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{{short description|British comedian, writer, actor, and director}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox comedian
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Chris Addison
| name = Chris Addison
| image = Chris AddissonResofit1.jpg|thumb|
| image = Chris Addison cropped.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Chris Addison in 2018
| birth_name = Christopher David Addison
| caption = Chris Addison performing at Resofit, a benefit concert for [[Resonance FM]], 2007
| pseudonym =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1971|11|5}}
| birth_place = [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|November 1972}}
| education = [[University of Birmingham]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| birth_place = Didsbury, Manchester, England
| medium =
| years_active = 1995–present
| genre = [[Observational comedy|Observational]], satire
| nationality = British
| active = 1995 – present
| children = 2
| genre =
| notable_works = {{plainlist|
* ''[[The Thick of It]]''
| subject =
* ''[[Lab Rats (British TV series)|Lab Rats]]''
| influences =
* ''[[Mock the Week]]''
| influenced =
* ''[[7 Day Sunday]]''
| spouse =
* ''[[Skins (British TV series)|Skins]]''
| notable_work = ''[[The Thick of It]]'', ''[[Lab Rats]]'', ''[[Mock the Week]]'', ''[[7 Day Sunday]]''
* ''[[Veep]]''}}
| signature =
| website = http://www.chrisaddison.com/
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Christopher David Addison''' (born 5 November 1971)<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/chris-addison-the-thinking-mans-comic-adjusts-to-fame-6261619.html "Chris Addison: The thinking man's comic adjusts to fame"] ''The Independent'' (13 November 2011). Retrieved 13 November 2011.</ref> is a British<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9868735/Chris-Addison-on-Veep-the-American-cousin-of-The-Thick-of-It.html|title=Chris Addison on 'Veep', the American cousin of 'The Thick of It'|first=Chris|last=Addison|date=17 February 2013|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> comedian, writer, actor, and director. He is perhaps best known for his role as a regular panellist on ''[[Mock the Week]]''. He is also known for his lecture-style comedy shows, two of which he later adapted for [[BBC Radio 4]].


'''Chris Addison''' (born November 1972) is an [[England|English]] [[stand-up comedian]], [[writer]] and [[actor]]. He is known for his lecture-style comedy shows, two of which he later adapted for [[BBC Radio 4]]. In addition to stand-up, in television he plays Ollie in the [[BBC 2]] television satire ''[[The Thick of It]]'' and Toby in its spin-off film ''[[In the Loop (film)|In the Loop]]'', and he co-created and starred in the BBC 2 sitcom ''[[Lab Rats]]''. On radio, he previously hosted the weekly comedy news satire show ''[[7 Day Sunday]]'' on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] from 2009 to 2011.
In addition to stand-up, Addison played Ollie Reeder in the [[BBC Two]] satire series ''[[The Thick of It]]'' and Toby Wright in its spin-off film ''[[In the Loop]]'', starred in the [[Sky Living]] comedy-drama ''[[Trying Again]]'' and appeared in three episodes of series 8 of ''[[Doctor Who (series 8)|Doctor Who]]''. He also co-created and starred in the BBC Two sitcom ''[[Lab Rats (British TV series)|Lab Rats]]''. On radio, he previously hosted the weekly comedy news [[satire]] show ''[[7 Day Sunday]]'' on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] from 2009 to 2010. In 2020, he co-created the FX parental comedy series ''[[Breeders (TV series)|Breeders]]'' starring [[Martin Freeman]].


==Education==
== Early life ==
Addison was born in [[Cardiff]], Wales, to English parents and moved back with his parents to [[Worsley]], [[Salford]], England, when he was four.<ref name="chain reaction">{{cite news|title=Chain Reaction – Series 8 – 2. Rebecca Front talks to Chris Addison|publisher=[[BBC Radio 4]]|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01l8rbv|access-date=27 March 2014}}</ref> On the [[BBC Radio 4]] programme ''[[Chain Reaction (radio)|Chain Reaction]]'', he stated that he considers himself a middle class Mancunian.<ref name="chain reaction" /> He was educated at [[Manchester Grammar School]], an independent school for boys in Manchester.<ref>{{cite web|title=Drama|url=https://www.mgs.org/185/drama|access-date=15 April 2018|website=Manchester Grammar School|quote="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."}}</ref> At MGS rather than playing cricket he played the game [[podex]].<ref>BBC (2021) Test Match Special, BBC Radio 5, 4th Sep.</ref> This was followed by the [[University of Birmingham]], where he studied English Literature with the original intent of becoming a theatre director.<ref name="Indy">{{cite news|last=Hall|first=Julian|date=10 July 2008|title=Chris Addison: Swapping satire for sitcom|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|location=London|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/chris-addison-swapping-satire-for-sitcom-863788.html|url-status=dead|access-date=14 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520023501/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/chris-addison-swapping-satire-for-sitcom-863788.html|archive-date=20 May 2010}}</ref> After his directing plans did not work out, he drifted into comedy as an alternative creative outlet.<ref name="chain reaction" />
Addison was educated at [[Manchester Grammar School]], an [[independent school]] for boys in [[Manchester]], followed by the [[University of Birmingham]], where he studied [[English literature]].<ref name="Indy">
{{cite news
|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/chris-addison-swapping-satire-for-sitcom-863788.html
|title=Chris Addison: Swapping satire for sitcom - The Independent
|publisher=independent.co.uk
|accessdate=April 14, 2009
| location=London
| date=10 July 2008}}
</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
===Stand-up===
Chris Addison has been performing [[stand-up comedy]] since 1995. In that year, he won the [[City Life Comedian of the Year]] Award, a stand-up competition in the [[North West of England]].


