 in the hit children’s BBC drama ‘BYKER GROVE’ where she stayed for 5 years, only leaving to pursue a career in music as one half of hit girl duo ‘CRUSH’. When CRUSH parted ways, Donna took on the challenge of being the first female presenter on the original MTV series ‘MTV Select’ for the UK, presenting a daily 2 hour live music request show.
Donna proved a hit with the audiences, and further presenting roles quickly followed across the UK’s main broadcast channels including ITV’s ‘Popstars: The Rivals’ which was the show which bought us the award winning girl band Girls Aloud. She spent time ‘on the bed’ on Channel 4’s runaway hit ‘The Big Breakfast’ and even co-produced her own series for E4 titled ‘Donna In Need’.
Donna remains focused on her acting, and is one of the lucky few who has regularly crossed over between acting and presenting and has appeared in a number of hit dramas including the BBC’s adaptation of Lynda La Plante’s ‘Supply and Demand’, Paramount Films ‘Still Crazy’ and the third series of BBC’s smash hit series ‘Hotel Babylon’. Most recently she took to the west end stage here in London in the 2 hander ‘The Watcher’ which was met with critical acclaim, and appeared in Channel 4’s flagship award winning soap ‘Hollyoaks’ as the feisty Sophia.
Donna successfully divides her career between acting and presenting, as well as being a desirable brand ambassador working with a number of high profile brands. This year saw her team up with eHarmony to launch their new book and to blog her hilarious yet insightful dating stories, past and present. Taking her writing to the next level she was appointed as the new contributing features editor on the monthly glossy SHE Magazine with her own feature ‘Donna Meets…’ playing a part in their last issue.
This year her presenting work has seen her join forces with ITV1’s ‘This Morning’, Channel 5’s ‘OKTV!’, ITV2’s ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ and we are currently developing a documentary for the BBC where Donna looks into extreme beauty and the lengths people go to, to stay beautiful.
Gideon Coe
Gideon Coe has a long career in radio broadcasting. He joined GLR Breakfast Show in 1995, winning a Sony Award and went on to present various other programming, continuing when the station became London Live. He presented their evening show and won another Sony for his Saturday Sports Show.
Gideon now presents the 9pm til 12pm show on 6 Music http://www.bbc.com/6music/shows/gideon_coe/
He is also a regular contributor to Loose Ends on BBC Radio 4.
On TV, Gideon has presented VH1’s “Something for the Weekend”. In demand as a narrator, Gid has recorded Channel 5’s “Rosemary on the Road” (Wall to Wall Prods), Channel 4’s “Top Ten TV Sexbombs” and “Top Ten TV Soap Queens” (Chrysalis TV), together with documentaries for Channel 5 on John Travolta, Jean Claude Van Damme, Jackie Chan, Evel Knievel and Bruce Lee! (Chrysalis TV).
Chris Cox
Chris Cox is ‘one of the most exciting entertainers in Britain’ according to The Guardian, Time Out thinks, ‘he does tricks that would make Jesus proud… Loveable, geeky & deceptively talented,’ they’re not alone, The Times think he’s ‘stunning’ and ‘leaves other magicians scratching their heads.’ Chris agrees with all these things but also likes to think he’s far to modest to make them the first things people read about him.
He is a unique force when it comes to mind-reading entertainment. Chris already has a string of accolades under his belt including 5 Edinburgh Fringe shows, 3 UK Tours, 2 West End Shows, an extended & sell out run at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, a bloody big heap of 5 star reviews, 2 Edinburgh Fringe Awards, a 2011 Best Comedy Award, 2007/08/09/11 sell out shows, must see show listings and numerous TV and Radio appearances. All that and he’s still in his early 20s. What a busy boy.
The self proclaimed mind reader who can’t read minds is an accomplished and much loved performer, making a mongrel hybrid mix of witty chit chat, magic, psychology, body language, influencing, devilish good looks… and lying, to make you think he knows what your thinking. All this helps him to produce a highly-entertaining and very funny cutting edge show.
He’s popped up doing tricks on Radio 1, has been on your screens on The Mentalist Revealed (C5), Dick & Dom’s Funny Business (BBC 2) The Culture Show (BBC 2) and Little Howard’s Big Question (BBC 1) not only that but he was also part of the Bafta nominated team as the man who brought magic to bbc.co.uk’s Merlin. As well as writing his own shows he has written articles for Mr & Mrs Smith, The Times and Virgin Atlantic.
Ricky Gervais said Chris is, ‘Brilliant, he’ll blow your mind’ and he is never wrong. Other celebrity fans of Cox include Dannii Minogue, Kelly Osbourne, Agyness Deyn and Tim Minchin.
Chris is currently developing several mind-reading projects for TV in the US and the UK while still focusing on his critically acclaimed live work.
“Does tricks that would make Jesus proud. Lovably geeky & deceptively talented” Time Out
“Hugely entertaining” The Observer
“One of the most exciting entertainers in Britain…the hottest ticket in town” The Guardian
“Stunning…. has other magicians scratching their heads” The Times
“We are clearly in the hands of a master technician – MUST SEE!” The Stage
“He’s brilliant, he’ll blow your mind!” Ricky Gervais
Louie Spence
The dance guru, God of gays and lover of all people, with a speech impediment and enough chat to talk the leg off a chair.
Sarah Campbell
Hello internet voyager. Maybe you’ve googled me because you’re considering sleeping with me? Maybe you’re here because you’re studying me for a school project? Perhaps you’re autistic and you’ve chosen me as your ‘thing?’ In any case welcome! Here is my professional biog. Evaluate away!:
Sarah Campbell is a writer, actor and stand-up. She has organised the following by skill area (I know, you’re totally welcs):
Writing and performing: Sarah has written and appeared in sketches for BBC Comedy Online with her double act Christmas For Two (watch them here and here). She also wrote and performed in BBC3’s comedy ident. She scripted and starred in the short comic film The Bride & the Bride which was selected for the BFI’s 25th London Lesbian And Gay Film Festival.
Just writing: Sarah is currently a writer for BBC3’s Russell Howard’s Good News, and has written jokes for Have I Got News For You, ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Now, and sketches for Radio 4’s Newsjack.
In 2009 Her work beat over a thousand entries to win BBC7’s topical sketch writing competition “7 on 7”. She has also written and performed for BBC3’s LaughterShock, MTV’s Grooveriderz and Myspace Comedy UK.
Acting: Sarah’s TV credits include Live At The Electric (BBC3), New Tricks (BBC1), and Sky sitcoms The Spa and Spy in which she played Agent Lisa. She also recently played Mila Kunis’s evil gynecological nurse in the forthcoming movie Jupiter Ascending from Matrix creators The Wachowskis. She hasn’t had to buy a drink since. Plus she’s done a load of acting in murky comedy clubs and an Edinburgh run with Christmas For Two.
Stand-up: Sarah began her career as a finalist in the national stand-up competition Funny Women in 2008, and has gigged all over the UK for clubs including The Stand, Spank!, and the Frog and Bucket club in Manchester. In 2013 she will take her debut full length show Sarah Campbell: Experiments in Fun to the Edinburgh Festival.
“Hugely talented…If you haven’t heard the name Sarah Campbell yet, then log it into the old memory banks, you’ll be hearing from her again” Time Out
“One of the standout stand-ups of the future” British Comedy Guide
“You can’t help but feel genuinely privileged to be in the room with Sarah Campbell…her sharp, conversational style has abundant freshness and charm.” ****The Skinny
James Brown
James Brown is the man behind the new internet hit SabotageTimes.com. An online magazine and content creation company Sabotage Times has been described as ‘awesome’ by Jonathan Ross ‘superb’ by Richard Bacon and ‘fantastic’ by Stephen Fry. It was recently the 9th most recommended site by twitter in the United Kingdom and 123rd out of all 6 million tweeters worldwide.
James started in magazines as a reader of Tiger and Jag. After leaving school he started writing his own fanzine, joined the NME as features Editor aged just 21 and then launched Loaded magazine which created a worldwide genre, spawned two generations of imitators and has sold over 40,000,000 copies. It is widely considered to be the magazine of the 90s.
