Mark Andrew Watson(born 13 February 1980)[1]is an English comedian, novelist and producer.
| Mark Watson | |
|---|---|
 Watson in 2024 | |
| Birth name | Mark Andrew Watson |
| Born | 13 February 1980 Bristol,England |
| Medium | Stand-up, television, radio, author |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge(BA) |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Genres | Satire,observational comedy,character comedy |
| Subject(s) | Everyday life, family, politics,stereotypes,current events |
| Spouse |
Emily Howes (div.2019) |
| Children | 2 |
| Notable works and roles | |
| Website | www |
Early life
editWatson was born inBristolto aWelshmother and English father.[2][3]He has younger twin sisters and a brother,Paul.He attendedBristol Grammar School,where he won a "Gabbler of the Year" award.[4]He went on to study English atQueens' College, Cambridge,graduating withfirst class honours.[5][6]At university he was a member of theFootlightsand contemporary ofStefan Golaszewski,Tim KeyandDan Stevens.[7]He was part of the revue which was nominated for the Best Newcomer category in thePerrier Comedy Awardsat the2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringeand also co-directed a revue with Key.
Career
editComedy
edit
Although not brought up in Wales, Watson used to deliver his act with a common Welsh accent which is not quite his own. He adopted it when he started stand-up comedy saying that it made him "more comfortable to be talking in a voice that I didn't quite recognise as my own".[8]He has since reverted to his own accent.
Watson has appeared regularly at theEdinburgh Festival Fringe,winning the first ever Panel Prize at theif.comeddiesin2006and being nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2005 Perrier Comedy Awards. His other awards include theTime OutCritics' Choice Award 2006 and aBarry Awardnomination for best show at theMelbourne Comedy Festival2006.
Watson has performed several unusual shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne Festivals, including marathon shows lasting 24 hours or more. The first of these was performed at the2004 Edinburgh Festival Fringe,which lasted 24 hours. At the end of the show he proposed to his girlfriend Emily Howes, who accepted. These shows have featured guest appearances from other performers such asTim Key,Tim Minchin,Adam Hills,Daniel Kitson,David O'Doherty,Brendon BurnsandJohn Dorneyas the balladeer.
At the2006 Edinburgh Festival FringeWatson hosted a literary workshop-cum-interactive comedy show entitledMark Watson, And His Audience, Write A Novel.The aim was to write, by the end of August, a novel begun from scratch and woven entirely from audience suggestions, with another 2,000 words or so added each day. The novel was not finished within the month.
At the2007 Fringe,Watson hosted a panel showWe Need AnswerswithAlex HorneandTim Key.This saw 16 comedians take part in a knock out quiz where all the questions and answers came from text serviceAny Question Answered.Paul Sinhawon the competition, beatingJosie Longin the final.We Need Answersreturned in2008with fewer rounds, Josie Long emerged as winner, beating Sinha in the semi-final andKristen Schaalin the final.
Watson performed his final 24-hour Fringe show at the2009 festivalalong with his "Earth Summit" and his "Edit". The Earth Summit was Watson's version of theAl Goretalk about world pollution and global warming and the Edit was a compilation of Watson's fringe shows to date, made particularly for those who had not seen him perform there. Watson's debut DVD,The Mark Watson Edit,was initially due for release on 15 November 2010.[9]However, Watson was forced to shelve the project and a new DVD recording was released on 28 November 2011, entitledMark Watson Live.
