Christopher David Addison(born 5 November 1971)[1]is a British comedian, writer, actor, and director. He is perhaps best known for his role as a regular panellist onMock the Week.He is also known for his lecture-style comedy shows, two of which he later adapted forBBC Radio 4.
| Chris Addison | |
|---|---|
 Chris Addison in 2018 | |
| Birth name | Christopher David Addison |
| Born | 5 November 1971 Cardiff,Wales, UK |
| Education | University of Birmingham(BA) |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Genres | Observational,satire |
| Children | 2 |
| Notable works and roles | |
In addition to stand-up, Addison played Ollie Reeder in theBBC Twosatire seriesThe Thick of It(2005) and Toby Wright in its spin-off filmIn the Loop(2009), starred in theSky Livingcomedy-dramaTrying Again(2014) and appeared in three episodes of series 8 ofDoctor Who.He also co-created and starred in the BBC Two sitcomLab Rats(2008). On radio, he previously hosted the weekly comedy newssatireshow7 Day SundayonBBC Radio 5 Livefrom 2009 to 2010. In 2020 he co-created the FX parental comedy seriesBreedersstarringMartin Freeman.
Early life
editAddison was born inCardiff,Wales, to English parents and moved back with his parents toWorsley,Salford,England, when he was four.[2]On theBBC Radio 4programmeChain Reaction,he stated that he considers himself a middle class Mancunian.[2]He was educated atManchester Grammar School,an independent school for boys in Manchester.[3]At MGS rather than playing cricket he played the gamepodex.[4]This was followed by theUniversity of Birmingham,where he studied English Literature with the original intent of becoming a theatre director.[5]After his directing plans did not work out, he drifted into comedy as an alternative creative outlet.[2]
Career
editStand-up
edit
Addison's first solo show at theEdinburgh Festival Fringewas in1998,for which he was nominated for Best Newcomer at thePerrier Awards.He continued to bring shows to the Fringe for several years, gaining two Perrier Award nominations – for his2004showCivilisationand2005'sAtomicity.[6] In 2005 he won theCity Life Comedian of the YearAward, a stand-up competition in theNorth West of England.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
edit- 1998Chris Addison
- 1999Gentleman Scholar Acrobat
- 2000Cakes and Ale
- 2001Port Out, Starboard Home
- 2002The Ape That Got Lucky(later adapted forBBC Radio 4)
- 2004Civilization(nominated for Perrier Comedy Award, later adapted for BBC Radio 4)
- 2005Atomicity(nominated for Perrier Comedy Award)
Radio
editFirst broadcast in 2004, Addison co-wrote and co-starred in thepolitical satireThe Department,along withJohn OliverandAndy Zaltzman.It ran for 14 episodes over three series onBBC Radio 4,ending in 2006.
In August 2005, Radio 4 airedThe Ape That Got Lucky,Addison's adaptation of his2002 Edinburgh Festival Fringeshow of the same name. This programme featured fellow comediansGeoffrey McGivern,Jo EnrightandDan Tetsell.On 8 May 2006,The Ape That Got Luckywon the gold award in the comedy production category at theSony Radio Academy Awards.[7]
In 2006, Addison recordedChris Addison's Civilization,again for Radio 4, based on hisEdinburgh Fringeshow of2004;this again featured McGivern, Enright and Tetsell and was aired in four parts over the summer.
He has been a panellist on three of Radio 4's comedy panel games:Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive,first appearing in 2006,Just a Minute,first appearing in 2007, andThe Unbelievable Truth,first appearing in 2009.
Addison hosted a series of the Radio 4 comedy series4 Stands Up,which showcases up-coming and established comedy talent. As host, Addison performs a short opening set and introduces the acts, in the style of acompèreat acomedy club.The first episode was broadcast on 2 April 2009.
On 10 May 2009, Addison hosted theSunday Night ShowonAbsolute Radioin place of fellow stand-up comedianIain Leewho was away due to being on his honeymoon.
Addison hosted7 Day Sunday,a satirical news show onBBC Radio 5 Livealong with his co-hostsSarah MillicanandAndy Zaltzman.The first episode aired in January 2010. Addison presented the second series of the show until February 2011, when he was replaced byAl Murray.