He edited GQ, launching their prestigious Man of The Year Awards, significantly increased revenues whilst publishing Viz Comic, and then launched Jack magazine. He sold his publishing company IFG in 2002 for £6.5m and has since run Black Ops a media agency advising numerous major media companies. In Jan 2010 he relaunched the world’s biggest sports magazine for Sky Sports.
He has been profiled in numerous titles from Vanity Fair to Newsweek. And was once voted more influential than Mrs Thatcher and the Pope by Channel 4 and The Observer (who were clearly on drugs at the time). As a writer he began his career on Sounds and the NME, since then he has written for most of Britain’s leading newspapers and magazines which currently include Readers Digest, Grazia, Glamour, Junior and Esquire.
He has also made documentary series for television and is a regular guest on leading television news and arts programmes. A popular and light hearted business speaker he has shared a stage with Prime Minister David Cameron and billing with Al Gore, Kofi Anaan and Karen Brady. This week he likes Midget Gems, The Clash, James Lee Burke and the look of the world from a beach. He reads Fortean Times, 442 and The Week.
TIM SHAW
Having presented primetime speech-based radio shows on nearly all of the UK’s biggest commercial radio stations for the last 17 years, and winning more than 14 global comedy and speech radio awards, Tim turned to television seven years ago. Hosting Channel 4’s primetime series, ‘Extreme Male Beauty’ and three series of Ch 5’s motoring show ‘Fifth Gear’ as well as numerous Freeview series, he has now decided to share a well kept secret with the TV industry;
Tim is a closet ENGINEER! (As can be seen on his latest series ‘CarSos’ on Nat Geo currently airing).
In fact, nearly all of his wages have been used to facilitate the building of huge personal engineering projects. As you read this he is most probably welding old coat hangers or stuck under a homemade contraption or car.
At the age of 12 he was certified “A creative genius” in problem solving by the British Dyslexia Association, and by the age of 16 he was designing products that are still on sale in high street shops. From folding walking aids, fast flashing break lights that illuminate when cars break heavily and rubberised ice cube trays, plus many other items.
He went on to get a scholarship awarded by Oxford Uni in engineering (then called ‘A Year in Enterprise). Tim soon became one of the Young Engineers of the Year in 1992 and 1994, both times for innovative inventions. He is still the only person in the UK to get 100% in A-level and GCSE Design and Technology. Before turning to radio, he studied Mechanical Engineering and Product Design at Uni.
Tim still spends ALL of his spare time rebuilding written-off cars, welding, carving wood, making jewellery, sewing, or just building huge bizarre mechanical inventions.
TV-wise, other key TV series for Tim include Channel 4’s ‘Balls of Steel’, where he featured as character Mr Inappropriate and Virgin 1’s ‘Britain’s Worst Learners where clueless people behind the wheel are taught to drive by their long-suffering loved ones. He also has presented on More 4’s ‘The Last Word’ and ITV1’s ‘Pulling Power’.
Radio-wise, Tim now hosts the UK’s largest content-based radio show on commercial radio. Called ‘The Wrong Show’ it is networked across 9 of Bauer Radio’s biggest stations and covers half of the UK.
He still continues to pick up awards. Last year he won two more New York Radio Awards for his show on Birmingham’s BRMB. The year before Tim won a Sony Award in the most prestigious category, ‘The Entertainment Award’. This was for his TFI Friday style show on Absolute radio (previously Virgin radio). Branded as A TV show on the radio, with usually an audience of 50 people every night, he has also picked up 9 of the prestigious New York Radio awards (notably 6 golds).
Tim was also awarded two of EMAP’s most distinguished awards ‘Speech Broadcaster of the Year” and of course another ‘Entertainment Award’. In May 2008 he was awarded ‘Presenter of the Year’ by the British Radio Industry. Tim now presents the LOL show on Bauer’s Rock FM. Previous radio shows have included Kiss 100 breakfast, Kerrang Radio breakfast, Magic breakfast, Absolute Radio Weekends, Hallam FM, BBC local stations, CenturyRadio.
Tim has earned the title of “The Most Internationally awarded Radio Presenter in the UK to date.
He was also brought in to replace Jeremy Kyle on BRMB radio in Birmingham. The show was called Jezza’s Confessions and was radio’s version of ITV1’s The Jeremy Kyle Show. Tim increased Kyle’s audience figures significantly over its years of broadcast. He was the first in the UK to take live suicide calls straight to air.
More recently Tim devised and completed a project ‘Man In Box’. It saw him locked in a wardrobe-sized metal box for 30 days somewhere in the UK. Neither he or anyone he knows (bar two people) knew where he was. Being told that his location was meaningful to him and that he had been there before, more than 8.5 million people tuned in to watch the 24hr a day live stream. Viewers had to try and locate him with a prize of £30,000 to the first correct coordinates. To date it is the second biggest live streamed event in history.
Other than Engineering, Tim has a first class degree in Professional Broadcasting. He spends a chunk of his spare time writing treatments for TV shows, one of which was recently commissioned for a ten part series on Current TV and a pilot for Sky 1.
He admits that his biggest fascination is with everyday people. Tim is that bloke that starts talking to you on the tube and before you know it you’re exchanging numbers! He believes that everyone is interesting (having carried out over 8000 interviews) and his personal goal is to travel the world, meet everybody and learn as much as possible.
What a geek. What a weirdo.
Jo Caulfield
The minute Jo Caulfield hits the stage you know you’re in for a good time seeing as she was recently nominated as ‘Funniest Woman 2010’ (LAFTA Awards), ‘Best Female Stand-Up’ (Chortle Awards).
Jo has appeared regularly on our screens with appearances on ‘Have I Got News For You (BBC1), ‘Mock The Week’ (BBC2) ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’ (BBC1), ‘Saturday Night Live’ (ITV), ‘Argumental’ (Dave UKTV), ‘Comedy Store’ (Paramount Comedy Channel), “Colin Murphy’s Great Unanswered Questions” (BBC N. Ireland), “The Wright Stuff” (Ch 5), ‘The Blame Game’ (BBC N. Ireland), “It Takes Two” (BBC 2), “Bremner, Bird and Fortune- The Daily Wind-Up (Ch 4) and has also been seen on numerous ‘Talking Head’ shows due to her wide ranging knowledge of music, comedy and all popular culture.
And, let’s not forget her stints as a guest presenter on ‘The Politics Show’ (BBC1) ‘The ONE Show’ (BBC1) and ‘The World Rally: Portugal 2009’ (Dave UKTV).
Writer and star of her own critically acclaimed Radio 4 comedy show ‘It’s That Jo Caulfield Again’. Jo was Programme Consultant on all 5 series of the BAFTA award-winning ‘So Graham Norton’ (Channel 4). She was Head Writer on Ruby Wax’s ‘ The Waiting Game’ – A BBC 1 Game show. Jo has also written for Joan Rivers, Anne Robinson and Denise Van Outen.
A trained actress, as well as acting in her own Radio show Jo has appeared in several sitcoms, including Life’s A Pitch (BBC1), Days Like These (ITV), Beast (BBC1), and Get Real (ITV). She also played someone’s sister in Family Affairs (Ch5) but can’t remember her name. Other acting credits include: So Graham Norton (Ch4) and Stitch-Up (CBBC).
Jo is in regular demand as a host and after-dinner speaker at corporate events across the country. She has spoken at corporate dinners, business lunches, award ceremonies, charity events, St. Andrew’s nights and many more.
She specialises in giving ‘The Response on Behalf of The Lassies’ at Burns Suppers.
Her Celtic qualifications for this are the fact that she was born in Wales to Irish parents and is married to a Scotsman.
‘Many of the points Jo Caulfield makes about the human condition would have sociologists stroking their beards in admiration, but her audiences tend to be laughing too much to notice’ – THE TIMES
‘Jo Caulfield is incapable of doing a bad show, so sharp is her tongue and so in tandem is it with her mischievous mind’ – THE SCOTSMAN
‘Jo Caulfield is an inspiration to all would-be female comedians’ – THE OBSERVER
To see clips of Jo visit www.jocaulfield.com
Jo Caulfield Won’t Shut Up! Her hilariously brilliant radio show is on BBC Radio 4 Thursdays at 11pm for 3 weeks- (that’s the 17th, 24th June and the 1st July to be precise). Make sure you tune in.
