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==Early life==
==Early life==
In childhood, Brigstocke attended [[St Edmund's School, Hindhead|St. Edmunds School]] in [[Hindhead, Surrey]].<ref name="Mirror01">Oglethorpe, Tim (21 April 2001). "Interview: Marcus Brigstocke - Savage past of Marcus; Marcus Brigstocke of The Savages on his misspent youth and how he got back on the straight and narrow". ''The Mirror'' (London, England). MGN Ltd. ([http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Interview%3A+Marcus+Brigstocke+-+Savage+past+of+Marcus%3B+Marcus...-a073495192 archive])</ref> In Chichester he went to [[Westbourne House School]]{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} before going onto [[King's School, Bruton]] in Somerset. He also attended Netherton Hall School,{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} a boarding school in [[Farway]], Devon. He studied Drama at the [[University of Bristol]],<ref name="Mirror01"/> but did not complete his degree, instead taking up such jobs as a podium dancer and an oil rig worker.<ref name="ayu">{{cite episode|title=[[Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled]]|network=[[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]]|airdate=9 August 2014}}</ref>
As a child, Brigstocke attended [[St Edmund's School, Hindhead|St. Edmunds School]] in [[Hindhead, Surrey]].<ref name="Mirror01">Oglethorpe, Tim (21 April 2001). "Interview: Marcus Brigstocke - Savage past of Marcus; Marcus Brigstocke of The Savages on his misspent youth and how he got back on the straight and narrow". ''The Mirror'' (London, England). MGN Ltd. ([http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Interview%3A+Marcus+Brigstocke+-+Savage+past+of+Marcus%3B+Marcus...-a073495192 archive])</ref> In Chichester he went to [[Westbourne House School]]{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} before going onto [[King's School, Bruton]] in Somerset. He also attended Netherton Hall School,{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} a boarding school in [[Farway]], Devon. He studied Drama at the [[University of Bristol]],<ref name="Mirror01"/> but did not complete his degree, instead taking up such jobs as a podium dancer and an oil rig worker.<ref name="ayu">{{cite episode|title=[[Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled]]|network=[[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]]|airdate=9 August 2014}}</ref>


==Comedy career==
==Comedy career==
Many of the central themes of Brigstocke's work were first addressed during his time as a student at the University of Bristol. While at Bristol he often performed in the comedy trio Club Seals, which later made the transition to TV in the series of short programmes ''[[We Are History]]''.
Many of the central themes of Brigstocke's work were first addressed during his time as a student at the University of Bristol. While at Bristol he often performed in the comedy trio Club Seals, which later made the transition to TV in the series of short programmes ''[[We Are History]]''.


He has a successful radio career including ''[[The Now Show]]'' (with [[Steve Punt]] and [[Hugh Dennis]]) and ''[[Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off]]''. ''The Now Show'' provided an outlet for his fierce dislike of [[David Blaine]], referring to Blaine himself as a "Git Wizard", and his "[[David Blaine#Above the Below|Above The Below]]" stunt as Freakdangle. Brigstocke hailed the failure of Blaine's "[[David Blaine#Drowned Alive|Drowned Alive]]" as proof that Blaine is "not special; not magic; just a moistened git". He is increasingly enjoying mainstream success, recently having appeared on such broadly popular TV shows such as ''[[Have I Got News for You]]'' and ''[[Jack Dee]]'s Live at the Apollo'' series.
Brigstocke has a successful radio career including ''[[The Now Show]]'' (with [[Steve Punt]] and [[Hugh Dennis]]) and ''[[Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off]]''. ''The Now Show'' provided an outlet for his fierce dislike of [[David Blaine]], referring to Blaine himself as a "Git Wizard", and his "[[David Blaine#Above the Below|Above The Below]]" stunt as Freakdangle. Brigstocke hailed the failure of Blaine's "[[David Blaine#Drowned Alive|Drowned Alive]]" as proof that Blaine is "not special; not magic; just a moistened git". He is increasingly enjoying mainstream success, recently having appeared on such broadly popular TV shows such as ''[[Have I Got News for You]]'' and ''[[Jack Dee]]'s Live at the Apollo'' series.