He is also good friends withGeoff LloydonAbsolute Radioand has made a few appearances onGeoff Lloyd's Hometime Show.
Television
editThe Thick of It
editFrom 2005 to 2012, Addison appeared in theBBC televisionsatirical comedy seriesThe Thick of Itas Oliver "Ollie" Reeder, Junior Advisor (later Special Advisor) to the Secretary of State (Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship). He appeared in all of the four series, as well as the two specials 'Rise of the Nutters' and 'Spinners and Losers'.
Addison also featured in the film spin-off ofThe Thick of It,titledIn the Loop,playing Toby Wright, a character very similar to his part in the television original.[8]
Lab Rats
editIn July 2008,BBC TwoairedLab Rats,a sitcom starring Addison and co-written with Carl Cooper.Lab Ratsfeatured cast membersJo Enright,Geoffrey McGivernandDan Tetsell,with whom Addison had worked previously on the radio adaptations of his one-man showsThe Ape That Got LuckyandCivilisation.
Lab Ratswas a return to the traditional, joke-heavy, studio based sitcom format that has fallen out of fashion in recent times in favour of the single-camera sitcom.[5]The series was not generally well received by critics and was not renewed for a second series.
Mock the Week
editAfter several guest appearances on the comedy panel showMock the Week,in September 2011 Addison became a regular panellist, appearing in every episode since the second part of series 10 until series 12 (2013). He appeared alongside other regular panellistsHugh DennisandAndy Parsonsand the show's host,Dara Ó Briain.
Other TV acting projects
editIn 2014 Addison starred in theSky LivingseriesTrying Again.
Guest appearances and hosting
editIn 2000 Addison co-hosted the short-livedChannel 4comedy seriesDotcomedywithGail Porter.This was a late-night, risque show featuring video clips and other humour derived from the Internet.
He has appeared onHave I Got News for Yousix times,Would I Lie to You?once and8 Out of 10 Catstwice. Addison also appeared in episode 3 of series 5 ofLive at the Apollo.He has thrice appeared onQI.
Addison appeared onThe Graham Norton Showon 16 April 2009 promotingIn the Loop.On 18 April 2010 he appeared onThe Andrew Marr Showto comment on the week's political issues, including the volcanicash cloud from IcelandandThe First Election Debate.
He appeared onSkinsas Professor David Blood, the college director of Roundview College and father of third Generation character Grace Violet. On 4 November 2010 Addison hosted theBBC'sHave I Got News For You,having previously been a guest on the show.
In the summer of 2011 Addison hosted anE4comedy chat show calledShow and Tell,with each of the 8 episodes featuring three guest stand-up comedians.[9]
Addison has also made an appearance in children's television showHorrible Histories.
In August 2014, it was announced that Addison would make a guest appearance in the two-part series finale ofthe eighth seriesofDoctor Whowith his formerThe Thick of Itco-starPeter Capaldi,who plays theTwelfth Doctor.[10]His character, Seb, first appeared in the mid-series episode "The Caretaker"and then appeared in further episodes including"Dark Water"and"Death in Heaven".
Directing and producing
editIn 2013, he began working as a director onArmando Iannucci'sHBOsitcomVeep.[11]He directed 13 episodes. In 2016, he won theDirectors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Seriesand received a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.Alongside directing, he also served as executive producer in 2015. For this work on Series 3, he and the other producers on the show received a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.They won the award for Series 4 and 5.
In 2020, sitcomBreederspremiered on both US TV channelFXand Britain'sSky One.Breeders was co-created by Addison, main co-starMartin Freemanand comedy writerSimon Blackwelland is based on Freeman's own experience as a parent. It went on for 4 successful series with Sky and Addison directed 15 episodes.
Film
editAddison directed the 2019 comedyThe Hustle,starringRebel WilsonandAnne Hathaway,a remake ofDirty Rotten Scoundrels(1988), which in turn was a remake ofBedtime Story(1964).[12]
In 2022, Addison directedRalph FiennesplayingGeorge Frederick Handelin a period comedy-drama,Hallelujah.[13]
Other work
editFrom 2003 to 2005 Addison wrote a fortnightly finance column forThe Guardiantitled "Funny Money". On alternate weeks, when the column was not written by Addison, writing duties passed to fellow stand-upDominic Holland.