Harvey Allpress
Harvey has worked alongside some of the most influential actors of his generation including Sally Hawkins, Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan to name a few and he’s not yet 14.
He can be seen in the feature film’‘Oscars Date’’ directed by Freddie Hall in the lead role of Oscar and heard playing the role of Young Charlie in BBC Radio’s adaptation of ‘‘Private Peaceful’‘.
His past credits include the feature film ‘‘Never Let Me Go’’ (Fox / DNA), ‘‘The Crossing’’ (Between The Eyes), the stage productions of ‘‘Beauty And The Beast’’ and ‘‘Oliver!’’ as well as appearing in the BBC’s ‘‘Casualty’’ and also ‘‘Phineas and Ferb’’ for The Disney Channel. His radio credits include the lead role of Chris in ‘‘White Chameleon’’ and Claudius in ‘‘I, Claudius’’ both for BBC Radio.
Harvey was seen in ‘‘The Late Middle Classes’’ playing the lead role of Holly opposite Helen McCrory at The Donmar Warehouse.
Harvey also appears in the stunning short film ‘‘The Crossing’’ directed by Arthur Landon. Based on the experience of Landon’s mother’s experience at the end of WWII, the film focuses on discovering the true value of family under the most difficult of circumstances. Watch the film here; http://newtidefilms.com/shorts/the-crossing/
Please contact David Lazenby on 020 7497 0849 or dlazenby@richstonepart.co.uk for further information
Ted Allpress
Ted, made his professional stage debut at the age of 9 in The Donmar Warehouse opposite Gillian Anderson playing Ivor in Kfir Yefets hit production of ‘‘The Doll’s House’’ in 2009, and then in 2010 he then went on to take the role of Bert’ in the sell out, smash hit Howard Davies production of ‘‘All My Sons’’ opposite Zoe Wanamaker and David Suchet at The Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue.
He has also worked closely with LAMDA on their 3rd year graduation production of ‘‘Tommy’’ taking on the lead role of ‘‘Young Tommy’‘, directed by John Baxter.
Ted made his screen debut in 2010 in the film ‘The Boy With Chocolate Fingers’ opposite his younger brother Casper Allpress, and went on to star in the box office breaking feature film ‘THOR’ as Young Loki opposite Antony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston and Natalie Portman directed by Kenneth Brannagh.
Alongside his brother Harvey, Ted can be heard in the dramtisation of ‘‘Private Peaceful’’ as Tommo, and soon as Young Sergei in ‘‘Freud The Talking Cure: The Wolfman’’ both for BBC Radio.
Ted will be seen as Leonardo in BBC Wordlwide’s multi-million pound epic ‘Da Vinci’s Demons’ written and directed by David Goyer.
Please contact David Lazenby on 020 7497 0849 or dlazenby@richstonepart.co.uk for further information
Jake Canuso
Jake Canuso was born in a small village near Zurich in Switzerland to Italian immigrants from southern Italy.
He started his career as a dancer and at the age of 16 became the youngest member of Zurich’s leading contemporary dance company.
What followed was a move to London via Paris and New York and a career that lasted nearly 2 decades, which (as well as helping him become fluent in SIX languages!!!) would see him work with some of the leading choreographers and companies in the world; and eventually taking a more commercial side performing, choreographing and touring the world with some of the world’s biggest recording artists including Annie Lennox, Take That, Elton John and The Spice Girls to name a few.
Jake finally stepped over into acting and over the last few years has built up an extensive CV appearing in films such as ‘‘Piccadilly Jim’’ (Myriad Films / UPI), ‘‘School For Seduction’’ (Ipso Facto Films), Kinky Boots (Mirimax / Columbia), Fly Boys (MGM), ‘‘Russian Dolls’’ (Lunar Films), ‘‘Journal Of A Contract Killer’’ (MJ Films), ‘‘City Rats’’ (Urban Way Productions) and ‘‘Nine’’ (The Weinstein Co. / Sony Pictures) with Daniel Day Lewis and Judi Dench. This summer we will be able to catch Jake on the big screen in the highly anticipated “The Dark Knight Rises”.
Television credits include, ‘‘Keen Eddie’’ (Paramount), ‘‘Hustle’’ (BBC), ‘‘Shameless’’ (Ch4), ‘‘Suburban Shoot Out’’ (Ch5), ‘‘Casualty’’ (BBC) and five series of ITV1’s hit comedy ‘‘Benidorm’‘, for which he is probably best known for his role as the loveable ‘‘Mateo’‘. Jake will also be gracing our screens in Spring in the new series of “The Hour” (BBC).
Matt Rudge
Matt Rudge is an award winning, BAFTA nominated Comedian, Writer and Documentary Filmmaker.
“Warm, funny and perception changing. This will win awards” The Times
“Charming, unpretentious and gently witty, Rudge’s real gift is relating with the crowd – he all but exchanged numbers with the front row” Fest Magazine
“Draws parallels to Louis Theroux and Morgan Spurlock” The Independent
Matt was nominated for the prestigious BAFTA ‘Breakthrough Talent’ Award after his recent films The Autistic Me, and The Autistic Me - One Year On were broadcast on BBC. He went on to win the Top Factual Talent award from the TV Collective, in recognition for his work on the films, plus his previous film for Channel 4, My Dad The Serial Killer. His four short films ‘25 Years’ appeared on Channel 4 as part of the channel’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
In addition to his film-making, Matt is in demand as both a writer and comedian. Recently he’s finished writing on Wallace And Gromit’s World of Invention for BBC1, toured the country supporting Mock The Week regular Stewart Francis, and appeared as part of the illustrious ‘AAA Stand Up ’ show in Edinburgh at The Pleasance Courtyard. As a comic he was nominated as Comedian of the Year in England’s biggest comedy festival, the Leicester Comedy Festival, as well as being a finalist in various major new act competitions when he started out, such as Edinburgh’s Laugh Off 2008, and New Act of the Year 2007.
“Effortlessly wins over the crowd within moments…. Impressive Stand Up.” Three Weeks
Ricky Grover
Multi-award winning actor, comedian, presenter and writer Ricky Grover has an impressive list of TV & film credits and is a hugely popular headline act, on both the national and international comedy circuit. Born and bred in the East End of London, Ricky was an ex-champion boxer and hairdresser before taking the comedy scene by storm. Grover was illiterate until his early thirties but it didn’t stop him from becoming a highly versatile performer able to flit between powerful drama and hilarious comedy, no doubt his improvisational ability is his strongest talent
Ricky’s many television credits include, Black Books (CH4), TV To Go (ITV), ‘Orrible (BBC 2) and Red Dwarf (BBC 2).
Ricky’s film credits include Tony, Cargo, Revolver, Love Honour and Obey, Punch and Hungry.
On the comedy circuit Ricky is perhaps best known and loved for his explosive comic character ‘Bulla’ (gangster and god amongst the London underworld). ‘Bulla’ also appeared as a regular guest on - The 11 o’clock Show and was famously interviewed by Michael Parkinson. (Bulla The Movie is currently in production).
A prolific writer, Ricky has written and starred in two short films, receiving international acclaim. The UK released Punch won him the prestigious Silver Bear Award and Hungry (broadcast on Channel 4) won him the Best Actor Award at the Brest Film Festival.
Ricky also presented F*** Off I’m Fat for the BBC, which grossed the highest viewing figures ever for the channel!
Ricky is currently starring in Eastender’s playing Andrew Cotton, Dot’s nephew, and has recently seen his directorial debut ‘Big Fat Gypsy Gangster’ , which he also wrote, produced and starred in, alongside other Clore Clan member Rufus Hound, released on DVD
Oliver Wilson
Oliver has just finished Christopher Durangs ‘Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You’ at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden in which he played Aloysius Benheim. He trained as an actor at The Actors Centre Covent Garden and then The Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre in Los Angeles. Before that you will have heard Oliver as BBC Radio Ones entertainment presenter and reporter.