Brigstocke plays an arts journalist named Marcus in the [[Neil Gaiman]] film ''[[A Short Film About John Bolton]]'', and a radio DJ in the [[Richard Curtis]] film ''[[Love Actually]]''. On 9 April 2006, Brigstocke appeared in BBC Radio 4's Classic Serial adaptation of ''[[The Code of the Woosters]]'' as [[Bertie Wooster]] with [[Andrew Sachs]] as [[Jeeves]].
Brigstocke plays an arts journalist named Marcus in the [[Neil Gaiman]] film ''[[A Short Film About John Bolton]]'' and a radio DJ in the [[Richard Curtis]] film ''[[Love Actually]]''. On 9 April 2006, Brigstocke appeared in BBC Radio 4's Classic Serial adaptation of ''[[The Code of the Woosters]]'' as [[Bertie Wooster]] with [[Andrew Sachs]] as [[Jeeves]].


He hosts his satirical programme on BBC4, ''[[The Late Edition]]'', which has been described as "[[Newsnight]] with jokes".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/features/late-edition.shtml |title=Four - The Late Edition |publisher=BBC |date=23 January 2008 |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> It is loosely based on the format made popular by the American programme ''[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]]''. This commitment led to his absence from the final two ''Now Show'' series of 2006, his place filled by other comedians referred to by the rest of the cast as "our replacement Marcus Brigstocke". He did however return to series in 2007.
Brigstocke hosts a satirical programme on BBC4, ''[[The Late Edition]]'', which has been described as "[[Newsnight]] with jokes".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/features/late-edition.shtml |title=Four - The Late Edition |publisher=BBC |date=23 January 2008 |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> It is loosely based on the format made popular by the American programme ''[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]]''. This commitment led to his absence from the final two ''Now Show'' series of 2006 with his place filled by other comedians referred to by the rest of the cast as "our replacement Marcus Brigstocke". He did however return to series in 2007.


Brigstocke's first stand up comedy DVD ''Planet Corduroy'', produced by [[Phoenix Film & Television Productions]], was released in November 2007.
Brigstocke's first stand up comedy DVD ''Planet Corduroy'', produced by [[Phoenix Film & Television Productions]], was released in November 2007.


In April 2008 he and fellow comedian and snowboarder, [[Andrew Maxwell]] founded the [[Altitude Festival]] - a comedy and music festival in the ski resort of [[Meribel]], in the French Alps.
In April 2008, Brigstocke and fellow comedian and snowboarder, [[Andrew Maxwell]] founded the [[Altitude Festival]] - a comedy and music festival in the ski resort of [[Meribel]], in the French Alps.


In September 2008, Brigstocke was team captain for the recording of the first series of a new TV comedy panel debating show, ''[[Argumental]]'' for UK TV channel [[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]], He is the Captain of the [[Red]] Team. In this, he competes against [[Rufus Hound]] with a variety of guest participants, under the chairmanship of [[John Sergeant (journalist)|John Sergeant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/09/uktv_autumn_08_dave.html |title=UKTV autumn '08: Dave |publisher=Broadcastnow.co.uk |date=2008-09-17 |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref>
In September 2008, Brigstocke was team captain for the first series of a comedy panel show, ''[[Argumental]]'' for UK TV channel [[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]] as the Captain of the [[Red]] Team competing against [[Rufus Hound]] with a variety of guest participants, under the chairmanship of [[John Sergeant (journalist)|John Sergeant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/09/uktv_autumn_08_dave.html |title=UKTV autumn '08: Dave |publisher=Broadcastnow.co.uk |date=2008-09-17 |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref>


In 2009, Brigstocke starred in the UK tour of the hit American live improv show, ''Totally Looped''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.totallylooped.co.uk |title=Totally Looped |publisher=Totally Looped |date= |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref>
In 2009, Brigstocke starred in the UK tour of the American live improv show, ''Totally Looped''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.totallylooped.co.uk |title=Totally Looped |publisher=Totally Looped |date= |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref>