In 2019, Watson staged a 26.2-hour live show to coincide with theLondon Marathon,and during theCOVID-19 pandemicin 2020 he hosted two 24-hour "Watsonathon" events on theTwitchstreaming platform.[10]
Watson often performs gigs in unusual locations including: on a ferry,[11]from a stream,[12]on a train,[13]on the steps outside a theatre,[14]in a vaccination queue,[15]and in drive-in shows during the Covid pandemic.[16]
Live shows
edit| Year | Show name | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Far Too Happy | 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Cambridge Footlightsrevue with Edward Jaspers,Tim Key,Day Macaskill, James Morris andSophie Winkleman.Perrier Comedy Awardnomination. |
| 2004 | Stereocomics | 2004 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | WithRhod Gilbert |
| Mark Watson's Overambitious 24-Hour Show | |||
| 2005 | 50 Years Before Death and the Awful Prospect of Eternity | 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | PerrierBest Newcomer Award nomination[17] |
| 2005 Years in 2005 Minutes | |||
| 2006 | I'm Worried That I'm Starting To Hate Almost Everyone in the World | 2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Wonif.comeddie awardPanel Prize[18] |
| Mark Watson's Seemingly Impossible 36-Hour Circuit of the World | |||
| Mark Watson, And His Audience, Write A Novel | |||
| 2007 | Can I Briefly Talk To You About The Point of Life? | 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Followed by UK tour |
| Mark Watson's 24 Hour Jamboree To Save The Planet | |||
| We Need Answers: The Inaugural Festival Challenge Cup | Gameshow. With Tim Key and Alex Horne. Later transferred toBBC Four | ||
| 2008 | Mark Watson (And Friends) Take Control of the World in 24 Hours | Melbourne International Comedy Festival2008 | |
| All The Thoughts I've Had Since I Was Born | 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Followed by UK tour | |
| We Need Answers | With Tim Key and Alex Horne | ||
| 2009 | Mark Watson's Earth Summit | 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | |
| Mark Watson's Last Ever 24-Hour Show | |||
| 2010 | Do I Know You? | 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Followed by UK tour |
| Mark Watson's Unusually Enjoyable Book Launch | Marking the launch of his novelEleven | ||
| 2011 | The Mark Watson Edit | Released as a DVD | |
| 2012 | Mark Watson: The Information | 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | |
| Mark Watson's Edinborolympics | |||
| The Hotel | Comedic theatre show written and directed by Mark Watson.[19] | ||
| 2014 | Flaws | 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Followed by UK/Australia tour |
| Mark Watson's Comedywealth Games | |||
| 2016 | Mark Watson's Edinborolympics | 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | |
| I'm Not Here | Work in progress, followed by tour before returning for 2017 Fringe | ||
| 2017 | Mark Watson's Festival of Bad Ideas | 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | |
| 2018 | The Infinite Show | 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Followed by UK tour before returning for 2018 Fringe |
| 2019 | Mark Watson's Comedy Marathon | The Pleasance | 26.2 hour charity show supporting Dementia Revolution |
| How You Can Almost Win | 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Work in progress show at 2018 Fringe. Based on his experiences onCelebrity Island with Bear Grylls.Followed by UK tour. | |
| 2020 | Mark Watson's Watsonathon! | Livestreamed viaTwitch | Charity livestream during theCOVID-19 pandemicwith funds going towardsFareShare,The Hospice Income Generator Network, and NextUp Comedy |
| Mark Watson's Watsonathon 2! | |||
| 2021 | This Can't Be It | 2021 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Followed by UK tour |
| 2023 | Search | 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Followed by UK tour |
Television
editA three-episode run ofWe Need Answersbegan onBBC Fouron 12 February 2009, based on theEdinburgh Fringeshow of the same name. As with the live show, Watson co-hosted with Tim Key and Alex Horne. A further 13 episodes were broadcast later in 2009. Guests for the series includedGermaine Greer,Michael RosenandJilly Goolden.
In 2010ITV4commissionedMark Watson Kicks Off,a sports panel show, hosted by Watson, where each week with three celebrities taking part in numerous rounds including "Beat the Best" where Watson takes on a sporting champion but with a twist and "I'm not a successful sports star but I'm related to someone who is" where the three celebrities ask questions to a guest who is related to a sports star.
In 2011, Watson hosted a pilot for an improvisational comedy show calledImprovisation My Dear Mark Watson.The one-off episode was commissioned and broadcast byDave,who chose not to create a full series. The pilot aired on 9 July.[20]
In 2012, Watson starred withMicky Flanaganand hostMark Dolanas a captain in theChannel 4panel programmeThe Mad Bad Ad Show.[21]
Guest appearances
editWatson has appeared as a panellist on shows includingNever Mind the Buzzcocks,QI,Who Said That?,Guessable,8 Out of 10 Cats,Argumental,Have I Got News For You,Mock The Week,Would I Lie to You?;and in Dictionary Corner onCountdown(2023).
He has been a contestant onPointless Celebrities,Richard Osman's House of Games,Taskmaster,andCelebrity Mastermind.
He has performed stand-up on shows includingMichael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow(2009),Channel 4's Comedy Gala(2010),Live at the Apollo(2011), andTonight at the London Palladium(2017).
In Australia, Watson has been seen onRove,Good News Week,Spicks and Specksand theMelbourne International Comedy Festival,all aired in April 2007.
In 2011, he appeared on New Zealand comedy panel show7 Days.