Oliver grew up in the studio watching his father, Tony Wilson, present a wide range of programmes from music shows to the regional news. He was also brought up around plenty of artists… raised during the infamous ‘Madchester’ era during the 80’s and early 90’s. Whether it was sitting in a television studio or being side stage at a concert, from a very early age Oliver spent most of his life watching and learning the entertainment business. He took to the stage early on – taking drama at school and starring in school productions throughout his teens. This led to Oliver being accepted into the Stella Adler studio in Los Angeles where he studied the Adler technique.
Claire Young
Claire Young, 32, is the straight talking, no-nonsense business woman who is well known for reaching the final of series 4 of BBC1’s The Apprentice (2008) watched by over 11 million viewers.
Since then she has worked non-stop setting up numerous business ventures including www.schoolspeakers.co.uk and www.girlsoutloud.org.uk. She is passionate about promoting entrepreneurship and enterprise to our younger generation and founded TeenBiz www.teenbiz.org.uk the UK’s first business start up scheme for under 18s. Claire works ‘hands on’ in schools (primary through to university age), and across multiple government organisations, helping students to raise aspirations, take off the blinkers and think big!
Claire supports the National Apprenticeship Service by heading up their Young Ambassador Network and works in partnership with the Peter Jones Foundation supporting Tenner Tycoon and Global Entrepreneurship Week. Recently she met with the Prime Minister for roundtable talks and has been invited to join the House of Lords Youth Unemployment taskforce. Claire has been nominated for the Queen’s Enterprise Award 2011 and is also delighted to represent the UK in The European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors. She was delighted to accept a position in the Gazelle Group www.thegazellegroup.com developing entrepreneurship plans in college level education.
Claire is Honorary President of Young Chamber UK (www.youngchamber.com) a not-for-profit social enterprise organisation which is dedicated to ensuring that young people of all levels of ability and background are equipped with the skills needed to fulfil their aspirations and achieve their goals.
Now a successful young businesswoman she hopes that her story will motivate others to realise that with hard work, drive and determination anything is possible.
Media
Claire is an experienced presenter on TV (previously presenting on GMTV / Day Break) and regularly contributes to a variety of magazines. She currently co-hosts BBC Radio Leeds Saturday lunchtime show – Something for the Weekend.
Claire is available for interviews and has access to ISDN at BBC Leeds.
Claire is available to discuss / comment on a range of issues which impact on young people including :
• Education and enterprise
• Entrepreneurship and starting a business
• Careers
• Youth unemployment
Rich Williams
Rich Williams is an award winning radio presenter having picked up the Arqiva Commercial Radio Presenter Of The Year in June 2010. He was again nominated in 2011. Leeds born and bred, he currently presents Radio Aire Breakfast in the city broadcasting to one of the largest radio markets in the UK having taken over the show in summer 2011.
He has national radio experience having presented mid mornings on The Hits Radio for four years, taking audience figures to an all time station high of over half a million.
Rich also has experience of live TV having taken part in a BBC show to find a new presenter where he made it through to the final 5.
When he’s not working in radio, Rich also writes for publications reviewing music and when he’s not involved with TV and radio work, his three big passions are music, politics and sport. Don’t mention Leeds United’s recent plight though. You might see a grown man cry.
For a look at Rich on camera, check out his Party in the Park backstage blog here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF1gmmUyiLE
John Sparkes
Swansea born John is more commonly known on Welsh television as Barry Welsh, in the award-winning (Best Light Entertainment, Welsh Baftas, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004) series Barry Welsh is Coming for HTV.
As well as this hit, he is widely known for his comic creations ‘Siadwel’ and ‘Frank Hovis’ from the days of BBC’s “Naked Video” and Channel 4’s “Absolutely”.
John Sparkes has since written for and performed in many shows including four series of “Celebrity Pub Quiz” (HTV), “Like It or Lump It” (Vera Prods for Ch4), ‘‘Jeff Global’s Global Probe’’ (ITV) and “The Morwenna Banks Show” (Absolutely for Ch5). He has also performed in both series of Radio 4’s “Mouth to Mouth” (Zeitgeist Prods).
Behind the camera he provides the voice of the Narrator children’s animated series ‘‘Peppa Pig’‘. He also lends his voice to the series ‘‘Shaun the Sheep’‘, and has provided the voices for the stop-frame series of “Fireman Sam” (Siriol Productions).
He also writes and presents “Ghost Story” in which he spends the night alone with a camcorder in haunted houses around Wales. He has also co-written and presented Doug Strong’s Special Places, a factual comedy series for ITV Wales and ITV Central.
Brix Smith-Start
Fashion guru, Brix Smith Start began her career in the legendary post-punk British band The Fall in 1983 as a guitarist/singer/songwriter, first appearing on the Perverted by Language album, and going on to record and release numerous albums with them. She left them temporarily before re-joining to record the hit albums ‘Cerebal Caustic’ and ‘The Light User Syndrome’ before finally leaving for good back in 1996. Brix went on to release 2 solo albums under the name ‘‘Adult Net’’ working with the likes of Craig Cannon and Clem Burke. After leaving The Fall and disbanding The Adult Net, Brix went on to tour with The Bangles…! She soon after released the Happy Unbirthday EP on Strangelove, which is a collaboration with Marty Willson-Piper and includes a cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”.
Brix recently put out her first solo LP Neurotica which is available as a digital download on Loser Friendly Records and from iTunes.
Multi-talented Brix has since gone on to pursue a career in presenting and most notably, fashion.
Having launched her first boutique Start with her husband Philip in 2002, they have pretty much taken over Rivington Street in East London, with 4 fabulous boutiques and an online store!
The Start stores are A-list boutiques, loved by the elite of the media and fashion and are considered to be amongst the best stores in the world. With huge designer labels such as Mulberry, See by Chloe, Philip Lim and so many more, Brix has worked hard to bring fashion for everyone.
The fashionista and stylist has become one of the most recognizable faces in fashion having worked on all three series of C4’s runaway smash ‘Gok’s Fashion Fix’ pitting her high end outfits against the bespectacled stylist’s high street picks. She has recently finished the hit Sky 1 lunchtime chat show ‘Angela and Friends’ (Sky TV) as their fashion guru. Numerous television appearances include an episode of BBC’s ‘The Culture Show’ presenting a piece on Andy Warhol and his impact on the fashion world, and regular appearances on LK Today’s ‘What’s Hot and What’s Not’ segment to name a very tiny few.
Brix has just been seen gracing our screens in the exciting hit six part series ‘Promzillas’ for Sky Living. A multiple makeover show that sees the characters and the proms themselves being made over by a team of celebrity
stylists known as the ‘prom squad’. It explores the extreme and colourful world of proms and provide a snapshot of modern British teenagers (and their parents) at a crucial time in their lives. Brix makes up a third of the ‘Prom Squad’ alongside make-up artist Gary Cockerill and celebrity hairdresser Stephen Glendenning. Surprisingly for Brix this isn’t all about designer names, it’s about the sparkle, spangle and looking simply fabulous for the biggest day in a teenagers life.
She kicked off 2011 by hosting exclusive coverage for SKY of ‘The Golden Globe Awards’ and the ‘Oscars’ talking through the highs and lows of the red carpet fashion parade and conducting live interviews yet again demonstrating her ease and aptitude for live television. She followed this with BBC’s Radio 1 Big Weekend celebrating Lady Gaga’s status as a fashion icon.
Brix can currently be seen handing out valuable fashion tips on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ as their resident fashion expert showing members of the public how to work with what they have in terms of budget, body shape and personality.
A regular key contributor to both Elle magazine and Grazia magazine, Brix has worked on and fronted numerous campaigns working with Google Street View Awards, IsMe.com, Scholl, Thompsons Holidays, Special K, Selfridges, Lastminute.com, Tia Maria, Triumph and The Lowry.
Working closely with The Soho House Group they have celebrated her status as one of the leading sartorial experts by hosting an exclusive ‘An Evening With Brix Smith-Start’ event, at their suptious Babington House Estate.
With her keen eye for fashion and an array of other talents, it appears that Brix’s career can know no boundaries!
Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson is a writer and documentary film maker. His books, Them: Adventures With Extremists and The Men Who Stare At Goats were international bestsellers. The Men Who Stare At Goats has been turned into a major motion picture starring George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges. He’s also the author of two collections, Out Of The Ordinary: True Tales of Everyday Craziness and What I Do: More True Tales of Everyday Craziness.
He’s written the popular “Human Zoo” and “Out of the Ordinary” columns for The Guardian, where he still contributes features. He currently writes and presents the twice Sony nominated BBC Radio 4 series, Jon Ronson On….
For Channel 4, Jon has made a number of films including the acclaimed five part series the Secret Rulers of the World and the multi award-winning Tottenham Ayatollah. His most recent documentaries are Reverend Death (Channel 4), Citizen Kubrick (More4) and Robbie Williams and Jon Ronson Journey to the Other Side (Radio 4).
In the US, he is a contributor to Public Radio International’s This American Life.
“Mr. Ronson sets The Men Who Stare At Goats up beautifully. It moves with wry, precise agility ...so entertaining… a smarter, nuttier version of “The Tipping Point” or “Blink.” ...Mr. Ronson, a filmmaker and journalist whose earlier book, “Them: Adventures With Extremists,” was also outstandingly artful and chilling, eventually follows his trail of bread crumbs to the realms that really matter ...Somehow he is able to keep his book both light and nightmarish ...He remains terrifically adept at capturing the horror of these developments without losing track of their lunacy.” (review of The Men Who Stare At Goats) Janet Maslin - The New York Times
‘‘Unlikely though it certainly will seem to most readers at this difficult hour…Jon Ronson has managed to write a hugely amusing book about the lunatic fringe.’‘
(review of THEM) Washington Post
‘‘Often entertaining, more often disturbing…[Ronson] has gotten closer to these people than any journalist I can think of.’‘
New York Times (THEM)
‘‘I’ve never read such a delightful book on such a serious and important topic’‘.
The Nation (THEM)
Sophie Morgan
In 2003 Sophie was paralysed in a car accident aged 18. Initially she had planned to study Law but following a dramatic change in perspective she decided to follow her heart and completed a Foundation Course in Fine Art whilst adapting to life in a wheelchair. She was offered an unconditional place to study Fine Art at Goldsmiths University in London and had her first solo show in 2004. She now works as a Portraitist and Artist from her studio in Brighton, exhibiting her award winning work regularly.
Sophie is also completing a Masters in Integrative Arts Psychotherapy at the Institute for Arts in Therapy & Education. She established her company ‘Sophie Morgan Creative’, in 2010 and is proud to be launching the innovative & pioneering design product, ‘Mannequal®’. Please visit www.mannequal.com for more information.
2005 saw Sophie’s first television appearance in the ground breaking BBC series ‘Beyond Boundaries’ which followed an expedition of eleven disabled people across Nicaragua. BBC television series, ‘Britain’s Missing Top Model’ followed in 2008. This program followed the lives of eight young disabled women competing for a modelling contract on BBC3.
In 2010 Sophie had her first role as a Television Presenter on BBC The One Show, and she also featured on Horizons ‘Fix Me’ documentary (BBC2).
At the start of 2012 Sophie modelled for Stella MacCartney’s Adidas Campaign (Write your Name’) and her career as a TV Presenter took off as she started presenting her first documentary for BBC3, ‘License to kill’. She has also been selected onto the PresentAble Training Scheme established by the BBC to develop disabled talent.
Most recently, Sophie has been selected to join the exclusive team of Channel 4 TV Presenters chosen to bring coverage of the Paralympics.
www.sophiemorgan.com
Derren Litten
Derren Litten was born in 1970 in the northern fishing town of Hull; thankfully things have improved greatly since then. Graduating from The Central School of Speech and Drama in 1993 he quickly became a regular face on numerous television shows and countless TV commercials.
In 2002 Derren’s best friend from drama school, Catherine Tate, asked him to write for her Edinburgh sketch show. Although he had never written comedy before it was thought he would be the best man for the job as he often said hilarious things and would do it for nothing. Although Catherine knew people funnier than Derren, thankfully none of them could beat his rates.
When Catherine was offered her own TV series on BBC2 Derren became a main writer; he also performed in the show as they remembered at the last minute that he is rather marvellous at acting too. In 2005 Derren was nominated for a BAFTA Craft Award in the “New Writer” category. After two series and a Christmas Special pulling in record viewers, Derren decided it was time to concentrate on his own projects and turned down the offer to be involved in a third series.
Derren’s first project after The Catherine Tate Show was commissioned by ITV purely on the strength of two scripts - the cast hadn’t even been thought about.
The project - Benidorm - proved a huge hit with ITV audiences and has gone from strength to strength, and in series 3, the episodes were extended to 60mins.
Series 5 aired in the first half of 2012 and received the accolade of Most Popular Sitcom at the National Television Awards. Derren is currently writing Series 6 which he will also Executive Produce.
In addition to the huge success of Benidorm, Derren’s latest creation is ‘The Spa’.
Airing in February on Sky Living, the series is set in an aspiring Hertfordshire health club, whose staff are as intimidating and entertaining as its exercise classes and equipment. As well as putting his penmanship to the series, Derren is returning to his acting roots by taking one of the lead roles, alongside an exemplary cast.
http://www.derrenlitten.com/
Jason Lewis
Multi-talented actor, writer, comedian Jason Lewis burst onto the UK comedy scene with his unique stand-up comedy routines, which wowed and intrigued audiences across the UK.
Despite his natural ability to bring a smile to any face, Jason had not planned to become a comedian. As a professional actor Jason trained at the Anna Scher Theatre for six years and constructed an award winning one man show Black O’ Rama at the Anna Scher Festival of Plays.
It was not long after Jason’s initial introduction to stand-up comedy that he began writing his digital showpiece, The Jason Lewis Experience; a unique presentation of sketch comedy at its best, looking at real life issues with a humorous twist. Jason gave people a taste of The Jason Lewis Experience with two sketches, Small Change and Ready for War, made available on YouTube. The positive response was a sign of things to come.
To date The Jason Lewis Experience has received rave reviews. The controversial sketch Black Boys; a spoof music video which pokes fun at certain celebrities within the entertainment industry, was an instant hit with viewers prompting interest from MTV and Channel4. The response to his work was so much so that Jason landed a role on The Andi O Show (part of the E4 Comedy Season, also know as Funny Cuts) and Adulthood, the sequel to the UK feature film Kidulthood.
The Jason Lewis Experience gained more exposure when producers from MTV Base agreed to broadcast selected sketches throughout Black History Month, during commercial breaks. MTV Base later decided to give The Jason Lewis Experience its own thirty-minute slot. As a credit to his hard work Jason received an Urban Comedy Award 2009 nomination for The Jason Lewis Experience, in the Best TV Performance category.
Jason was cast as an actor and writer for the new BBC sketch show Bellamy’s People, created by BAFTA award winners and UK comedy heavyweights, Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson and appeared as Mick in the award winning BBC sitcom Miranda.
To date Jason has appeared in Coming Of Age Series I & III (BBC), Holby City XII (BBC), Watson and Oliver (BBC), Jail Tales (BBC), the third series of Artmstrong and Miller (BBC) and the second series of Harry and Paul (BBC). Jason is also currently working on the second installment of The Jason Lewis Experience with the BBC which will be hitting our screens in 2011.
He has recently wrapped on shooting the Rodrigo Cortes feature ‘Red Lights’ opposite Robert De Nero, Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy.
Check Jason out at:
Saira Khan
Businesswoman, Author, Public Speaker and Television Presenter
Saira Khan shot to fame in the first series of the smash hit BBC 2 TV Series “The Apprentice” and has since taken the UK by storm. She is a regular face on BBC television and presented the hit children’s show Beat the Boss. She has been involved in high profile tv shows like celebrity masterchef, celebrity mastermind and Children in Need’s Around the World in 80 Day. She is currently presenting a new CBBC’s business show called “Trade your way to the USA” and her 2 x 60minute documentaries for BBC2 called , “ Adopting Abroad, Saira’s Story” was shown to great national reviews in Sept 2011. She is MD of her own company “miamoo” a luxury range of skincare products, www.miamoo.co.uk, has witten a self help book called PUSH for success published by Random House and is an experienced motivational speaker.