His second stand-up show ''God Collar'' toured in 2009. In June 2010, Brigstocke announced that he had signed a publishing deal with [[Transworld (company)|Transworld]] to turn the ''God Collar'' Tour into a book.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twitter.com/marcusbrig/status/17324729460 |title=Marcus Brigstocke Official Twitter Page |publisher=Twitter |date= |accessdate=2010-07-23}}</ref>
Brigstocke's second stand-up show ''God Collar'' toured in 2009. In June 2010, He announced that he had signed a publishing deal with [[Transworld (company)|Transworld]] to turn the ''God Collar'' Tour into a book.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twitter.com/marcusbrig/status/17324729460 |title=Marcus Brigstocke Official Twitter Page |publisher=Twitter |date= |accessdate=2010-07-23}}</ref>


He has also worked for television shows aimed at children for [[CBBC]]: [[Stupid!]] and ''[[Sorry I've Got No Head]]''.
He has also worked for television shows aimed at children for [[CBBC]]: [[Stupid!]] and ''[[Sorry I've Got No Head]]''.
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{{cquote2|Ah! Bloody Pacman....It is my joke. I wrote it, then I took the rest of the day off as I was so chuffed with it. I am gutted that it has been claimed and passed around by so many people. Intellectual property law will not save me, the false claims will continue until I am man enough to give it all up. All I can say is -- it seems that it is very unlikely that it was written by a Nintendo employee in 1989, being as Pac Man was still around and not much of a childhood memory, there were very few claims that gaming influenced children's behaviour, and that the wording of it is identical to how it has been delivered in my stand up routine for 6 years! For those that are interested it has also been attributed to Bill Gates, but then so has Windows! Bitter? Well perhaps just a little. It was sent to me by someone at Channel 4 a few years back after I did it on Channel 4 in a late night stand up show! Hope that clears everything up.|Marcus Brigstocke<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marcusbrigstocke.com/pacman.php |title=Official Site for the stand-up comic, writer, presenter & actor |publisher=Marcus Brigstocke|accessdate=2009-03-13|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20120516182307/http://www.marcusbrigstocke.com/pacman.php|archivedate=16 May 2012}}</ref>}}
{{cquote2|Ah! Bloody Pacman....It is my joke. I wrote it, then I took the rest of the day off as I was so chuffed with it. I am gutted that it has been claimed and passed around by so many people. Intellectual property law will not save me, the false claims will continue until I am man enough to give it all up. All I can say is -- it seems that it is very unlikely that it was written by a Nintendo employee in 1989, being as Pac Man was still around and not much of a childhood memory, there were very few claims that gaming influenced children's behaviour, and that the wording of it is identical to how it has been delivered in my stand up routine for 6 years! For those that are interested it has also been attributed to Bill Gates, but then so has Windows! Bitter? Well perhaps just a little. It was sent to me by someone at Channel 4 a few years back after I did it on Channel 4 in a late night stand up show! Hope that clears everything up.|Marcus Brigstocke<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marcusbrigstocke.com/pacman.php |title=Official Site for the stand-up comic, writer, presenter & actor |publisher=Marcus Brigstocke|accessdate=2009-03-13|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20120516182307/http://www.marcusbrigstocke.com/pacman.php|archivedate=16 May 2012}}</ref>}}

===''Excuse My French''===
===''Excuse My French''===
{{main|Excuse My French (2006 TV series)|l1=Excuse My French}}
{{main|Excuse My French (2006 TV series)|l1=Excuse My French}}
Brigstocke took part in the [[BBC]] programme ''[[Excuse My French (2006 TV series)|Excuse My French]]'', which was broadcast on [[BBC Two]]. On the programme he, [[Ron Atkinson]] and [[Esther Rantzen]] were immersed in the French language by staying in a French town in the [[Provence]] region, being compelled to adapt to the French lifestyle and speak the language. His ultimate assignment was to perform a live stand-up comedy act in French to a French audience, a task at which he excelled. According to the programme, he continues to learn French, and has since performed more stand up in France (predominantly in English, but with sections in French).
Brigstocke took part in the [[BBC]] programme ''[[Excuse My French (2006 TV series)|Excuse My French]]'' with [[Ron Atkinson]] and [[Esther Rantzen]],broadcast on [[BBC Two]]. They were immersed in the French language by staying in a French town in the [[Provence]] region, being compelled to adapt to the French lifestyle and speak the language. Brigstocke's ultimate assignment was to perform a live stand-up comedy act in French to a French audience, a task at which he excelled. According to the programme, he continues to learn French, and has since performed more stand up in France (predominantly in English, but with sections in French).