===Stand-up===
Addison's first solo show at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] was in [[1998 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|1998]], for which he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the [[if.comedy awards|Perrier Awards]]. He continued to bring shows to the Fringe for several years, garnering two Perrier Award nominations — for his [[2004 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2004]] show ''Civilisation'' and [[2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2005]]'s ''Atomicity''.<ref>
[[File:Chris AddissonResofit1.jpg|thumb|Addison performing at Resofit, a benefit concert for [[Resonance FM]], 2007]]
{{cite web
Addison's first solo show at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] was in [[2003 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|1998]], for which he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the [[Edinburgh Comedy Awards|Perrier Awards]]. He continued to bring shows to the Fringe for several years, gaining two Perrier Award nominations – for his [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2004]] show ''Civilisation'' and [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2005]]'s ''Atomicity''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ifcomedy.com/past-winners.html |title=Perrier/if.comedy Award Past Winners |publisher=ifcomedy.com |access-date=14 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111031040/http://www.ifcomedy.com/past-winners.html |archive-date=11 January 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>
|url=http://ifcomedy.com/past-winners.html
In 2005 he won the [[City Life Comedian of the Year]] Award, a stand-up competition in the [[North West England|North West of England]].
|title=Perrier/if.comedy Award Past Winners
|publisher=ifcomedy.com
|accessdate=14 April 2009
| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5gm7Q0N7B |archivedate = 2009-05-14| deadurl=no}}
</ref>


====Edinburgh Festival Fringe====
====Edinburgh Festival Fringe====
*[[1997 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|1997]] Appeared as part of ''The Comedy Zone'' showcase
<!--*[[2003 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2003]] Appeared as part of ''The Comedy Zone'' showcase
*[[1998 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|1998]] Debut solo Edinburgh Fringe show, nominated for [[Edinburgh Comedy Awards|Perrier Comedy Award]] (Best Newcomer)
*[[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2004]] Debut solo Edinburgh Fringe show, nominated for [[Edinburgh Comedy Awards|Perrier Comedy Award]] (Best Newcomer)
*[[1999 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|1999]] ''Gentleman, Scholar, Acrobat''
*[[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2005]] ''Gentleman, scholar, Acrobat''[Dates incorrect, omitted until they are known]-->
*[[2000 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2000]] ''Cakes and Ale''
*[[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|1998]] ''Chris Addison''
*[[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|1999]] ''Gentleman Scholar Acrobat''
*[[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2000]] ''Cakes and Ale''
*[[2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2001]] ''Port Out, Starboard Home''
*[[2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2001]] ''Port Out, Starboard Home''
*[[2002 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2002]] ''The Ape That Got Lucky'' ([[The Ape That Got Lucky|later adapted]] for [[BBC Radio 4]])
*[[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2002]] ''The Ape That Got Lucky'' ([[The Ape That Got Lucky|later adapted]] for [[BBC Radio 4]])
*[[2004 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2004]] ''Civilization'' (nominated for Perrier Comedy Award, later adapted for BBC Radio 4)
*[[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2004]] ''Civilization'' (nominated for Perrier Comedy Award, later adapted for BBC Radio 4)
*[[2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2005]] ''Atomicity'' (nominated for Perrier Comedy Award)
*[[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2005]] ''Atomicity'' (nominated for Perrier Comedy Award)


===Radio===
===Radio===
First airing in 2004, Chris Addison co-wrote and co-starred in the [[political satire]] ''[[The Department]]'', along with [[John Oliver (comedian)|John Oliver]] and [[Andy Zaltzman]]. This ran for fourteen episodes over three series on [[BBC Radio 4]], ending in 2006.
First broadcast in 2004, Addison co-wrote and co-starred in the [[political satire]] ''[[The Department]]'', along with [[John Oliver (comedian)|John Oliver]] and [[Andy Zaltzman]]. It ran for 14 episodes over three series on [[BBC Radio 4]], ending in 2006.


