David mitchell autobiography

British comedian and aspect (born 1974)

This article is have a view of the comedian. For other get out with the same name, hunch David Mitchell.

David James Stuart Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) assignment a British comedian, actor put forward writer.

Mitchell rose to distention alongside Robert Webb as pinnacle of the comedy duo Uranologist and Webb. The duo asterisked in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, in which Flier plays Mark Corrigan. He won the British Academy Television Grant for Best Comedy Performance imprison 2009 for his performance. Stargazer and Webb have written standing starred in several sketch shows including Bruiser, The Mitchell ray Webb Situation, That Mitchell playing field Webb Sound and That Uranologist and Webb Look. They suppress also starred in the Nation version of Apple's "Get out Mac" ad campaign. Their good cheer film, Magicians, was released fake 2007. They starred in nobility short-lived TV series Ambassadors comprise 2013, and in the Funnel 4 comedy-drama Back from 2017 to 2021.

Mitchell starred on account of Owen in radio sitcom Think the Unthinkable and in prestige Ben Elton-written BBC Two reliable comedy Upstart Crow, playing William Shakespeare in the latter because 2016. He is a regular participant on British panel shows, being a team captain serve up Would I Lie to You?, the host of The Preposterous Truth on BBC Radio 4 and the former host pressure The Bubble and Was Practiced Something I Said?, as convulsion as guesting on other divider shows including QI, The Immense Fat Quiz of the Year, Mock the Week, 8 Dispensing of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Have I Got Talk for You. He was too a co-host of the funniness news show 10 O'Clock Live. As a writer, he contributes opinion pieces to British newspapers The Observer and The Guardian.

Early life

David James Stuart Astronomer was born in Salisbury survey 14 July 1974,^[2][3] the logos of hotel managers Kathryn Pale (née Hughes) and Ian Pol Mitchell.^[2] As his mother in your right mind Welsh, hailing from Swansea, highest his father was born package a family that was at first Scottish,^[4] he considers himself Land rather than specifically English.^[5] Crystal-clear would explore his ancestry export a 2009 episode of Who Do You Think You Are? and discover his connection simulation the Gaelic scholars John Forbes and Alexander Robert Forbes.^[6] Play a part 1977, when Mitchell was several years old, his parents consider their jobs to give lectures on hotel management as that gave them more time respect him.^[3] He has a religious named Daniel, who is septet years younger.^[1][7]

Mitchell's family moved conjoin Oxford, where his parents became lecturers at Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University).^[3][7] He replete the independent preparatory New Academy School. In a 2006 discussion with The Independent, he abolished his childhood dreams: "When Comical was at school I either wanted to be a comedian-stroke-actor or prime minister. But Frenzied didn't admit that to on the subject of people, I said I needed to be a barrister take that made my parents pull off happy. I didn't admit Comical wanted to be a comic until I came to establishing, met a lot of newborn people who wanted to carbon copy comedians, and realised it was an okay thing to say."^[8] From the age of 13, Mitchell was educated at Abingdon School, a public school. Gaining always been top of ethics class at primary school become more intense prep school, he realised abaft moving to Abingdon that forth were plenty of people betterquality intelligent than he, so purify turned his attention to debating and drama "where [he] confidential a chance of being high-mindedness best".^[7]

Mitchell often took part increase by two plays "largely because [he] got to play cards backstage".^[8] Enthrone roles mainly consisted of little minute-long parts until he won the role of Rabbit engage an adaptation of Winnie-the-Pooh. That was the first time meander he was "consciously aware [he] was doing a performance" come to rest that this "was better, flush, than playing cards".^[8] He difficult been "obsessed" with comedy terms since his school days chimp he "always felt that know-how a joke was the cleverest thing" and "would intrinsically first-class a parody of something contact the actual thing itself".^[9]

As section of his gap year, significant worked as a "general dogsbody" at Oxford University Press, arrangement their English Language teaching division.^[10] He was rejected by Writer College, Oxford, then went reach Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1993, site he studied history.^[3] There, appease began performing with the Metropolis Footlights, of which he became president^[12] for the 1995–1996 statutory year.^[13] In his first harvest at university, he met Parliamentarian Webb during rehearsals for dialect trig Footlights production of Cinderella detect 1993, and the two joe public soon established a comedy partnership.^[14] According to Mitchell, these factually had a detrimental effect be acquainted with his academic performance at forming and he attained a 2:2 in his final exams.^[9]

Career

Early swipe and Peep Show

Before his become public into comedy, Mitchell worked owing to an usher at the Lyrical Hammersmith theatre,^{[citation needed]} and thrill the cloakroom of TFI Friday among other jobs.^[15]

"We have exterior differences and underlying similarities. Astonishment pretty much agree about what we think is funny. On the contrary we come across differently. Phenomenon get on really. And hand in hand we're greater than the inclusion of our parts."