===Selected radio credits===
===Selected radio credits===
Line 101: Line 102:


==Theatre==
==Theatre==
Brigstocke made his musical theatre debut as ''King Arthur'' in the UK tour of ''[[Spamalot]]'' for a limited engagement in 2010. His performance sparked an extremely negative backlash in the national press, leading Times critic Bob Merriweather to call his acting "pants". He then starred in 'The Railway Children' as ''Albert Perks'' at the Waterloo Station Theatre in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last= Paddock|first= Terri|title= Spamalot Crowns Brigstocke, Nicholas’ Pirate King|publisher= What's On Stage.com|date= 29 March 2010|url= http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831269862115/Spamalot+Crowns+Brigstocke%2C+Nicholas%92+Pirate+King.html|accessdate= 30 March 2010}}</ref>
In 2010, Brigstocke made his musical theatre debut as ''King Arthur'' in the UK tour of ''[[Spamalot]]'' for a limited engagement. His performance sparked an extremely negative backlash in the national press, leading Times critic Bob Merriweather to call his acting "pants". He then starred in 'The Railway Children' as ''Albert Perks'' at the Waterloo Station Theatre in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last= Paddock|first= Terri|title= Spamalot Crowns Brigstocke, Nicholas’ Pirate King|publisher= What's On Stage.com|date= 29 March 2010|url= http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831269862115/Spamalot+Crowns+Brigstocke%2C+Nicholas%92+Pirate+King.html|accessdate= 30 March 2010}}</ref>


=="I Don't Smoke"==
=="I Don't Smoke"==
In 2000, a sample of a comedy sketch performed by Brigstocke, [[Dan Tetsell]] and [[Danny Robins]] in the sketch show ''[[Barking (TV series)|Barking]]'' as part of a Bristol University revue in which an individual assuredly proclaims that he is a non-smoker was featured in [[DJ Dee Kline]]'s "[[I Don't Smoke]]", alongside another line in the style of [[Jim Davidson (comedian)|Jim Davidson]]'s character 'Chalky White'.
In 2000, a sample of a comedy sketch performed by Brigstocke, [[Dan Tetsell]] and [[Danny Robins]] in the sketch show ''[[Barking (TV series)|Barking]]'' as part of a Bristol University revue in which an individual assuredly proclaims that he is a non-smoker was featured in [[DJ Dee Kline]]'s "[[I Don't Smoke]]", alongside another line in the style of [[Jim Davidson (comedian)|Jim Davidson]]'s character 'Chalky White'.


The sample was used without the knowledge of the comedians until the voice of Brigstocke was recognised by Tetsell, who heard the track whilst shopping, resulting in the trio successfully claiming publishing rights for the track, which entered the UK charts at number 11.<ref>{{cite news|last=Topham|first=Gwyn|title=Comic trio enjoy financial rewards of a sample life|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/jun/02/gwyntopham|accessdate=25 June 2010|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=2 June 2000}}</ref>
The sample was used without the knowledge of the comedians until the voice of Brigstocke was recognised by Tetsell, who heard the track while shopping, resulting in the trio successfully claiming publishing rights for the track, which entered the UK charts at number 11.<ref>{{cite news|last=Topham|first=Gwyn|title=Comic trio enjoy financial rewards of a sample life|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/jun/02/gwyntopham|accessdate=25 June 2010|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=2 June 2000}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Brigstocke is [[dyslexic]]. During an appearance on the BBC TV show ''[[Room 101 (TV series)|Room 101]]'', first broadcast in January 2007, he admitted to having had weight problems as a younger man, and was once in rehab for [[food addiction]]. He still battles with his excessive appetite. He was expelled from King's School, Bruton for "beastie-ing" a car (that turned out to belong to one of the groundsmen) and shoplifting from the local shops to feed both his alcohol needs and "excessive appetite". In his book ''God Collar'' he reveals "I started sniffing solvents when I was thirteen and progressed to a limited range of other recreational drugs, with a preference for [[downers]] or [[opiate]]-style highs." Marcus touches on this subject in the Brig Society a comedy show on BBC <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04d4w5z</ref> During his early adulthood, he was a [[Goth subculture|Goth]].
Brigstocke is [[dyslexic]]. During an appearance on the BBC TV show ''[[Room 101 (TV series)|Room 101]]'' in January 2007, he admitted to having had weight problems when he was younger and was once in rehab for [[food addiction]]. He still battles with his excessive appetite. He was expelled from King's School, Bruton for "beastie-ing" a car (that turned out to belong to one of the groundsmen) and shoplifting from the local shops to feed both his alcohol needs and "excessive appetite". In his book ''God Collar'' he reveals "I started sniffing solvents when I was thirteen and progressed to a limited range of other recreational drugs, with a preference for [[downers]] or [[opiate]]-style highs."Brigstocke touches on this subject in the Brig Society a comedy show on BBC <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04d4w5z]</ref> During his early adulthood, he was a [[Goth subculture|Goth]].