In August 2005, Radio 4 aired ''[[The Ape That Got Lucky]]'', Addison's adaptation of his [[2002 Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] show of the same name. This programme featured fellow comedians [[Geoffrey McGivern]], [[Jo Enright]] and [[Dan Tetsell]]. On 8 May 2006, ''The Ape That Got Lucky'' won the gold award in the comedy production category at the [[Sony Radio Academy Award]]s.<ref>
In August 2005, Radio 4 aired ''[[The Ape That Got Lucky]]'', Addison's adaptation of his [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2002 Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] show of the same name. This programme featured fellow comedians [[Geoffrey McGivern]], [[Jo Enright]] and [[Dan Tetsell]]. On 8 May 2006, ''The Ape That Got Lucky'' won the gold award in the comedy production category at the [[Sony Radio Academy Award]]s.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.radioawards.org/winners/?awid=54&awname=The+Comedy+Award&year=2006| title = Sony Radio Academy Awards 2006, The Comedy Award| publisher = Zafer Associates| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081224151919/http://www.radioawards.org/winners/?awid=54&awname=The+Comedy+Award&year=2006| archive-date = 24 December 2008| url-status = dead| access-date = 14 April 2009}}</ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.radioawards.org/winners/?awid=54&awname=The+Comedy+Award&year=2006
|title=Sony Radio Academy Awards 2006, The Comedy Award
|publisher=Zafer Associates
|accessdate=14 April 2009}}
</ref>


In 2006, Chris Addison recorded ''Chris Addison's Civilisation'', again for Radio 4, based on his [[Edinburgh Fringe]] show of [[2004 Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2004]]; this again featured McGivern, Enright and Tetsell and was aired in four parts over the summer.
In 2006, Addison recorded ''Chris Addison's Civilization'', again for Radio 4, based on his [[Edinburgh Fringe]] show of [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|2004]]; 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, and ''[[The Unbelievable Truth]]'', first appearing in 2009.
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, and ''[[The Unbelievable Truth (radio show)|The Unbelievable Truth]]'', first appearing in 2009.


Addison hosted a series of the Radio 4 comedy series ''[[4 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 a [[Master of Ceremonies|compère]] at a [[comedy club]]. The first episode aired on 2 April 2009.
Addison hosted a series of the Radio 4 comedy series ''[[4 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 a [[Master of Ceremonies|compère]] at a [[comedy club]]. The first episode was broadcast on 2 April 2009.


On 10 May 2009, Addison hosted the ''[[Sunday Night Show]]'' on [[Absolute Radio]] in place of fellow stand-up comedian [[Iain Lee]] who was away due to being on his honeymoon.
On 10 May 2009, Addison hosted the ''[[Sunday Night Show]]'' on [[Absolute Radio]] in place of fellow stand-up comedian [[Iain Lee]] who was away due to being on his honeymoon.


Chris Addison hosted ''[[7 Day Sunday]]'', a satirical news show on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] along with his co-hosts [[Sarah Millican]] and [[Andy Zaltzman]]. The first episode aired in January 2010. Addison presented the second series of the show until February 2011 when he was replaced by [[Al Murray]].
Addison hosted ''[[7 Day Sunday]]'', a satirical news show on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] along with his co-hosts [[Sarah Millican]] and [[Andy Zaltzman]]. The first episode aired in January 2010. Addison presented the second series of the show until February 2011, when he was replaced by [[Al Murray]].


He is also good friends with [[Geoff Lloyd]] on [[Absolute Radio]] and has made a few appearances on [[Geoff Lloyds Hometime Show]].
He is also good friends with [[Geoff Lloyd]] on [[Absolute Radio]] and has made a few appearances on ''[[Geoff Lloyd's Hometime Show]]''.


===Television===
===Television===
====''Dotcomedy''====
In 2000 Chris Addison co-hosted the short-lived [[Channel 4]] comedy series ''Dotcomedy'' with [[Gail Porter]]. This was a late-night, risque show featuring video clips and other humour derived from the internet.