Saira is a regular corporate speaker on business start up, women in business, British Muslim integration, self development and sales training and her adoption journey. However, the most popular subject she gets asked to talk about is her time and experience on “The Apprentice”. As a finalist of the first series she is respected for her “Can do” attitude and her exceptional sales skills. She gave inspiration to every woman watching when she was asked about how she felt as the only female left in the competition, she answered, “I am equal to any man out there.”
Her straight talking, no nonsense approach makes her an energetic and captivating speaker. Her business insight comes from starting her own business rather than text books or theories. A born entrepreneur she honed her skills by working in various Blue Chip industries and in different roles ranging from a sales Exec to a Sales Director.She has worked for Burton’s Biscuits, McVities and KP, Workthing.com and Yell. She has sold everything from Biscuits to advertising.
She has taken part in numerous corporate, public speaking engagements and high profile events with leading organisations such as Business Link, Shell, Marriot Hotels, Save the Children, RHM Foods, West London Business Development Agency, London School of Economics, Euro Star, The Marriott to name but a few.
Saira has previously been invited by the former Director General of the BBC Mark Thompson to speak to a senior BBC leadership event, by Ian Duncan Smith to present an Award at his Social Cohesion event, by the CEO of Women in Film and Television to present at their Awards ceremony, by Mother and Baby to co-host their awards, by Mama and Papa’s to MC their Midwife of the Year event and by the Dutch public broadcasting Tv to be their MC for the European Diversity Show.
Most recently, Saira has been a presenter on ‘Trade Your Way to the USA’ for CBBC, for which she is currently filming the third series, and ‘The Money Show with Martin Lewis’ for ITV, which is on its second series.
Please visit www.sairakhan.co.uk
Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye: Comedian, writer but first and foremost an actor.
He exploded onto our screens way back in 1995 as ‘‘Dennis Pennis’‘, a shock interviewer whose mocking style terrorised celebrity victims on both sides of the Atlantic. Since then he has created an eclectic CV for himself in television, film and theatre, appearing in hits such as; ‘‘SPACED’’ (Chanel 4), 2 series of the BBC series ‘‘PERFECT WORLD’‘, the leading role of Kenny Marsh in 3 series of BBC’s successful ‘‘TWO THOUSAND ACRES OF SKY’‘, ‘‘WAKING THE DEAD’’ (BBC), ‘‘DOWN TO EARTH’’ (BBC), ‘‘MISS MARPLE’’ (Granada), ‘‘HUSTLE’’ (BBC), ‘‘EASTENDERS’’ (BBC), ‘‘HOTEL BABYLON’’ (Carnival / BBC) and 2 series in the Stephen Fry smash ‘‘KINGDOM’’ (ITV) to name a tiny few.
He starred alongside Johnny Vegas, James Cromwell, Imelda Staunton and Vince Vaughn in the Mel Smith directed ‘‘BLACKBALL’‘, and then in 2005 he took the role of deaf DJ Frankie Wilde in the mockumentary ‘‘IT’S ALL GONE PETE TONG’’ which won eleven awards worldwide, including ‘Best Film’ at the Toronto Film Festival and ‘Best Actor’ for Paul at the HBO Comedy Awards.
Other film credits include ‘‘AGENT CODY BANKS 2: DESTINATION LONDON’’ (MGM Films), ‘‘SPIVS’’ (Carnaby Films), Woody Allen’s ‘‘MATCHPOINT’’ opposite Scarlett Johanssen, ‘‘WAZ’’ (Vertigo Films) directed by Tom Shankland, ‘‘CASS’’ (Optimum Films), and ‘‘THE BIG I AM’’ (Cinematic Productions).
Paul had the opportunity to take to London’s West End, appearing in ‘‘DINNER’’ opposite Harriet Walter at The Wyndhams Theatre to rave reviews.
Recently Paul worked on the second series of his hugely successful MTV series ‘‘STRUTTER’’ playing the lead role of ‘Mike Strutter’. It is MTV’s highest rating show (after the MTV Awards!). He starred in the hit Channel 5 series ‘‘ANGELO’S’‘, series 2 of the BBC’s comedy ‘‘PULLING’‘, opposite Timothy Spall in ITV’s 2 part thriller ‘‘GUNRUSH’‘, ‘‘PA’S’’ (BBC), ‘‘MIDSOMER MURDERS’’ (Bentley Productions for ITV), the new series of ‘‘KATY BRANDS BIG ASS SHOW’’ (ITV), and will be seen in series 4 of Channel 4’s huge hit ‘‘SKINS’‘.
Most recently Paul has worked on the films ‘‘MURDER IN MIND’’ (White Feather Films), ‘‘MALICE IN WONDERLAND’’ (2B Pictures), ‘‘THE INFIDEL’’ (Met Films) and the forthcoming ‘‘EATING DUST’’ (Jinx Films).
For television he has worked with Ruth Jones on her new BBC comedy ‘‘A CHILD’S CHRISTMASES IN WALES’’ playing Uncle Gorwel, and continues to voice various characters in BBC’s ‘‘WE ARE MONGRELS’‘.
Paul has won various awards including Arena Magazine’s ‘‘Comedian of the Year 2008’’ and the Loaded Lafta ‘Best Television Personality Award’. He recently hosted FilmFour’s new season of ‘‘Films to See Before You Die’’.
Paul has most recently created the role of Mr. Wormwood in the smash hit production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda at both Stratford and currently in the Westend at teh Cambridge Theatre.
Rufus Hound
Rufus Hound is a comedian, presenter, actor and the owner of a fine moustache.
He won that dance thing for Sport Relief dressed up as Cheryl Cole. Remember? And he’s on ‘Celebrity Juice’ every week, sat next to Fearne Cotton. Or as the eponymous hero of CBBC’s ‘Hounded’.
So that’s what he does. Though there’s other stuff as well.
He hosts Radio 4’s “My Teenage Diary”, took over from Anne Robinson to present the final series of ‘OutTake TV’ for BBC1 and captained the Blue Team for three series of Dave’s ‘Argumental’. Having picked the year 2000 as his funniest, Channel 4 gave him two hours one Saturday night to explain why in “My Funniest Year: 2000”, which was very nice of them.
Oh, and he’s been a guest on a lot of things too.Jonathan Ross’s radio show, Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, The Apprentice: You’re Fired, Xtra Factor, The Five o Clock Show, This Morning… blah blah blah.
He also does loads of stand-up across the country and hosts glittering awards ceremonies.
Truth is, lists are boring, and all this is is a big long list of stuff he’s done. So instead of that, he wrote you this poem:
The little you
inside the you
that everyone can see,
is pretty much
identical
to the little me in me.
He hopes you like it, though agrees that there’s an unpleasant ‘cutesy’ element to it.
Anyway, he’s available for work.
Jon Holmes
Jon Holmes is a seven-time Sony and Double Bafta winning writer, comedian and polymorphic media alloy.
As host of the Xfm Breakfast Show, broadcast from London’s glittering West End, Jon is waking the audience with enormous indie music, funny, irreverent broadcasting and the best ballsy entertainment on the radio. Catch him on 104.9FM, online and on DAB every weekday between 6am and 10am.
Alongside Xfm he continues to haunt BBC Radio 4 like a tiny ghost, writing and performing as one of The Now Show team. His own series ‘Listen Against’ on R4 was “glorious”, “triumphant”, “stunningly made” and “beautifully crafted and scalpel sharp” depending on which newspaper you read.
Prior to starting on X, Jon presented his own weekend show on BBC 6 Music (Saturdays 4-7pm) and (with Miranda Hart) sat in to host the Radio 2 Breakfast Show when Chris Evans was on his holibobs. He did the same for Graham Norton in the summer of 2012 too.
He has appeared on 5Live’s Men’s Hour and also had his own show on the network Jon Holmes’s Mob Rule. He also holds a British Comedy Award for Best Radio Comedy.
