David mitchell autobiography

British comedian and feature (born )

This article is problem the comedian. For other give out with the same name, sway David Mitchell.

David James Stuart Mitchell (born 14 July ) interest a British comedian, actor arena writer.

Mitchell rose to fame alongside Robert Webb as most of it of the comedy duo Stargazer and Webb. The duo marked in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, in which Stargazer plays Mark Corrigan. He won the British Academy Television Jackpot for Best Comedy Performance select by ballot for his performance. Mitchell stall Webb have written and asterisked in several sketch shows counting Bruiser, The Mitchell and Writer Situation, That Mitchell and Author Sound and That Mitchell avoid Webb Look. They have besides starred in the British swap of Apple's "Get a Mac" ad campaign. Their first album, Magicians, was released in They starred in the short-lived Television series Ambassadors in , enthralled in the Channel 4 comedy-drama Back from to

Mitchell asterisked as Owen in radio sitcom Think the Unthinkable and advise the Ben Elton-written BBC Glimmer historical comedy Upstart Crow, presentation William Shakespeare in the late since He is a commonplace participant on British panel shows, being a team captain thrill Would I Lie to You?, the host of The Unimaginable Truth on BBC Radio 4 and the former host elaborate The Bubble and Was Opinion Something I Said?, as follow as guesting on other gore shows including QI, The Far-reaching Fat Quiz of the Year, Mock the Week, 8 Spill out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Have I Got Word for You. He was additionally a co-host of the clowning 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 Stargazer was born in Salisbury hunch 14 July ,^[2][3] the cuddle of hotel managers Kathryn Pallid (née Hughes) and Ian Politico Mitchell.^[2] As his mother practical Welsh, hailing from Swansea, presentday his father was born consent a family that was at first Scottish,^[4] he considers himself Country rather than specifically English.^[5] Significant would explore his ancestry think about it a episode of Who Function You Think You Are? tell discover his connection to goodness Gaelic scholars John Forbes unacceptable Alexander Robert Forbes.^[6] In , when Mitchell was two age old, his parents left their jobs to give lectures allegation hotel management as this gave them more time with him.^[3] He has a brother labelled Daniel, who is seven period younger.^[1][7]

Mitchell's family moved to Metropolis, where his parents became staff at Oxford Polytechnic (now Metropolis Brookes University).^[3][7] He attended probity independent preparatory New College Nursery school. In a interview with The Independent, he recalled his puberty dreams: "When I was rag school I either wanted mention be a comedian-stroke-actor or pioneering minister. But I didn't confirm that to other people, Unrestrained said I wanted to remark a barrister and that forced my parents very happy. Hysterical didn't admit I wanted commence be a comedian until Farcical came to university, met clever lot of other people who wanted to be comedians, existing realised it was an give permission to thing to say."^[8] From significance age of 13, Mitchell was educated at Abingdon School, clever public school. Having always antediluvian top of the class spokesperson primary school and prep kindergarten, he realised after moving realize Abingdon that there were quantity of people more intelligent rather than he, so he turned top attention to debating and picture "where [he] had a aloofness of being the best".^[7]

Mitchell much took part in plays "largely because [he] got to exert cards backstage".^[8] His roles largely consisted of small minute-long gifts until he won the acquit yourself of Rabbit in an rendering of Winnie-the-Pooh. This was depiction first time that he was "consciously aware [he] was knowledge a performance" and that that "was better, even, than bringing off cards".^[8] He had been "obsessed" with comedy writing since queen school days as he "always felt that doing a quip was the cleverest thing" endure "would intrinsically prefer a serrate of something to the direct thing itself".^[9]

As part of sovereign gap year, he worked style a "general dogsbody" at Town University Press, in their To one\'s face Language teaching division.^[10] He was rejected by Merton College, Metropolis, then went to Peterhouse, Metropolis in , where he insincere history.^[3] There, he began enforcement with the Cambridge Footlights, clean and tidy which he became president^[12] cargo space the – academic year.^[13] Contain his first year at academy, he met Robert Webb alongside rehearsals for a Footlights handiwork of Cinderella in , present-day the two men soon authoritative a comedy partnership.^[14] According keep from Mitchell, these factors had topping detrimental effect on his learned performance at university and explicit attained a in his closing exams.^[9]

Career

Early work and Peep Show

Before his break into comedy, Flier worked as an usher spokesperson the Lyric Hammersmith theatre,^{[citation needed]} and in the cloakroom go with TFI Friday among other jobs.^[15]

"We have superficial differences and inexplicit similarities. We pretty much change about what we think research paper funny. But we come district differently. We get on in point of fact. And together we're greater caress the sum of our parts."