====''The Thick of It''====
====''The Thick of It''====
Since 2005, Addison has appeared in the [[BBC television]] satirical comedy series ''[[The Thick of It]]'' as Oliver "Ollie" Reeder, Junior Advisor (later Special Advisor) to the Secretary of State (Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship). He appeared in all episodes of the first series, as well as the two specials 'Rise of the Nutters' and 'Spinners and Losers'. Chris Addison reprised his role as Ollie when ''The Thick of It'' returned for a new series.
From 2005 to 2012, Addison appeared in the [[BBC television]] satirical comedy series ''[[The Thick of It]]'' as 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 adaptation of ''The Thick of It'', entitled ''[[In the Loop (film)|In the Loop]]'', playing Toby, a character very similar to his part in the television original.<ref>
Addison also featured in the film spin-off of ''The Thick of It'', titled ''[[In the Loop]]'', playing Toby Wright, a character very similar to his part in the television original.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2009/jan/23/sundance-2009-in-the-loop| title = Sundance 2009: In the Loop puts rest of the fest in the shade| author = Jeremy Kay| work = [[The Guardian]]| date = 23 January 2009| access-date = 28 January 2009| location = London}}</ref>
{{cite news
|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/jan/23/sundance-2009-in-the-loop
|title=Sundance 2009: In the Loop puts rest of the fest in the shade
|author=Jeremy Kay
|work=[[The Guardian]]
|publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]]
|date=2009-01-23
|accessdate=2009-01-28
| location=London}}</ref>


====''Lab Rats''====
====''Lab Rats''====
In July 2008, [[BBC2]] aired ''[[Lab Rats]]'', a sitcom starring Addison and co-written with Carl Cooper. ''Lab Rats'' featured cast members [[Jo Enright]], [[Geoffrey McGivern]] and [[Dan Tetsell]], with whom Addison had worked previously on the radio adaptations of his one-man shows ''The Ape That Got Lucky'' and ''Civilisation''.
In July 2008, [[BBC Two]] aired ''[[Lab Rats (British TV series)|Lab Rats]]'', a sitcom starring Addison and co-written with Carl Cooper. ''Lab Rats'' featured cast members [[Jo Enright]], [[Geoffrey McGivern]] and [[Dan Tetsell]], with whom Addison had worked previously on the radio adaptations of his one-man shows ''The Ape That Got Lucky'' and ''Civilisation''.


''Lab Rats'' was 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.<ref name="Indy"/> The series was not generally well-received by critics and was not renewed for a second series.
''Lab Rats'' was 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.<ref name="Indy"/> The series was not generally well received by critics and was not renewed for a second series.


====Guest appearances====
====''Mock the Week''====
After several guest appearances on the comedy panel show ''[[Mock 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 panellists [[Hugh Dennis]] and [[Andy Parsons]] and the show's host, [[Dara Ó Briain]].
Addison made appearances as a guest panellist on ''[[Mock the Week]]'' eleven times during 2010 and 2011, before becoming a full time panellist in September 2011. As well as appearing on '[[Have I Got News For You]]'' and ''[[Would I Lie To You? (TV series)|Would I Lie To You]]'' five times each, and ''[[8 Out of 10 Cats]]'' twice, he appeared in Series 5, Episode 3, of ''[[Live at the Apollo (TV series)|Live at the Apollo]]''. Addison appeared on ''[[The Graham Norton Show]]'' on 16 April 2009 promoting ''[[In the Loop (film)|In the Loop]]''.


====Other TV acting projects====
On 18 April 2010 Addison appeared on [[The Andrew Marr Show]] to comment on the week's political issues, including the volcanic [[2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull|ash cloud from Iceland]] and [[United Kingdom general election debates, 2010|The First Election Debate]]. He most recently appeared for the first time as a guest on the panel show [[QI]] on 29 October 2010.
In 2014 Addison starred in the [[Sky Living]] series ''[[Trying Again]]''.

====Guest appearances and hosting====
In 2000 Addison co-hosted the short-lived [[Channel 4]] comedy series ''Dotcomedy'' with [[Gail Porter]]. This was a late-night, risque show featuring video clips and other humour derived from the Internet.

He has appeared on ''[[Have I Got News for You]]'' six times, ''[[Would I Lie to You? (British game show)|Would I Lie to You?]]'' once and ''[[8 Out of 10 Cats]]'' twice. Addison also appeared in episode 3 of series 5 of ''[[Live at the Apollo (TV series)|Live at the Apollo]]''. He has thrice appeared on ''[[QI]]''.

Addison appeared on ''[[The Graham Norton Show]]'' on 16 April 2009 promoting ''[[In the Loop]]''. On 18 April 2010 he appeared on ''[[The Andrew Marr Show]]'' to comment on the week's political issues, including the volcanic [[2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull|ash cloud from Iceland]] and [[United Kingdom general election debates, 2010|The First Election Debate]].

He appeared on ''[[Skins (British TV series)|Skins]]'' as Professor David Blood, the college director of Roundview College and father of third Generation character Grace Violet. On 4 November 2010 Addison hosted the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Have I Got News For You]]'', having previously been a guest on the show.

In the summer of 2011 Addison hosted an [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]] comedy chat show called ''Show and Tell'', with each of the 8 episodes featuring three guest stand-up comedians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.e4.com/showandtell/ |title=Show & Tell |publisher=E4 |access-date=16 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724135403/http://www.e4.com/showandtell/ |archive-date=24 July 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Addison has also made an appearance in children's television show ''[[Horrible Histories (2009 TV series)|Horrible Histories]]''.