On TV Jon has worked with Armando Iannucci, Stephen Fry, Harry Hill and Graham Norton. Jon also co-created Dead Ringers and co-writes the hugely popular Royal Television Society and Bafta Award winning Horrible Histories for BBC1. Other TV includes Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You, Top Gear and 2010/2011 Unwrapped.
He is a travel writer for The Sunday Times and his books Rock Star Babylon, The Now Show Book and The History of the World Through Twitter are now also available on a futuristic Kindle. His new, as yet untitled, book will be published by Orion in 2014.
He was once asked to go on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. He told them to sod off.
Paul Hawkyard
Paul is an actor with vast experience in eclectic roles.
He has graced our screens across the years in ‘‘Kiss Me Kate’’ (Carlton), ‘‘Maisie Raine’’ (Zenith), ‘‘Eastenders’’ (BBC), ‘‘Heartbeat’’ (ITV), ‘‘Where The Heart Is’’ (Anglia), ‘‘Miss Marple’’ (Granada), ‘‘The Last Detective’’ (ITV), and ‘‘Mike Bassett’’ (ITV) to name a (very select) few.
Most recently he has been seen in ‘‘Casualty’’ (BBC), ‘‘2 Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps’’ (BBC) and ‘‘MI High’’ (BBC).
Furthermore he has a distinguished Musical Theatre career, starring in “Peter Pan” at the Festival Hall, Trevor Nunn’s feted production of “South Pacific” at The National Theatre and “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Lyceum, London, to name but a few! Paul most recently starred as ‘Bill Austin’ in the hugely popular, Abba-inspired musical “Mama Mia” at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
Phil Hammond
Phil Hammond qualified as a doctor in 1987, became a GP in 1991 and has also worked in sexual health. He was half of Struck Off and Die, who had five sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, were twice selected for the Perrier Pick of the Fringe and won Writers’ Guild and Silver Sony Awards for their Radio 4 series. In 2002, Phil fronted ‘28 Minutes to Save the NHS” on Radio 4, which he extended to a sell out Edinburgh Fringe Show, and a highly successful 60-date UK tour .
He is currently on tour with ‘Dr Phil’s Rude Health Show’, which focuses on the health costs of hedonism and teaches us how to pleasure ourselves in a safe and sustainable way. Both Phil’s shows are available on DVD, and he has also written three books, ‘Medicine Balls’ – a comic prescription for the NHS, ‘Trust Me. I’m Still a Doctor’ – a collection of his investigative journalism for Private Eye, and ‘Sex, Sleep or Scrabble?’ – a pleasure seekers manual.
Phil has written Private Eye’s medical columns, ‘Doing the Rounds’ and ‘Medicine Balls’, since 1992, and broke the story of the Bristol heart scandal. He gave evidence to the subsequent Public Inquiry and presented five series of “Trust Me, I’m a Doctor” on BBC 2, exposing wide variations in care across the NHS. He is a strong advocate of patients, both as a Vice President of the Patients Association and a Patron of the Herpes Viruses Association. He is also a patron of the Doctors Support Network, for doctors with mental health problems.
He has survived Ruby Wax and “Have I Got News For You” (seven times), has appeared many times on ‘The News Quiz’, ‘The Now Show’. ‘The One Show’ and ‘Countdown.’ He was the only doctor to appear for the prosecution on Channel 4’s “Doctors on Trial”. Phil has been reported to the General Medical Council by William Hague’s Press Secretary.
Phil’s first TV sitcom, “Doctors and Nurses”, co-written with Nigel Smith, was broadcast on BBC 1 in 2004. His radio 4 sitcom, Polyoaks, about GPs struggling with the current health reforms, airs on Radio 4 on Friday mornings at 11.30am. Phil also presents The Music Group on Radio 4, which is in its fifth series.
Phil has been a Lecturer in Medical Communication at the Universities of Birmingham and Bristol and currently works as a part time GP in the Bristol area. He is much in demand as a speaker, facilitator and conference chair, and was recently described by Professor Michael Rawlins, Chair of NICE, as “the best chair we’ve ever had”.
Phil is married to Jo, also a GP, and has two children, two Labradors, two cats, two ponies and a full head of ginger hair.
His website is www.drphilhammond.com
Dr Phil Hammond’s fantastic ‘Sex, Sleep or Scrabble? - Seriously Funny Answers to Life’s Quirkiest Questions’ is the perfect read to find the answers to some seriously bizarre questions! Available from all major bookstores and online ...
John Fortune
A home grown satirist of venerable standing, John Fortune has notched up eight series of BAFTA nominated “Bremner, Bird and Fortune” (Vera Prods for Ch4), with more planned!
John enjoyed a season in “Art” in 2001 and appeared in the films “Saving Grace”, “Maybe Baby” and “The Tailor of Panama” and Woody Allen’s “Match Point”. John also appeared in an episode of BBC TV’s “Love Soup”.
John Fortune and John Bird continue to write and perform their self-contained cabarets for corporate clients.
Sam Delaney
Sam Delaney is a journalist, broadcaster, author and the former editor of Heat magazine.
He is a regular host on Talksport and has also presented his own shows for BBC 5Live and BBC London 94.9
He recently presented the BBC Three documentary ‘Sex, Lies And Gagging Orders’ which looked into the phone hacking and superinjunction scandals.
Previously, he has written and presented documentaries for Channel 4 (on teen crime) and Channel Five (on pop culture). In 2007 he presented the well-received BBC Three documentary ‘Bust My Ass’ about civil liberties and the right to protest.
He has a weekly news review slot on Sky Sunrise with Eamonn Holmes and works as a pundit on news, sport and entertainment across various TV and radio stations.
He has published two books: ‘Get Smashed – The Story Of The Men That Made The Ads That Changed Our Lives’ (2007) and ‘Night Of The Living Dad – Confessions Of A Shabby Father’ (2009)
He has 14 years experience of writing in the national press for The Guardian, The Sunday Telegraph, the NME, The Independent, Grazia, Cosmopolitan, The Big Issue, Four Four Two, The New Humanist and countless others. He is a columnist for The Guardian and has written columns for The Sun too.
In a past life he was a parliamentary researcher for Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman.
Sam Delaney’s wonderful book ‘A Night Of The Living Dad’ follows Sam in his first year of fatherhood as he tries to figure out what a good dad should be, and, even more importantly, what sort of dad he should be! Available from all major bookstores and online.
Giles Coren
Giles Coren is a writer, critic, columnist and television presenter. For the last nine years he has been the Times’ restaurant critic and has written a weekly opinion column for them for even longer than that. In 2005, he was named ‘Food and Drink Writer of the Year’ at the British Press Awards. In the same year, his first novel, ‘Winkler’, won the Literary Review’s Bad Sex Award. His 1997 ‘autobiography’ of James Dyson, ‘Against The Odds’, did not. But it was a bestseller In Britain, America and Japan.
He co-presented the first series of ‘The F-Word’ with Gordon Ramsay in 2005, hosted Five’s ‘Movie Lounge’ in 2006, and in the same year wrote and presented ‘Tax The Fat’, a controversial documentary for More4 which made him no friends in the fat community.
In 2007 he co-presented, with Olivia Judson, Channel 4’s three part documentary series about bio-technology in the food chain, ‘Animal Farm’, and in 2008, with Sue Perkins, presented the six-part historical food series, ‘The Supersizers Go…’ followed by a second series in 2009.
His new series with Sue Perkins, ‘Giles and Sue Live The Good Life’, aired on BBC2 to ravew reviews in November 2010, and his new book, ‘Anger Management for Beginners’, has recently been published in paperback by Hodder.
John Burton Race
John Burton Race was born in Singapore in 1957 and spent his early years travelling and experiencing food from all over the world. In 1983 John became a Sous chef at Les Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons, Oxford from where he went on to become Head chef and manager of Le Petit Blanc, Oxford until 1986. He then opened his own restaurant L’Ortolan, Berkshire, where he achieved and maintained two Michelin stars. In 2000 he opened John Burton Race, Landmark Hotel, London and reclaimed both Michelin stars within the first year of trading.