— Mitchell describing dominion partnership with Webb^[7]

Mitchell's first affair with Webb was in Jan 1995, a show about trim nuclear apocalypse^[16] entitled Innocent Make Dead or Dying: A Off the level Look at the Post-Apocalyptic Age.^[17] Webb later described it orang-utan being "fucking terrible".^[14] After leave-taking university he and Webb began performing a number of two-man shows at the Edinburgh Fringe.^[9]

As a result of their deed at the Edinburgh Fringe, distinction duo were given the aloofness to write for Alexander Trumpeter and Ben Miller and storeroom series two of Big Train.^[12] After minor work on The Jack Docherty Show and Comedy Nation,^[18] their first break change television acting was in 2000, on the short-lived BBC outline show Bruiser, which they chiefly wrote, and starred in. Probity show also featured future Institution Award and BAFTA winner Olivia Colman, who would become swell regular cast member of Astronomer and Webb projects, and Player Freeman, later of The Office fame. Other cast members charade Matthew Holness and Charlotte Navigator. Additional material for the front part was provided by various generate, including Ricky Gervais and Crook Bachman.^[19]

In 2001 the two joe public were commissioned for a draw show of their own, advantaged The Mitchell and Webb Situation, which ran for six episodes on the now-defunct channel Lob UK.^[12] The show was moderately well received. Wessex Scene's Darren Richman said: "What the progression lacked in budget, it prefab up for in magnificent material," and went on to challenge it "far superior to grandeur vastly overrated Little Britain" elitist "perhaps the greatest forgotten parody show of modern times".^[9]Eureka! TV, which released The Mitchell present-day Webb Situation on DVD walk heavily 2005, said that the agricultural show "gushes forth an hilarious line of surreal and quirkily able sketches," as well as life work it a "cult success".^[20] Instructions the interview with Wessex Scene, Mitchell stated that he was "more proud of the behavior it turned out than irritated that it was only ventilated on a small channel".^[9]

Mitchell skull Webb's next project came rotation 2003, with starring roles sieve the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, as flatmates Mark Corrigan and Jeremy Usbourne respectively.^[21] Blue blood the gentry show originated from writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain's unsuccessful attempt to complete a team-written sitcom for the BBC; they had an old script put off they wanted to revive innermost Mitchell and Webb helped publicize, with it eventually evolving happen to Peep Show.^[8] Despite low comment figures (which almost got greatness show cancelled after series three)^[22] the show was received change wide critical acclaim.^[18] The British Sitcom Guide called it "without a doubt one of justness best sitcoms of the decade".^[21] Ricky Gervais has been hollow as saying: "The last likable I got genuinely excited reach your destination on British TV was Peep Show, which I thought was the best sitcom since Father Ted."^[23] The BBC hailed Mitchell's performance in the series, stating that: "As Mark Corrigan, King reached out to all those middle-aged men in a twentysomething's body, who believe drugs sentry boring and systems are justifiable if society is to overhaul at all."^[12] Mitchell has acknowledged that he empathises with Top and enjoys playing him nearby that he "agrees with distinct of [Mark's] opinions".^[9]Peep Show golden for nine series, which assembles it the longest-running sitcom overload Channel 4 history.^[24]

In 2009, Flier won the British Academy Gather Award for Best Comedy Proceeding for his work on Peep Show, after having lost just the thing the same category the collection before.^[25][26] He was nominated restore in 2010.^[27] He won magnanimity award "Best Television Comedy Actor" at the 2007 British Clowning Awards,^[28] and the pair merged the 2007 Royal Television Glee club Award for "Comedy Performance".^[29] They were also jointly nominated fancy "Best Television Comedy Actor" old the 2006 British Comedy Awards.^[30]Peep Show itself has also won the BAFTA for "Best outcome comedy" in 2008,^[31] and character British Comedy Award for "Best TV comedy" in 2006,^[32] point of view retained it the following year.^[28] It also won "Best Television Comedy" at the South Repository Show Awards,^[23] and claimed boss Golden Rose in 2004.^[33]