In August 2014, it was announced that Addison would make a guest appearance in the two-part series finale of [[Doctor Who (series 8)|the eighth series]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' with his former ''The Thick of It'' co-star [[Peter Capaldi]], who plays the [[Twelfth Doctor]].<ref>Kelly, Stephen (2014) "[http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-08-19/the-thick-of-its-chris-addison-to-reunite-with-peter-capaldi-in-doctor-who-finale 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</ref> His character, Seb, first appeared in the mid-series episode "[[The Caretaker (Doctor Who)|The Caretaker]]" and then appeared in further episodes including "[[Dark Water (Doctor Who)|Dark Water]]" and "[[Death in Heaven]]".

====Directing and producing====
In 2013, he began working as a director on [[Armando Iannucci]]'s [[HBO]] sitcom ''[[Veep]]''. He directed 13 episodes. In 2016, he won the [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series]] and received a nomination for the [[Primetime 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 the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series]]. They won the award for Series 4 and 5.

In 2020, sitcom ''[[Breeders (TV series)|Breeders]]'' premiered on both US TV channel [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] and Britain's [[Sky One]]. Breeders was co-created by Addison, main co-star [[Martin Freeman]] and comedy writer [[Simon Blackwell]] and is based on Freeman's own experience as a parent. Addison directed fifteen episodes.

===Film===

Addison directed the 2019 comedy ''[[The Hustle (film)|The Hustle]]'', starring [[Rebel Wilson]] and [[Anne Hathaway]], a remake of ''[[Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (film)|Dirty Rotten Scoundrels]]'' (1988), which in turn was a remake of ''[[Bedtime Story (1964 film)|Bedtime Story]]'' (1964).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/anne-hathaway-rebel-wilson-nasty-women-dirty-rotten-scoundrels-remake-mgm-1201889950/|title=Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson Are The 'Nasty Women' In MGM's 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' Remake|first1=Mike Jr. |last1=Fleming|date=19 January 2017}}</ref>

Addison is set to direct [[Ralph Fiennes]] playing [[George Frederick Handel]] in a period comedy-drama, ''Hallelujah''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/ralph-fiennes-chris-addison-team-comedy-hallelujah-rush-producer-1202378101/|title=Ralph Fiennes & Chris Addison Team Up On Comedy-Drama 'Hallelujah!' From 'Rush', 'Yardie' Producers|first1=Andreas|last1=Wiseman|date=27 April 2018}}</ref>


===Other work===
===Other work===
From 2003 to 2005 Addison wrote a fortnightly [[finance]] column for ''[[The Guardian]]'' entitled "Funny Money". On alternate weeks, when the column was not written by Addison, writing duties passed to fellow stand-up [[Dominic Holland]].<ref>
From 2003 to 2005 Addison wrote a fortnightly finance column for ''[[The Guardian]]'' titled "Funny Money". On alternate weeks, when the column was not written by Addison, writing duties passed to fellow stand-up [[Dominic Holland]].
{{cite news
|url=http://browse.guardian.co.uk/search/Money?search=funny+money&search_target=%2Fsearch%2FMoney&fr=cb-guardian
|title=guardian.co.uk search: funny money
|publisher=guardian.co.uk
|accessdate=14 April 2009
| location=London}}
</ref>
He can be seen in the audience for the television taping of ''Are You Dave Gorman'', from 2003.


Addison has written two books, both published by [[Hodder and Stoughton]]: ''Cautionary Tales for Grown Ups'' in 2006, followed by ''It Wasn't Me: Why Everybody is to Blame and You're Not'' in 2008.
Addison has written two books, both published by [[Hodder and Stoughton]]: ''Cautionary Tales for Grown Ups'' in 2006 and ''It Wasn't Me: Why Everybody is to Blame and You're Not'' in 2008.


He is currently appearing in ''[[Skins (TV series)|Skins]]'' as Professor David Blood, the college director of Roundview College and father of 3rd Generation main character Grace Violet. He is replacing a character played by [[Victoria Wicks]]. On 4 November 2010 Addison hosted the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Have I Got News For You]]'', having previously been a guest on the show.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBUnYsVsbag</ref> In 2011 he appeared in a range of [[Direct Line]] adverts as a Direct Line representative alongside difficult customers, played by fellow comedic performers [[Alexander Armstrong (comedian)|Alexander Armstrong]], [[Amelia Bullmore]] and Lorna Watson. <ref>http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/1047687/Direct-Line-drops-red-phone-favour-comedy-ads/</ref> On 9 April 2011 he was part of the Comedy Takeover on TV channel [[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]] where he presented and selected the shows.
In 2011 and 2012 he appeared in a range of [[Direct Line]] adverts as a Direct Line representative alongside difficult customers, played by fellow comedic performers [[Alexander Armstrong (comedian)|Alexander Armstrong]], [[Amelia Bullmore]] and [[Lorna Watson]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Alex Brownsell |url=http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/1047687/Direct-Line-drops-red-phone-favour-comedy-ads/ |title=Direct Line drops red phone in favour of comedy ads – Marketing news |publisher=Marketing magazine |date=4 January 2011 |access-date=31 October 2011}}</ref> On 9 April 2011 he was part of the Comedy Takeover on TV channel [[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]], where he presented and selected the shows.