During the early nineties he worked, part-time, as a podium dancer at London nightclub the [[Ministry of Sound]]. He was also working on an oil rig at this time.<ref name="Mirror01"/><ref>Brew, Simon (23 March 2009). [http://www.denofgeek.com/television/223196/marcus_brigstocke_interview.html "Marcus Brigstocke interview"]. DenOfGeek.com.</ref><ref>"Would I Lie to You?". BBC TV. 24 August 2009.</ref><!-- oil rig-->
During the early nineties, Brigstocke worked part-time as a podium dancer at London nightclub the [[Ministry of Sound]]. He was also working on an oil rig at this time.<ref name="Mirror01"/><ref>Brew, Simon (23 March 2009). [http://www.denofgeek.com/television/223196/marcus_brigstocke_interview.html "Marcus Brigstocke interview"]. DenOfGeek.com.</ref><ref>"Would I Lie to You?". BBC TV. 24 August 2009.</ref><!-- oil rig-->


Brigstocke likes [[snowboarding]] – he had set up a stand up tour in the Alps and a comedy festival called The [[Altitude|Altitude Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marcusbrigstocke.com/biog.php |title=Official Site for the stand-up comic, writer, presenter & actor |publisher=Marcus Brigstocke |date= |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> He's performed in [[beatboxing]] battles on stage with [[Shlomo (beatboxing artist)|Shlomo]] and [[Bellatrix (beatboxing artist)|Bellatrix]].<ref>[http://www.shlo.co.uk/2009/09/glasto-diary-09-pt-4/ "Shlomo’s Glasto diary 09 – Part 4 – Marcus Brigstocke vs Bellatrix beatbox battle"]. Shlomo Beatboxing Adventures blog. 21 September 2009.</ref>
Brigstocke likes [[snowboarding]] – he had set up a stand up tour in the Alps and a comedy festival called The [[Altitude|Altitude Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marcusbrigstocke.com/biog.php |title=Official Site for the stand-up comic, writer, presenter & actor |publisher=Marcus Brigstocke |date= |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> He's performed in [[beatboxing]] battles on stage with [[Shlomo (beatboxing artist)|Shlomo]] and [[Bellatrix (beatboxing artist)|Bellatrix]].<ref>[http://www.shlo.co.uk/2009/09/glasto-diary-09-pt-4/ "Shlomo’s Glasto diary 09 – Part 4 – Marcus Brigstocke vs Bellatrix beatbox battle"]. Shlomo Beatboxing Adventures blog. 21 September 2009.</ref>