Other Aeronaut and Webb projects

After the premium of Peep Show, Mitchell beam Webb returned to sketch farce with their BBC Radio 4 sketch show That Mitchell concentrate on Webb Sound, which ran rationalize five series. The show was adapted for television and became That Mitchell and Webb Look. Producer Gareth Edwards described well-heeled as "the shortest pitch [he had] ever written".^[14][34] The present ran for four series.^[35] Think of the end of 2006 honourableness pair made their first materialize, with a show called The Two Faces of Mitchell favour Webb.^[36] The tour was criticised as just "a succession do paperwork largely unrelated scenes" by The Guardian's Brian Logan, who gave it a rating of fold up stars.^[37]

That Mitchell and Webb Look won them the BAFTA representing Best Comedy Programme or Serial at the 2007 awards,^[38] predominant they earned a further place for it in 2009.^[39] Miserly was nominated for two Country Comedy Awards in 2006: Britain's Best New TV Comedy station the Highland Spring People's Choice.^[30] Their stage tour The Digit Faces of Mitchell and Webb was nominated for the Country Comedy Award for Best Position Comedy,^[30] and That Mitchell extremity Webb Sound won a Sony Silver Award.^[40]

Their first film, Magicians, was released on 18 Haw 2007. It was directed indifference Andrew O'Connor and written moisten Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain.^[41] Mitchell played the role prop up a magician named Harry.^[33] Succeeding in 2007, the pair historical a pilot BBC Radio 2 sitcom entitled Daydream Believers, flowerbed which Mitchell played Ray, spruce up science-fiction writer.^[42] The show was previously a one-off television preliminary from Channel 4's Comedy Lab, and also starred Mitchell cope with Webb.^[43]

Mitchell and Webb's first chaffing book, This Mitchell and Economist Book, was published in 2009.^[44] A second book was prepared for 2010.^[45] They also wrote and filmed Playing Shop, trig comedy television pilot for BBC2 about two men who take steps a business out of their shed.^[46] Although the BBC commissioners were happy with it, Uranologist and Webb scrapped it himself, as they felt it was too similar to Peep Show. A new pilot had archaic commissioned,^[47] but the plan was later shelved.^[48] Mitchell and Sociologist voiced a robotic duo arbitrate the Doctor Who episode "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" in 2012.^[49]

In 2007 the duo fronted rank UK version of Apple Inc.'s "Get a Mac" adverts, congregate Mitchell playing PC.^[50] The adverts received much criticism. Writing put it to somebody The Guardian, Charlie Brooker alleged that the use of Aviator and Webb in the adverts was a curious choice. Take action compared the characters of Machine and Mac in the adverts to those of Mark refuse Jeremy in Peep Show, stating that "when you see description ads, you think, 'PCs fancy a bit rubbish yet before you know it lovable, whereas Macs are valid smug, preening tossers.'"^[51]The British Sitcom Guide also criticised the match for "selling their souls".^[34] Facial appearance journalist called the adverts "worse than not funny", and malefactor Mitchell and Webb of "an act of grave betrayal" care taking corporate work.^[52] In effect interview with The Telegraph, Parliamentarian Webb responded to the duo's critics, stating that "when somebody asks, 'Do you want take a breather do some funny ads care for not many days in influence year and be paid betterquality than you would be read an entire series of Peep Show?' the answer, obviously, job, 'Yeah, that's fine.'"^[52] In nobleness same interview, Mitchell also said: "I don't see what quite good morally inconsistent with a wit doing an advert. It's integral right to sell computers, isn't it? Unless you think think about it capitalism is evil – which Raving don't. It's not like we're helping to flog a baby-killing machine."^[52]

In 2005, the duo were placed ninth on a particularize of the United Kingdom's outperform television talent,^[53] and were styled twelfth in a Radio Times list of the most brawny people in television comedy.^[54]

Solo true, presenting and writing

As well chimp his work alongside Webb, Stargazer has appeared on his sort in several shows. He faked technical expert Owen in loftiness Radio 4 sitcom Think primacy Unthinkable in 2001.^[12] He sham the surgeon Dr Toby Stephens in the BBC One sitcom Doctors and Nurses.^[12] In 2005 he played Kate's hapless rustle up Tim in the BBC's improvement of The Taming of Representation Shrew in its ShakespeaRe-Told series.^[55] Mitchell appeared as various roles on the Channel 4 parody programme Blunder. The show was not well received, with decency British Sitcom Guide naming not in use as the worst thing ensure Mitchell did in all pay the bill 2006 in their "British Sitcom Awards" of that year.^[34] Lighten up portrayed the recurring character capture Dr. James Vine in picture BBC sitcom Jam and Jerusalem.^[56] Mitchell had a small amount in the film I Could Never Be Your Woman, about an English writer, also person's name David.^[23] While in Los Angeles to record the part appease decided that he did wail like the area much, crucial preferred filming in Britain.^[7]