In 2002 John moved to France for a year to relearn and discover ingredients and his love of cooking after many years in the fast lane. Channel 4 screened the television series “French Leave” and John wrote the book that accompanied the series.
John moved back to Devon in 2003 and teaming up with head chefs Nigel Marriage and Robin Zavou, John opened “The New Angel” in Dartmouth, a series of which was made for Channel 4, with accompanying book.
John has taken part in “Through The Keyhole”, “Great British Menu” and even took part in “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here” to name a few. He was a regular guest on ‘‘Cooking The Books’’ for Channel 5, but is probably best known for his role on ITV’s hit show ‘‘Britain’s Best Dish’’ which returned for it’s fifth series in 2011.
photograph copyright Adam Lawrence.
Rory Bremner
Impressionist, comedian, satirist, translator, columnist, writer, presenter, ballroom dancer, Rory Bremner is either multi-talented or indecisive or both. [Both. Ed]
Born in Edinburgh in 1961 and educated at Wellington College and Kings College London, (BA Hons, French and German) Rory is perhaps best known for writing and starring in the political satire show Bremner, Bird and Fortune, for nearly twenty years a mainstay of Channel 4’s comedy output. He won back-to-back BAFTAs for Britain’s Top Comedy Performance in 1995 and 1996, together with three Royal Television Society and two British Comedy Awards.
Fresh(ish) from doing Strictly last year, this year he will be mostly touring, writing and performing Tonight (R4) and presenting 20 one-hour documentaries for ITV featuring Britain’s Favourite Views.
His breakthrough TV appearance was on Wogan in 1985, following which he had his own series on the BBC from 1986 to 1991. He has since guested on many of Britain’s top comedy shows on radio and TV, including Spitting Image, Whose Line is it Anyway, Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week (where he was team captain for two series), The News Quiz, The Now Show, 7 day Sunday and QI. He appeared more often than any other guest on Britain’s top talk shows, Wogan and Parkinson. He often features on The Andrew Marr Show, where he reviews current political events through his many characters.
With John Bird and John Fortune, he also wrote and appeared in numerous specials, including Between Iraq and a Hard Place, My Government and I and Silly Money, and a book, You Are Here, published in 2005 (‘a stockpile of satirical ammunition’- Daily Telegraph).
Recently he has made documentaries on Scottish Soldiers and Diaries for BBC4, traced his family history on Who Do You Think You Are (BBC), explored his own self-diagnosed ADHD on Radio 4 and starred in the hugely successful 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing with partner Erin Boag. He does live tour shows, often with Jazz Performer Ian Shaw and comedienne Hattie Heyridge, and in 2011 began a new satirical show for Radio 4, Tonight, with Andy Zaltzman.
Meanwhile, he’s translated three operas: two from French, Carmen (2001) and Orpheus in the Underworld (Scottish Opera, 2011) and one from German (Der Silbersee,1997) together with the Bertolt Brecht play A Respectable Wedding (Young Vic, 2008). He is a regular contributor to The FT, The Telegraph, The New Statesman and Radio Times, for whom he has interviewed Michael Parkinson and David Frost.
When not working(!) he enjoys travel, opera, cooking, sport (especially cricket- he had a 1985 Top 20 hit as ‘The Commentators’ with N.n..nineteen not out) and motor racing- he owns a 1963 Alfa Spyder.
Married to the artist Tessa Campbell Fraser, with two daughters, Ava and Lila, he divides his time (badly) between London, Wiltshire and his new family home in the Scottish Borders.
Follow Rory on Twitter @rorybremner
Jo Brand
**Best Female TV Comic - British Comedy Awards (Won 2012)
** Best Female Performance in a Comedy Role - BAFTA (Won 2011)
** Best Writer - BAFTA (Nominated 2011)
** Writer’s Award - Broadcasting Press Guild Awards (Nominated 2011)
** Television Comedy/Light Entertainment - Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (Won 2010)
** Best Female Performance in a Comedy Role - BAFTA (Nominated 2010)
** Best Comedy Actress - British Comedy Awards (Nominated 2010)
** Best Writer - Comedy - Royal Television Society (Nominated 2010)
Since leaving her job as a psychiatric nurse in 1988, Jo Brand has built a large following across the UK, male and female alike appearing initially on the Saturday Live television show.
In 1993 she became a resident panellist, along with Tony Hawks, on BBC monologue show The Brain Drain. Soon after her “Through the Cakehole” (Channel X for Ch4) series met with great acclaim, as did her series “All the Way to Worcester” (Vera Prods for Ch4).
Jo’s diverse appeal is marked by appearances on such eclectic programmes as “Question Time” (BBC) to “Nevermind the Buzzcocks” (TalkBack Prods for BBC) and “Countdown”(YTV for Ch4) to “They Think It’s All Over” (TalkBack Prods for BBC) and The Graham Norton Show (BBC).
She presented “Jo Brand’s Commercial Breakdown” (Celador for BBC1), “Jo Brand’s Hot Potatoes” (Assembly Film & TV) and “Jo Brand’s Rudest Home Videos” (ITV1).
She also appeared on Star Spell, a spin off from Hard Spell, during 2004, and in a bloomin’ fantastic cameo in Absolutely Fabulous.
In 2007, Jo narrated Laughter & Tears: The Les Dawson Story, a documentary tribute to Les Dawson. The programme was broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in October 2007.
Jo took part in the first celebrity version of Comic Relief does Fame Academy, and then in 2007, she appeared as a celebrity contestant on Comic Relief Does The Apprentice, again to raise
money for Comic Relief.
In 2009 she participated in Let’s Dance for Comic Relief, another Comic Relief fundraiser, dancing as Britney Spears (‘tis true), reaching the final.
She has proved herself an un-willing fashion victim on the BBC1 special “What Not To Wear On The Red Carpet”, learnt the organ for BBC’s “Play it Again”, which she then played to a sell out crowd at the Royal Albert Hall, and she has also taken part in a charity celebrity carol singing choir!
She appeared as a judge in the BBC2 series The Speaker in April 2009. She offered her advice, along with John Amaechi and Jeremy Stockwell, in the eight-part series charting the search for “Britain’s Best Young Speaker”.
2009 saw her write and star in the utterly marvellous, Getting On, in which she starred along co-writers Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine. The series, set on a hospital’s geriatric ward, was partly inspired by her earlier career in nursing.
Her TV credits include everything from appearances on ‘Alan Carr’s Chatty Man’, ‘Stephen Fry’s 100 Greatest Gadgets’, ‘My Favourite Joke’ to guest judging on ‘Let’s Dance for Sport Relief’ (having been a fighting contendor), judging on ITV’s ‘Show Me The Funny’ and
‘Splash’ and hosting More 4’s ‘TV Book Club’. Most recently, she is hosting ‘Great Wall of Comedy’ for UKTV.
Jo went on to win a 2011 BAFTA for Best Female Comedy Performance for ‘‘Getting On”. The series has received critical acclaim and has recently had the third series broadcast in 2012. She was also seen as the Demon Dinner Lady in the Horrid Henry film and she continues to develop sitcoms for Vera Productions and What Larks Productions.
A critically acclaimed writer, Jo has written the hits ‘A Load Of Old Balls’ and ‘A Load Of Old Ball Crunchers’ (both Simon & Schuster), ‘It’s Different For Girls’, ‘Sorting Out Billy’ and ‘The More You Ignore Me’ (all for Headline Review). Her autobiography ‘Look Back In Hunger’ shot straight to Number 1 on The Sunday Times bestseller list, and she has followed up this success with part 2 called ‘Can’t Stand Up For Sitting Down’.
‘The More you Ignore me’ is Jo’s hilarious, poignant and darkly comic novel about mental illness, growing up and parental breakdown which has just been commissioned as a 90 min film for the BBC.
Jo’s latest book, ‘Can’t Stand up for Sitting Down’ is her second autobiographical book, a memoir full of hard-won wisdom and hilarity, expressing her views on life, laughs and friendships, and she is currently working on a new novel for Headline Publishing Group.
She continues to be a regular contributor on ‘QI’ and ‘Have I Got News For You’.