In 2011 he took part in three shows of the 16-date ''Uncaged Monkeys'' tour along with [[Brian Cox (physicist)|Professor Brian Cox]], [[Robin Ince]], [[Ben Goldacre]], [[Simon Singh]] and [[Dara Ó Briain]] . In the summer of 2011 Addison also began filming a new E4 chat show called "Show and Tell".
In 2011 he took part in three shows of the 16-date ''Uncaged Monkeys'' tour along with [[Brian Cox (physicist)|Brian Cox]], [[Robin Ince]], [[Ben Goldacre]], [[Simon Singh]] and [[Dara Ó Briain]].


In July 2013 he received an honorary degree from the [[University of Birmingham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2013/06/28-Jun-University-of-Birmingham-Honorary-Graduands-for-July-2013.aspx |title=University of Birmingham Honorary Graduands for July 2013 |publisher=Birmingham.ac.uk |date=28 June 2013 |access-date=27 March 2014}}</ref>
He has been a keen beekeeper since an early age (which he has mentioned many times in Interviews, including that in "Loaded" in June 2009). He has tried three times to become National President of the Bee Federation UK, most recently in October 2010, but has never progressed beyond the fifth round of the selection process (details on their website bfuk.org.uk).


In February 2016 Addison took the speaking role of Smith, an Englishman, in the French opera ''[[L'étoile (opera)|L'Étoile]]'' at [[The Royal Opera House]], London.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ashley|first1=Tim|title=L'Étoile, Royal Opera House|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/02/l-etoile-review-royal-opera-house-london|access-date=3 February 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=3 February 2016|page=32}}</ref>
==Stand-Up DVDs==

*''Live'' (14 November 2011)
Addison became a Patron of [[Social Enterprise UK]] in 2017.

==Personal life==
Addison currently lives in [[Bromley]], South East London, with his wife and two children: a boy and a girl.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/apr/26/middle-class-stress-chris-addison| title=Chris Addison | work=The Guardian | location=London | date=26 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Duerden |first=Nick |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/chris-addison-hes-like-a-can-of-red-bull-made-flesh-8518008.html |title=Chris Addison: He's like a can of Red Bull made flesh |work=The Independent |date=3 March 2013 |access-date=16 July 2013}}</ref>

As of March 2020, he was a member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].<ref>{{cite tweet |user=mrchrisaddison |author=Chris Addison |number=1236686618850988032 |date=8 March 2020 |title=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}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 134: Line 133:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|1128050}}
*[http://www.chrisaddison.com Official Web Site]
*{{British Comedy Guide|people|chris_addison}}
*{{imdb name|id=1128050|name=Chris Addison}}
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/civilisation.shtml "Chris Addison's Civilisation" at BBC Radio 4]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/civilisation.shtml "Chris Addison's Civilisation" at BBC Radio 4]


{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaOutstandingDirectingComedySeries}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
{{Authority control}}
| NAME = Addison, Chris

| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1972
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Didsbury]], [[Manchester]], [[England]], [[UK]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Addison, Chris}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Addison, Chris}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Actors from Manchester]]
[[Category:Male actors from Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:People from Didsbury]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English comedians]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English television actors]]
[[Category:English male writers]]
[[Category:English writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Old Mancunians]]
[[Category:People educated at Manchester Grammar School]]
[[Category:People from Worsley]]
[[Category:Directors Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:English television directors]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century English comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Comedians from Greater Manchester]]

Latest revision as of 07:36, 26 April 2024

Chris Addison
Chris Addison in 2018
Birth nameChristopher David Addison
Born (1971-11-05) 5 November 1971 (age 52)
Cardiff, Wales, UK
EducationUniversity of Birmingham (BA)
Years active1995–present
GenresObservational, satire
Children2
Notable works and roles

Christopher David Addison (born 5 November 1971)[1] is a British[2] comedian, writer, actor, and director. He is perhaps best known for his role as a regular panellist on Mock the Week. He is also known for his lecture-style comedy shows, two of which he later adapted for BBC Radio 4.