Addison has written two books, both published byHodder and Stoughton:Cautionary Tales for Grown Upsin 2006 andIt Wasn't Me: Why Everybody is to Blame and You're Notin 2008.
In 2011 and 2012 he appeared in a range ofDirect Lineadverts as a Direct Line representative alongside difficult customers, played by fellow comedic performersAlexander Armstrong,Amelia BullmoreandLorna Watson.[14]On 9 April 2011 he was part of the Comedy Takeover on TV channelDave,where he presented and selected the shows.
In 2011 he took part in three shows of the 16-dateUncaged Monkeystour along withBrian Cox,Robin Ince,Ben Goldacre,Simon SinghandDara Ó Briain.
In July 2013 he received an honorary degree from theUniversity of Birmingham.[15]
In February 2016 Addison took the speaking role of Smith, an Englishman, in the French operaL'ÉtoileatThe Royal Opera House,London.[16]
Addison became a Patron ofSocial Enterprise UKin 2017.
Personal life
editAddison currently lives inBromley,South East London, with his wife and two children: a boy and a girl.[17][18]
As of March 2020, he was a member of theLabour Party.[19]
References
edit- ^"Chris Addison: The thinking man's comic adjusts to fame"The Independent(13 November 2011). Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- ^abc"Chain Reaction – Series 8 – 2. Rebecca Front talks to Chris Addison".BBC Radio 4.Retrieved27 March2014.
- ^"Drama".Manchester Grammar School.Retrieved15 April2018.
MGS Drama has a long and proud theatrical tradition, as Old Boys including Sir Ben Kingsley, Robert Powell, Sir Nicholas Hytner and Chris Addison can confirm.
- ^BBC (2021) Test Match Special, BBC Radio 5, 4th Sep.
- ^abHall, Julian (10 July 2008)."Chris Addison: Swapping satire for sitcom".The Independent.London. Archived fromthe originalon 20 May 2010.Retrieved14 April2009.
- ^"Perrier/if edy Award Past Winners".ifcomedy. Archived fromthe originalon 11 January 2009.Retrieved14 April2009.
- ^"Sony Radio Academy Awards 2006, The Comedy Award".Zafer Associates. Archived fromthe originalon 24 December 2008.Retrieved14 April2009.
- ^Jeremy Kay (23 January 2009)."Sundance 2009: In the Loop puts rest of the fest in the shade".The Guardian.London.Retrieved28 January2009.
- ^"Show & Tell".E4. Archived fromthe originalon 24 July 2013.Retrieved16 July2013.
- ^Kelly, Stephen (2014) "The Thick of It's Chris Addison to reunite with Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who finale",Radio Times,19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014
- ^Addison, Chris (17 February 2013)."Chris Addison on 'Veep', the American cousin of 'The Thick of It'".The Daily Telegraph.
- ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (19 January 2017)."Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson Are The 'Nasty Women' In MGM's 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' Remake".
- ^Wiseman, Andreas (27 April 2018)."Ralph Fiennes & Chris Addison Team Up On Comedy-Drama 'Hallelujah!' From 'Rush', 'Yardie' Producers".
- ^Alex Brownsell (4 January 2011)."Direct Line drops red phone in favour of comedy ads – Marketing news".Marketing magazine.Retrieved31 October2011.
- ^"University of Birmingham Honorary Graduands for July 2013".Birmingham.ac.uk. 28 June 2013.Retrieved27 March2014.
- ^Ashley, Tim (3 February 2016)."L'Étoile, Royal Opera House".The Guardian.p. 32.Retrieved3 February2016.
- ^"Chris Addison".The Guardian.London. 26 April 2010.
- ^Duerden, Nick (3 March 2013)."Chris Addison: He's like a can of Red Bull made flesh".The Independent.Retrieved16 July2013.
- ^Chris Addison [@mrchrisaddison] (8 March 2020)."Members of the Labour Party and associated personages! I just sent you an email about voting for @DrRosena for Deputy Leader, which is exactly what I'm doing. You should TOTALLY do that too, IMH, as the kids say, O. https://quiz.drrosena.co.uk"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.