Watson has appeared on a number of sports programs, includingThe Premier League Show(2017-18), BBC Green Sport Awards (2022) andSport Relief(2020).
Watson appeared as atalking headinArmando Iannucci's spoof documentary seriesTime Trumpet.
In 2017, he competed in series 5 ofTaskmasteragainstBob Mortimer,Sally Phillips,Nish KumarandAisling Bea,finishing joint second.
Also in 2017, Watson appeared onCelebrity Island with Bear GryllsalongsideIwan Thomas,Jordan Stephens,Lucy Mecklenburgh,Melody Thornton,RJ Mitte,Ryan Thomas,Sharron DaviesandShazia Mirza.Watson left on doctors' orders after suffering from severe chest pains and insomnia in the final episode.
In 2021, he appeared onRichard Osman's House of GamesalongsideJosie Lawrence,Raj BisramandLaura Whitmore.
Radio
edit| Year | Title | Co-hosts |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better | (Series 1)Tim Key, Tim Minchin (Series 2)Tom Basden, Tim Key |
| 2011 | Mark Watson's Live Address to the Nation[22] | Tom Basden, Tim Key |
| 2014- | Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life[23] | (Series 1)Tom Basden, Tim Key (Series 2)Will Adamsdale,Sam Simmons (Series 3-)Flo & Joan |
In August 2009, Watson hosted a three-episode series onBBC Radio 5 Livecalled100 Million or Bust,where a panel of guests attempted to spend £100 million on transfers as managers of an EnglishPremier Leagueteam.
Watson has made regular appearances on theBBC Radio 5 LiveshowFighting Talk.[24][25]
Books
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Bullet Points | |
| 2007 | A Light-Hearted Look at Murder | |
| 2008 | Crap at the Environment | A non-fiction book which followed his efforts to halve his carbon footprint over the course of one year. |
| 2011 | Eleven | |
| 2012 | The Knot | |
| 2015 | Dan and Sam | A graphic novel with illustrations by Oliver Harud |
| 2015 | Hotel Alpha | |
| 2016 | The Place That Didn't Exist | |
| 2020 | Contacts | |
| 2023 | Mortification | First released as the audiobook8 Deaths and Life After Them(2021) |
Other work
editWatson co-runs a production company,Impatient Productions,which produces his own radio shows as well as for others such asAngela Barnes,[26]Britain's Got TalentwinnerViggo Venn,[27]Reverend Richard Coles.[28]
Since September 2023, Watson and seven-timeWorld Snooker Champion,Stephen Hendry,co-host the officialpodcastof theWorld Snooker Tour,Snooker Club.Each episode features special guests of sports, entertainment, and music personalities.[29]
In December 2021, Watson launched a podcast through his production company with co-host Michael Chakraverty calledmenkind,discussing masculinity with a weekly guest.[30]There have been 60 episodes to date, and guests have includedTom Daley,Nikesh Shukla,andJordan Gray.
In 2020 during theCOVID-19 pandemic,Watson, Tim Key and Alex Horne started aYouTubechannel playing a game known asNo More Jockeys.The three were givenChortleLegends of Lockdown awards for No More Jockeys as well as their individual work.[31]
In 2009, Watson appeared in adverts forMagners Pear Cider,which became the subject of an extended routine by fellow comicStewart Leeas part of his 2009, "If You Prefer A Milder Comedian, Please Ask For One" live show. In 2010 Watson provided the voice over for a rabbit in anInnocent Smoothiesadvert. From 2018, Watson appeared inTUIcommercials alongside fellow comedianZoe LyonsonSky One.[32]
On 25 February, Watson presented the 2009 NME Awards atBrixton Academy.
At the start of the 2009/2010 season, Watson wrote a regular article in theBristol Cityofficial matchday programme Well Red.
In December 2009, Watson's television dramaA Child's Christmases in WalesstarringRuth Joneswas broadcast as part of the Christmas 2009 season onBBC Four;it was described as peeping into the Christmases of a South Wales family during the 1980s.
Personal life
editWatson proposed to Emily Howes, a fellow novelist, writer-performer and theatre director during a live marathon comedy routine at the Fringe, in front of an audience of 200.[33]
They married in 2004, withTim Keyacting as Watson'sbest man.[34]Watson and Howes have two children. He is currently in a relationship with comedy producer Lianne Coop; they live inEast London.[35]
Watson is a lifelong supporter ofBristol City Football Club.[36]
Stand-up specials
editReferences
edit- ^Watson, Mark (15 February 2020)."The present, and the future".Mark Watson the Comedian.