In addition to stand-up, Addison played Ollie Reeder in the BBC Two satire series The Thick of It and Toby Wright in its spin-off film In the Loop, starred in the Sky Living comedy-drama Trying Again and appeared in three episodes of series 8 of Doctor Who. He also co-created and starred in the BBC Two sitcom Lab Rats. On radio, he previously hosted the weekly comedy news satire show 7 Day Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live from 2009 to 2010. In 2020, he co-created the FX parental comedy series Breeders starring Martin Freeman.

Early life[edit]

Addison was born in Cardiff, Wales, to English parents and moved back with his parents to Worsley, Salford, England, when he was four.[3] On the BBC Radio 4 programme Chain Reaction, he stated that he considers himself a middle class Mancunian.[3] He was educated at Manchester Grammar School, an independent school for boys in Manchester.[4] At MGS rather than playing cricket he played the game podex.[5] This was followed by the University of Birmingham, where he studied English Literature with the original intent of becoming a theatre director.[6] After his directing plans did not work out, he drifted into comedy as an alternative creative outlet.[3]

Career[edit]

Stand-up[edit]

Addison performing at Resofit, a benefit concert for Resonance FM, 2007

Addison's first solo show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was in 1998, for which he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Perrier Awards. He continued to bring shows to the Fringe for several years, gaining two Perrier Award nominations – for his 2004 show Civilisation and 2005's Atomicity.[7] In 2005 he won the City Life Comedian of the Year Award, a stand-up competition in the North West of England.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe[edit]

  • 1998 Chris Addison
  • 1999 Gentleman Scholar Acrobat
  • 2000 Cakes and Ale
  • 2001 Port Out, Starboard Home
  • 2002 The Ape That Got Lucky (later adapted for BBC Radio 4)
  • 2004 Civilization (nominated for Perrier Comedy Award, later adapted for BBC Radio 4)
  • 2005 Atomicity (nominated for Perrier Comedy Award)

Radio[edit]

First broadcast in 2004, Addison co-wrote and co-starred in the political satire The Department, along with John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman. It ran for 14 episodes over three series on BBC Radio 4, ending in 2006.

In August 2005, Radio 4 aired The Ape That Got Lucky, Addison's adaptation of his 2002 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show of the same name. This programme featured fellow comedians Geoffrey McGivern, Jo Enright and Dan Tetsell. On 8 May 2006, The Ape That Got Lucky won the gold award in the comedy production category at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.[8]

In 2006, Addison recorded Chris Addison's Civilization, again for Radio 4, based on his Edinburgh Fringe show of 2004; 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, and The Unbelievable Truth, first appearing in 2009.

Addison hosted a series of the Radio 4 comedy series 4 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 a compère at a comedy club. The first episode was broadcast on 2 April 2009.

On 10 May 2009, Addison hosted the Sunday Night Show on Absolute Radio in place of fellow stand-up comedian Iain Lee who was away due to being on his honeymoon.

Addison hosted 7 Day Sunday, a satirical news show on BBC Radio 5 Live along with his co-hosts Sarah Millican and Andy Zaltzman. The first episode aired in January 2010. Addison presented the second series of the show until February 2011, when he was replaced by Al Murray.

He is also good friends with Geoff Lloyd on Absolute Radio and has made a few appearances on Geoff Lloyd's Hometime Show.

Television[edit]

The Thick of It[edit]

From 2005 to 2012, Addison appeared in the BBC television satirical comedy series The Thick of It as 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 of The Thick of It, titled In the Loop, playing Toby Wright, a character very similar to his part in the television original.[9]

Lab Rats[edit]

In July 2008, BBC Two aired Lab Rats, a sitcom starring Addison and co-written with Carl Cooper. Lab Rats featured cast members Jo Enright, Geoffrey McGivern and Dan Tetsell, with whom Addison had worked previously on the radio adaptations of his one-man shows The Ape That Got Lucky and Civilisation.

Lab Rats was 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.[6] The series was not generally well received by critics and was not renewed for a second series.

Mock the Week[edit]

After several guest appearances on the comedy panel show Mock 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 panellists Hugh Dennis and Andy Parsons and the show's host, Dara Ó Briain.

Other TV acting projects[edit]

In 2014 Addison starred in the Sky Living series Trying Again.

Guest appearances and hosting[edit]

In 2000 Addison co-hosted the short-lived Channel 4 comedy series Dotcomedy with Gail Porter. This was a late-night, risque show featuring video clips and other humour derived from the Internet.

He has appeared on Have I Got News for You six times, Would I Lie to You? once and 8 Out of 10 Cats twice. Addison also appeared in episode 3 of series 5 of Live at the Apollo. He has thrice appeared on QI.