During an episode of ''[[The Late Edition]]'' filmed in October 2007, Brigstocke 'admitted' being an [[atheist]], and was presented with an ''[[Out Campaign]]'' T-shirt by his guest and atheist [[Richard Dawkins]] to which Brigstocke replied: "Look at that. Outed, outed as an atheist and proud to be so."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBSrO6EV9x8 |title=excerpt on youtube |publisher=YouTube.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> During an appearance on ''[[The One Show]]'' in July 2009, Brigstocke reflected that "a lot of people have signed up to the Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens thing", and on being an atheist, that "I was, I probably still am, but I'm not so sure now. It can be a sort of weird and quite a cold experience, actually, if you don't then develop something to believe in."<ref>''[[The One Show]]''. BBC. 2009-07-27.</ref>
During an episode of ''[[The Late Edition]]'' in October 2007, Brigstocke 'admitted' being an [[atheist]] and was presented with an ''[[Out Campaign]]'' T-shirt by his guest and atheist [[Richard Dawkins]] to which Brigstocke replied: "Look at that. Outed, outed as an atheist and proud to be so."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBSrO6EV9x8 |title=excerpt on youtube |publisher=YouTube.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> During an appearance on ''[[The One Show]]'' in July 2009, Brigstocke reflected that "a lot of people have signed up to the Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens thing", and on being an atheist, that "I was, I probably still am, but I'm not so sure now. It can be a sort of weird and quite a cold experience, actually, if you don't then develop something to believe in."<ref>''[[The One Show]]''. BBC. 2009-07-27.</ref>


Brigstocke endorsed [[Caroline Lucas]] and the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] in their successful bid for the seat of [[Brighton Pavilion (UK Parliament constituency)|Brighton Pavilion]] in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010 General Election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yorkshireandhumber.greenparty.org.uk/region/yorkshireandhumber/news/marcus-brigstocke-supports-the-greens-and-caroline-lucas.html |title=Marcus Brigstocke supports the Greens and Caroline Lucas |publisher=Yorkshire and Humber Green Party |date=2010-03-31 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>
Brigstocke endorsed [[Caroline Lucas]] and the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] in their successful bid for the seat of [[Brighton Pavilion (UK Parliament constituency)|Brighton Pavilion]] in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010 General Election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yorkshireandhumber.greenparty.org.uk/region/yorkshireandhumber/news/marcus-brigstocke-supports-the-greens-and-caroline-lucas.html |title=Marcus Brigstocke supports the Greens and Caroline Lucas |publisher=Yorkshire and Humber Green Party |date=2010-03-31 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>

Revision as of 17:02, 15 November 2014

Marcus Brigstocke
Marcus Brigstocke during The Early Edition
Born (1973-05-08) 8 May 1973 (age 51)
Guildford, Surrey, England[1]
MediumTelevision, Radio, Stand up
NationalityBritish
GenresSatire
Subject(s)Politics
SpouseSophie Prideaux (2001-2013, divorced)
Notable works and rolesArgumental
The Now Show

Marcus Alexander Brigstocke (born 8 May 1973) is an English comedian, actor and satirist who has worked extensively in stand-up comedy, television, radio and in 2010-2011 musical theatre. He is particularly associated with the 6.30pm comedy slot on BBC Radio 4, having frequently appeared on several of its shows, including The Now Show.

Early life

As a child, Brigstocke attended St. Edmunds School in Hindhead, Surrey.[2] In Chichester he went to Westbourne House School[citation needed] before going onto King's School, Bruton in Somerset. He also attended Netherton Hall School,[citation needed] a boarding school in Farway, Devon. He studied Drama at the University of Bristol,[2] but did not complete his degree, instead taking up such jobs as a podium dancer and an oil rig worker.[3]

Comedy career

Many of the central themes of Brigstocke's work were first addressed during his time as a student at the University of Bristol. While at Bristol he often performed in the comedy trio Club Seals, which later made the transition to TV in the series of short programmes We Are History.

Brigstocke has a successful radio career including The Now Show (with Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis) and Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off. The Now Show provided an outlet for his fierce dislike of David Blaine, referring to Blaine himself as a "Git Wizard", and his "Above The Below" stunt as Freakdangle. Brigstocke hailed the failure of Blaine's "Drowned Alive" as proof that Blaine is "not special; not magic; just a moistened git". He is increasingly enjoying mainstream success, recently having appeared on such broadly popular TV shows such as Have I Got News for You and Jack Dee's Live at the Apollo series.

Brigstocke plays an arts journalist named Marcus in the Neil Gaiman film A Short Film About John Bolton and a radio DJ in the Richard Curtis film Love Actually. On 9 April 2006, Brigstocke appeared in BBC Radio 4's Classic Serial adaptation of The Code of the Woosters as Bertie Wooster with Andrew Sachs as Jeeves.