- ^"Preview: Mark Watson".WalesOnline.22 January 2007.Retrieved9 August2013.
- ^Logan, Brian (15 August 2006)."Mark Watson: The busiest comic in Edinburgh".The Guardian.London.
- ^"On my radar: Mark Watson's cultural highlights".The Guardian.22 November 2015.
- ^"Congregations of the Regent House on 28, 29, and 30 June 2001".Cambridge University Reporter.
- ^"Interview: Mark Watson".Varsity.29 October 2012.
- ^"Footlights Alumni: 2000–2009".Footlights.Archived fromthe originalon 15 October 2012.
- ^Monahan, Mark (19 January 2008)."Mark Watson: So, there was this English Welshman..."The Daily Telegraph.London. Archived fromthe originalon 18 April 2010.Retrieved29 November2011.
- ^"Play.com – The Mark Watson Edit".Archived fromthe originalon 15 May 2010.
- ^Bennett, Steve."Yet another 24 hour show for Mark Watson: News 2020: Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide".chortle.co.uk.Retrieved28 January2022.
- ^"Mark Watson tours only places starting with M or W".Chortle.15 February 2017.Retrieved8 August2024.
- ^"Top comedians stand up for precious chalk streams - by holding gig in the River Chess".Bucks Free Press.23 May 2021.Retrieved8 August2024.
- ^Broomfield, Emma (26 June 2019)."All aboard the comedy train".The Times.Retrieved8 August2024.
- ^"Mark Watson hosts surprise gig and buys everyone a drink as show axed over Queen's death".The Mirror.12 September 2022.Retrieved8 August2024.
- ^"Live... from the vaccine queue".Chortle.1 April 2021.Retrieved8 August2024.
- ^"Mark Watson launches a drive-in tour".Chortle.10 June 2020.Retrieved8 August2024.
- ^"The Perrier Comedy Award 2005".Archived fromthe originalon 25 December 2006.
- ^"Phil Nichol wins top comedy award".BBC News. 27 August 2006.
- ^"The HotelPress Release –TheInvisibleDot.com"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 17 July 2011.
- ^"Improvisation My Dear Mark Watson: Dave".UKTV.
- ^"The Mad Bad Ad Show, coming soon to Channel 4".Channel 4(Press release). 14 July 2011.Retrieved9 August2013.
- ^"Mark Watson's Live Address to the Nation".BBC.Retrieved13 October2020.
- ^"BBC Radio 4 - Mark Watson Talks a Bit About Life, Series 1 - Episode guide".BBC.
- ^"Fighting Talk: 10 January 2009".Archived fromthe originalon 25 October 2012.
- ^"Fighting Talk: 19 November 2005".
- ^"Angela Barnes gets Radio 4 stand-up series".British Comedy Guide. 8 June 2015.
- ^"Viggo Venn announces his first tour".Chortle. 15 June 2023.
- ^"Richard Coles announces 2023 tour".British Comedy Guide. 10 May 2023.
- ^"New 'Snooker Club' podcast launches September 20th".15 September 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 1 April 2024.Retrieved1 April2024.
- ^"'Why isn't crying manly?': a comic and a Bake Off star ask what makes a man ".The Guardian.25 January 2021.Retrieved28 September2021.
- ^Bennett, Steve."All hail the Legends Of Lockdown!: News 2021: Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide".chortle.co.uk.Retrieved25 October2021.
- ^"Behind-the-scenes of our Sky One footage".TUI. 21 March 2018.
- ^"Comedian Mark Watson says affair was way of avoiding 'the fact I wasn't special'".The Independent.22 August 2023.Retrieved23 March2024.
- ^Jones, Alice (16 December 2009)."Tim Key: A man of his words".The Independent.London.ISSN0951-9467.Retrieved26 February2018.
- ^"The pandemic made you realise how precarious comedy can be".The Guardian.16 August 2020.
- ^Vittles, Jack (5 June 2017)."Comedian and Bristol City fan Mark Watson talks about the club's guts and Ashton Gate".Bristol Post.Retrieved26 February2018.
- ^"The Infinite Show".infiniteshow.markwatsonthecomedian.com.
- ^"Mark Watson's Infinite Show".27 June 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^"Mark Watson's Amazon Prime Show out TODAY | Blue Book Artist Management".6 May 2022.