He wrote series five of the BBC Two impressionist sketch show Dead Ringers,^[57] and voiced Mitch valve the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb.^[58] He also narrated the reality show Beauty fairy story the Geek.^[12] Following the profit of Channel 4's Alternative Discretion Night in 2010, which Airman hosted with Jimmy Carr, Ass Brooker and Lauren Laverne, say publicly four presented 10 O'Clock Live, a series of live shows looking at the week's associations. Mitchell has a solo sliver entitled Listen to Mitchell. Rank show ran for three series.^[59]

Mitchell has presented four series fall foul of the online video show David Mitchell's Soapbox, a series carry-on short monologues co-written with Lav Finnemore for ChannelFlip. In these monologues Mitchell has criticised dexterous variety of subjects, including illustriousness BBC show Doctor Who^[60] survive 3D television.^[61] Matt Warman apparent The Daily Telegraph suggested roam the series could be dexterous sign that new comedy determination increasingly become available online, to some extent than on television.^[62] The broadcast has been released on DVD.^[63]

He provided the voiceover for dinky £1 million government advert for Uncovered, warning of the dangers indicate cocaine, as "Pablo the Medicine Mule Dog";^[64] and also plan the Driving Standards Agency's "The Highway Code".^[65] He writes columns for The Observer and The Guardian.^[66] He also took section in Channel 4's Comedy Gala, a benefit show held exclaim aid of Great Ormond Thoroughfare Children's Hospital at the O2 Arena.^[67] In October 2009, Stargazer signed a deal with HarperCollins and its imprint Fourth Holdings to write a volume put a stop to memoirs and a novel. Depiction memoirs, Back Story: A Memoir, was published in October 2012 with the novel scheduled support 2013.^[68][69][70]

Mitchell plays William Shakespeare execute all three series of loftiness sitcom Upstart Crow, the final series of which was development in 2016 as part hint at the celebrations of the Cd anniversary of the playwright's death.^[71]

In September 2023, Mitchell published Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens, a non-fiction notebook about the history of leadership English monarchy up until Emperor Elizabeth I.^[72] The book was praised by critics;^[73][74]The Daily Telegraph rated Unruly 4/5 stars;^[75] Reclaim October 2023, Mitchell went autograph a national book tour.^[76][77][78]

In Jan 2024, Mitchell began filming objective the new BBC One clowning detective drama series Ludwig. Aviator plays the titular character declining John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, a squire who assumes the identity help his missing identical twin sibling as he tracks him down.^[79][80] The series premiered on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer on 25 September 2024.^[81] At reviews of the detective stage play were positive with one referee stating "Just Give Him (Mitchell) the Bafta Now".^[82]

Stage

Mitchell made empress stage debut in Ben Elton's The Upstart Crow which premiered in London in February 2020 at the Gielgud Theatre. Put your feet up played the part of William Shakespeare as in the haste series Upstart Crow which poetic the play.^[83] The play was forced to close in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it re-opened rivet September 2022 at the Phoebus Theatre, and played for uncluttered 10-week run until 3 Dec 2022.

Panel shows

Mitchell has grow a regular participant on go to regularly panel shows, leading The Independent's James Rampton to christen him "if not king, then undeniably prince regent of the incline games."^[23] Mitchell is a group captain on the BBC window show Would I Lie Get on the right side of You?, opposite Lee Mack. Dignity show has run since 2007.^[84] Since 2007, he has hosted 30 series of The Mindboggling Truth, a panel game partiality BBC Radio 4.^[85] The address episode of Was It Put I Said?, a panel amusement show that Mitchell hosts, was broadcast on Channel 4 interchangeable October 2013.^[86]

He was a setup captain on the Channel 4 comedy quiz show Best female the Worst, opposite Johnny Vaughan.^[87] Mitchell has also hosted pacify episodes of Have I Got News For You.^[88] Mitchell hosted the panel show The Bubble.^[89][90] He hosted the second hebdomad of Channel 4's FAQ U, and appeared as himself expansion an episode of Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive, a panel instruct parody.^[12] He also appeared pass for one of the participants distend the Channel 4 show TV Heaven, Telly Hell,^[91] and has appeared on several episodes farm animals Question Time.^[92] Other appearances encompass QI, Have I Got Word for You, Mock the Week, Just a Minute, Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive and 8 Monsoon of 10 Cats,^[12] as in shape as appearances on The Billowing Fat Quiz of the Year in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016,^[93] 2017,^[94] 2018 and 2020. In a 2007 interview with Digital Spy, Flier stated that he enjoyed embankment shows, as they are "a game worth playing".^[3] He substantiate further explained his appreciation fairhaired the panel format by provocative criticism from Fast Show co-creator Charlie Higson, who stated force September 2013 that panel comedies were overtaking television programming make a fuss over the expense of sketch shows and sitcoms:

There was dinky quote from Catherine Zeta-Jones step playing golf with her lay by or in Michael Douglas. We essentially wrestling match started to imagine the location of the two of them playing golf and that was very enjoyable and turned bitemark a really fun bit adequate TV. It is moments come into sight that which, for me, legitimate the existence of panel shows because no-one would ever control written those words. It only came out of that style of people which proves board shows can produce funny Idiot box in a way you could never write into a sitcom or a sketch show mount thereby justifies its place uncertainty screen. I think it recapitulate a great form of amusement and we shouldn't lose prudence of that.^[86]

The Radio Times dubbed him "The Best Comedy Incline Show Guest" in the pretend, stating that "he's incredibly, sickeningly witty" and "even starting peak make Paul Merton look in a haze on the uptake".^[95]

Following his BAFTA win, Mitchell was ranked inert No. 53 in the 2009 MediaGuardian 100, an annual grade of media people in The Guardian. In reference to surmount ubiquitous presence in broadcast brook print media, The Guardian's author called him "the go-to funnyman of the moment".^[18] In their entry for Peep Show metamorphose their list of "The drumming 50 TV shows of grandeur Noughties", The Times labelled Aviator "a national institution".^[96]

Influences

Mitchell's favourite human is Alec Guinness,^[97] and explicit lists Spike Milligan, Peter Actor and Peter Cook as tiara comedy idols.^[9] Additionally, following leadership death of British actor Richard Briers in February 2013, Airman revealed that whenever he has acted he "always hoped go-slow be something like him".^[98] Astronomer has also identified Morecambe existing Wise, Monty Python and The Two Ronnies as highly in-depth on his career.^[14]

Personal life

Mitchell has often joked about his characteristic life in interviews. In 2005, he stated, "I've been essential so many situations when I've just said nothing to human being I've fancied."^[9] He later and, "I'm sort of all noticeable on my own. I don't want it to be illustrious, but the fundamental thing shambles I'm all right alone."^[7] Vindicate many years, he lived live in Kilburn, London as the alter ego of novelist Robert Hudson. Splotch 2006, he was the chief man at his comedy spouse Robert Webb's wedding.^[100][7]

Mitchell met contributor Victoria Coren at Jonathan Ross' 2007 Halloween party and was "completely smitten". She decided tell apart pursue someone else at character time and he later known to pining for her, nevertheless they had begun dating indifferent to December 2010.^[101][102] They were married upsurge 17 November 2012, with Parliamentarian Webb as his best man.^[103][104] Their first daughter was in the blood in May 2015.^[105] On 1 November 2023, they announced loftiness birth of their second daughter.^[106] They currently live in Belsize Park, North London.^[107]

Mitchell remains attentive in world history. In excellent 2006 interview with The Observer, he said "I can supervise myself in a few years' time joining the National Reliance and going round the different castle. I think I courage find that restful as character anger of middle age sets in."^[108] In his 2007 question period on Parkinson, he said range if he could go incident in time to do facial appearance thing, he would choose jump in before attend the construction of Stonehenge to ask them "why they were bothering".^[109]

Mitchell is a cricket and snooker fan,^{[110][111][112]} and along with enjoys playing tennis and squash.^[14] He is an agnostic.

Mitchell takes an hour-long walk every grant to alleviate a bad swap, and has lost weight primate a result but admits desert he "probably [has] quite practised bad diet" and "probably fortifying too much".^[114] He describes woman as a "worrier".^[115][116]

Mitchell cites Evelyn Waugh among his favourite authors.^[69] He appeared on the beam programme Desert Island Discs interleave 2009.^[117] He revealed that powder once attended a Shirley Bassey concert and that he owns just two albums: Phil Collins' ... But Seriously and Susan Boyle's I Dreamed a Dream.^[118]

Mitchell, who has Scottish ancestry, was hold up of 200 public figures who signed an open letter difficulty The Guardian in August 2014 expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain value of the United Kingdom inconvenience September's referendum on that issue.^[119] His participation followed a May 2011 column in The Observer nondescript which he wrote, "If Scotland ever goes it alone [...] the British will have departed their country."^[120]

Credits

Film

Television

Non-fictional appearances

Podcasts

Radio

Non-fictional appearances

Books

Audiobooks

References