Brigstocke hosts a satirical programme on BBC4, The Late Edition, which has been described as "Newsnight with jokes".[4] It is loosely based on the format made popular by the American programme The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. This commitment led to his absence from the final two Now Show series of 2006 with his place filled by other comedians referred to by the rest of the cast as "our replacement Marcus Brigstocke". He did however return to series in 2007.

Brigstocke's first stand up comedy DVD Planet Corduroy, produced by Phoenix Film & Television Productions, was released in November 2007.

In April 2008, Brigstocke and fellow comedian and snowboarder, Andrew Maxwell founded the Altitude Festival - a comedy and music festival in the ski resort of Meribel, in the French Alps.

In September 2008, Brigstocke was team captain for the first series of a comedy panel show, Argumental for UK TV channel Dave as the Captain of the Red Team competing against Rufus Hound with a variety of guest participants, under the chairmanship of John Sergeant.[5]

In 2009, Brigstocke starred in the UK tour of the American live improv show, Totally Looped.[6]

Brigstocke's second stand-up show God Collar toured in 2009. In June 2010, He announced that he had signed a publishing deal with Transworld to turn the God Collar Tour into a book.[7]

He has also worked for television shows aimed at children for CBBC: Stupid! and Sorry I've Got No Head.

Pac-Man joke

One of the best-known jokes Brigstocke uses is an ironic commentary on the controversy regarding the influence of video games on children:

If Pac-Man had affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive electronic music.

This joke is frequently quoted on the internet and often attributed to famous figures in electronics (such as an apocryphal CEO of Nintendo, "Kristian Wilson," although Hiroshi Yamauchi held that position from 1949 to 2002), but Brigstocke vehemently claims authorship of the joke:

Ah! Bloody Pacman....It is my joke. I wrote it, then I took the rest of the day off as I was so chuffed with it. I am gutted that it has been claimed and passed around by so many people. Intellectual property law will not save me, the false claims will continue until I am man enough to give it all up. All I can say is -- it seems that it is very unlikely that it was written by a Nintendo employee in 1989, being as Pac Man was still around and not much of a childhood memory, there were very few claims that gaming influenced children's behaviour, and that the wording of it is identical to how it has been delivered in my stand up routine for 6 years! For those that are interested it has also been attributed to Bill Gates, but then so has Windows! Bitter? Well perhaps just a little. It was sent to me by someone at Channel 4 a few years back after I did it on Channel 4 in a late night stand up show! Hope that clears everything up.

— Marcus Brigstocke[8]

Excuse My French

Main article: Excuse My French

Brigstocke took part in the BBC programme Excuse My French with Ron Atkinson and Esther Rantzen,broadcast on BBC Two. They were immersed in the French language by staying in a French town in the Provence region, being compelled to adapt to the French lifestyle and speak the language. Brigstocke's ultimate assignment was to perform a live stand-up comedy act in French to a French audience, a task at which he excelled. According to the programme, he continues to learn French, and has since performed more stand up in France (predominantly in English, but with sections in French).

Selected radio credits

Selected television credits

DVD

  • Marcus Brigstocke – Planet Corduroy (DVD Region 2). The Shaw Theatre, London, England: Sony/BMG. 26 November 2007. ASIN B000X21NIS.

Theatre

In 2010, Brigstocke made his musical theatre debut as King Arthur in the UK tour of Spamalot for a limited engagement. His performance sparked an extremely negative backlash in the national press, leading Times critic Bob Merriweather to call his acting "pants". He then starred in 'The Railway Children' as Albert Perks at the Waterloo Station Theatre in 2011.[9]

"I Don't Smoke"

In 2000, a sample of a comedy sketch performed by Brigstocke, Dan Tetsell and Danny Robins in the sketch show Barking as part of a Bristol University revue in which an individual assuredly proclaims that he is a non-smoker was featured in DJ Dee Kline's "I Don't Smoke", alongside another line in the style of Jim Davidson's character 'Chalky White'.