Addison appeared on The Graham Norton Show on 16 April 2009 promoting In the Loop. On 18 April 2010 he appeared on The Andrew Marr Show to comment on the week's political issues, including the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland and The First Election Debate.

He appeared on Skins as Professor David Blood, the college director of Roundview College and father of third Generation character Grace Violet. On 4 November 2010 Addison hosted the BBC's Have I Got News For You, having previously been a guest on the show.

In the summer of 2011 Addison hosted an E4 comedy chat show called Show and Tell, with each of the 8 episodes featuring three guest stand-up comedians.[10]

Addison has also made an appearance in children's television show Horrible Histories.

In August 2014, it was announced that Addison would make a guest appearance in the two-part series finale of the eighth series of Doctor Who with his former The Thick of It co-star Peter Capaldi, who plays the Twelfth Doctor.[11] 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[edit]

In 2013, he began working as a director on Armando Iannucci's HBO sitcom Veep. He directed 13 episodes. In 2016, he won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series and received a nomination for the Primetime 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 the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. They won the award for Series 4 and 5.

In 2020, sitcom Breeders premiered on both US TV channel FX and Britain's Sky One. Breeders was co-created by Addison, main co-star Martin Freeman and comedy writer Simon Blackwell and is based on Freeman's own experience as a parent. Addison directed fifteen episodes.

Film[edit]

Addison directed the 2019 comedy The Hustle, starring Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway, a remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), which in turn was a remake of Bedtime Story (1964).[12]

Addison is set to direct Ralph Fiennes playing George Frederick Handel in a period comedy-drama, Hallelujah.[13]

Other work[edit]

From 2003 to 2005 Addison wrote a fortnightly finance column for The Guardian titled "Funny Money". On alternate weeks, when the column was not written by Addison, writing duties passed to fellow stand-up Dominic Holland.

Addison has written two books, both published by Hodder and Stoughton: Cautionary Tales for Grown Ups in 2006 and It Wasn't Me: Why Everybody is to Blame and You're Not in 2008.

In 2011 and 2012 he appeared in a range of Direct Line adverts as a Direct Line representative alongside difficult customers, played by fellow comedic performers Alexander Armstrong, Amelia Bullmore and Lorna Watson.[14] On 9 April 2011 he was part of the Comedy Takeover on TV channel Dave, where he presented and selected the shows.

In 2011 he took part in three shows of the 16-date Uncaged Monkeys tour along with Brian Cox, Robin Ince, Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh and Dara Ó Briain.

In July 2013 he received an honorary degree from the University of Birmingham.[15]

In February 2016 Addison took the speaking role of Smith, an Englishman, in the French opera L'Étoile at The Royal Opera House, London.[16]

Addison became a Patron of Social Enterprise UK in 2017.

Personal life[edit]

Addison currently lives in Bromley, 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 the Labour Party.[19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Chris Addison: The thinking man's comic adjusts to fame" The Independent (13 November 2011). Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  2. ^ Addison, Chris (17 February 2013). "Chris Addison on 'Veep', the American cousin of 'The Thick of It'". The Daily Telegraph.
  3. ^ a b c "Chain Reaction – Series 8 – 2. Rebecca Front talks to Chris Addison". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Drama". Manchester Grammar School. Retrieved 15 April 2018. 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.
  5. ^ BBC (2021) Test Match Special, BBC Radio 5, 4th Sep.
  6. ^ a b Hall, Julian (10 July 2008). "Chris Addison: Swapping satire for sitcom". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 20 May 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  7. ^ "Perrier/if.comedy Award Past Winners". ifcomedy.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  8. ^ "Sony Radio Academy Awards 2006, The Comedy Award". Zafer Associates. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  9. ^ Jeremy Kay (23 January 2009). "Sundance 2009: In the Loop puts rest of the fest in the shade". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  10. ^ "Show & Tell". E4. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  11. ^ 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
  12. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (19 January 2017). "Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson Are The 'Nasty Women' In MGM's 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' Remake".
  13. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (27 April 2018). "Ralph Fiennes & Chris Addison Team Up On Comedy-Drama 'Hallelujah!' From 'Rush', 'Yardie' Producers".
  14. ^ Alex Brownsell (4 January 2011). "Direct Line drops red phone in favour of comedy ads – Marketing news". Marketing magazine. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  15. ^ "University of Birmingham Honorary Graduands for July 2013". Birmingham.ac.uk. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  16. ^ Ashley, Tim (3 February 2016). "L'Étoile, Royal Opera House". The Guardian. p. 32. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  17. ^ "Chris Addison". The Guardian. London. 26 April 2010.
  18. ^ Duerden, Nick (3 March 2013). "Chris Addison: He's like a can of Red Bull made flesh". The Independent. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  19. ^ 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) – via Twitter.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chris_Addison&oldid=1220844514"