The sample was used without the knowledge of the comedians until the voice of Brigstocke was recognised by Tetsell, who heard the track while shopping, resulting in the trio successfully claiming publishing rights for the track, which entered the UK charts at number 11.[10]

Personal life

Brigstocke is dyslexic. During an appearance on the BBC TV show Room 101 in January 2007, he admitted to having had weight problems when he was younger and was once in rehab for food addiction. He still battles with his excessive appetite. He was expelled from King's School, Bruton for "beastie-ing" a car (that turned out to belong to one of the groundsmen) and shoplifting from the local shops to feed both his alcohol needs and "excessive appetite". In his book God Collar he reveals "I started sniffing solvents when I was thirteen and progressed to a limited range of other recreational drugs, with a preference for downers or opiate-style highs."Brigstocke touches on this subject in the Brig Society a comedy show on BBC [11] During his early adulthood, he was a Goth.

During the early nineties, Brigstocke worked part-time as a podium dancer at London nightclub the Ministry of Sound. He was also working on an oil rig at this time.[2][12][13]

Brigstocke likes snowboarding – he had set up a stand up tour in the Alps and a comedy festival called The Altitude Festival.[14] He's performed in beatboxing battles on stage with Shlomo and Bellatrix.[15]

During an episode of The Late Edition in October 2007, Brigstocke 'admitted' being an atheist and was presented with an Out Campaign T-shirt by his guest and atheist Richard Dawkins to which Brigstocke replied: "Look at that. Outed, outed as an atheist and proud to be so."[16] During an appearance on The One Show in July 2009, Brigstocke reflected that "a lot of people have signed up to the Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens thing", and on being an atheist, that "I was, I probably still am, but I'm not so sure now. It can be a sort of weird and quite a cold experience, actually, if you don't then develop something to believe in."[17]

Brigstocke endorsed Caroline Lucas and the Green Party in their successful bid for the seat of Brighton Pavilion in the 2010 General Election.[18]

Brigstocke divorced in 2013.[19] Brigstocke is in a relationship with Coronation Street actress Hayley Tamaddon.[20]

References

  1. ^ Nevin, Charles (19 November 2005). "When you're smiling". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Oglethorpe, Tim (21 April 2001). "Interview: Marcus Brigstocke - Savage past of Marcus; Marcus Brigstocke of The Savages on his misspent youth and how he got back on the straight and narrow". The Mirror (London, England). MGN Ltd. (archive)
  3. ^ "Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled". 9 August 2014. Dave. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  4. ^ "Four - The Late Edition". BBC. 23 January 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  5. ^ "UKTV autumn '08: Dave". Broadcastnow.co.uk. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Totally Looped". Totally Looped. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  7. ^ "Marcus Brigstocke Official Twitter Page". Twitter. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Official Site for the stand-up comic, writer, presenter & actor". Marcus Brigstocke. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  9. ^ Paddock, Terri (29 March 2010). "Spamalot Crowns Brigstocke, Nicholas' Pirate King". What's On Stage.com. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  10. ^ Topham, Gwyn (2 June 2000). "Comic trio enjoy financial rewards of a sample life". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  11. ^ [1]
  12. ^ Brew, Simon (23 March 2009). "Marcus Brigstocke interview". DenOfGeek.com.
  13. ^ "Would I Lie to You?". BBC TV. 24 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Official Site for the stand-up comic, writer, presenter & actor". Marcus Brigstocke. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  15. ^ "Shlomo’s Glasto diary 09 – Part 4 – Marcus Brigstocke vs Bellatrix beatbox battle". Shlomo Beatboxing Adventures blog. 21 September 2009.
  16. ^ "excerpt on youtube". YouTube.com. Retrieved 8 June 2010.[dead link‍]
  17. ^ The One Show. BBC. 2009-07-27.
  18. ^ "Marcus Brigstocke supports the Greens and Caroline Lucas". Yorkshire and Humber Green Party. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  19. ^ Perthen, Amanda. "Wife divorces TV comic Marcus Brigstocke after discovering year-long affair | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  20. ^ Watts, Halina (7 March 2014). "Hayley Tamaddon on the Corrie love triangle that was a little close to home - Mirror Online". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
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