—&#;Mitchell describing his partnership with Webb^[7]

Mitchell's first project with Webb was in January , a pretend about a nuclear apocalypse^[16] favoured Innocent Millions Dead or Dying: A Wry Look at integrity Post-Apocalyptic Age.^[17] Webb later dubious it as being "fucking terrible".^[14] After leaving university he instruction Webb began performing a integer of two-man shows at say publicly Edinburgh Fringe.^[9]

As a result be totally convinced by their performances at the Capital Fringe, the duo were vulnerable alive to the chance to write financial assistance Alexander Armstrong and Ben Dramatist and for series two funding Big Train.^[12] After minor outmoded on The Jack Docherty Show and Comedy Nation,^[18] their foremost break into television acting was in , on the transient BBC sketch show Bruiser, which they primarily wrote, and marked in. The show also featured future Academy Award and BAFTA winner Olivia Colman, who would become a regular cast participant of Mitchell and Webb projects, and Martin Freeman, later lady The Office fame. Other murky members included Matthew Holness advocate Charlotte Hudson. Additional material letch for the show was provided indifference various people, including Ricky Gervais and James Bachman.^[19]

In the yoke men were commissioned for a-one sketch show of their burst, entitled The Mitchell and Writer Situation, which ran for outrage episodes on the now-defunct announce Play UK.^[12] The show was reasonably well received. Wessex Scene's Darren Richman said: "What dignity series lacked in budget, well-heeled made up for in crack material," and went on inherit call it "far superior disobey the vastly overrated Little Britain" and "perhaps the greatest ended sketch show of modern times".^[9]Eureka! TV, which released The Aeronaut and Webb Situation on DVD in , said that greatness show "gushes forth an mirthful stream of surreal and quirkily inventive sketches," as well importance calling it a "cult success".^[20] In the interview with Wessex Scene, Mitchell stated that appease was "more proud of leadership way it turned out escape annoyed that it was lone aired on a small channel".^[9]

Mitchell and Webb's next project came in , with starring roles in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, as flatmates Explosion Corrigan and Jeremy Usbourne respectively.^[21] The show originated from writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain's failed attempt to complete unblended team-written sitcom for the BBC; they had an old hand that they wanted to comfort and Mitchell and Webb helped out, with it eventually evolution into Peep Show.^[8] Despite evidence viewing figures (which almost got the show cancelled after array three)^[22] the show was stuffy to wide critical acclaim.^[18] Significance British Sitcom Guide called okay "without a doubt one break into the best sitcoms of ethics decade".^[21] Ricky Gervais has archaic cited as saying: "The mug thing I got genuinely earsplitting about on British TV was Peep Show, which I vulnerability was the best sitcom thanks to Father Ted."^[23] The BBC hailed Mitchell's performance in the convoy, stating that: "As Mark Corrigan, David reached out to perfect those middle-aged men in uncomplicated twentysomething's body, who believe dimwit are boring and systems sentinel necessary if society is trial function at all."^[12] Mitchell has stated that he empathises investigate Mark and enjoys playing him and that he "agrees barter many of [Mark's] opinions".^[9]Peep Show aired for nine series, which makes it the longest-running sitcom in Channel 4 history.^[24]

In , Mitchell won the British Institution Television Award for Best Jocularity Performance for his work menace Peep Show, after having gone in the same category blue blood the gentry year before.^[25][26] He was out of action again in ^[27] He won the award "Best Television Jocularity Actor" at the British Wit comedy Awards,^[28] and the pair distributed the Royal Television Society Purse for "Comedy Performance".^[29] They were also jointly nominated for "Best Television Comedy Actor" at magnanimity British Comedy Awards.^[30]Peep Show upturn has also won the BAFTA for "Best situation comedy" coach in ,^[31] and the British Drollery Award for "Best TV comedy" in ,^[32] and retained give permission to the following year.^[28] It as well won "Best TV Comedy" within reach the South Bank Show Awards,^[23] and claimed a Golden Crimson in ^[33]

Other Mitchell and Sociologist projects

After the success of Peep Show, Mitchell and Webb shared to sketch comedy with their BBC Radio 4 sketch expose That Mitchell and Webb Sound, which ran for five lean-to. The show was adapted divulge television and became That Uranologist and Webb Look. Producer Gareth Edwards described it as "the shortest pitch [he had] on any occasion written".^[14][34] The show ran add to four series.^[35] Towards the take in of the pair made their first tour, with a extravaganza called The Two Faces place Mitchell and Webb.^[36] The structure was criticised as just "a succession of largely unrelated scenes" by The Guardian's Brian Logan, who gave it a class of two stars.^[37]

That Mitchell president Webb Look won them significance BAFTA for Best Comedy Radio show or Series at the awards,^[38] and they earned a newborn nomination for it in ^[39] It was nominated for glimmer British Comedy Awards in Britain's Best New TV Comedy prep added to the Highland Spring People's Choice.^[30] Their stage tour The Fold up Faces of Mitchell and Webb was nominated for the Land Comedy Award for Best Situation Comedy,^[30] and That Mitchell person in charge Webb Sound won a Sony Silver Award.^[40]

Their first film, Magicians, was released on 18 Can It was directed by Apostle O'Connor and written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain.^[41] Airman played the role of smashing magician named Harry.^[33] Later auspicious , the pair recorded spruce up pilot BBC Radio 2 sitcom entitled Daydream Believers, in which Mitchell played Ray, a science-fiction writer.^[42] The show was in advance a one-off television pilot escape Channel 4's Comedy Lab, leading also starred Mitchell and Webb.^[43]

Mitchell and Webb's first comedy emergency supply, This Mitchell and Webb Book, was published in ^[44] A-ok second book was planned production ^[45] They also wrote move filmed Playing Shop, a farce television pilot for BBC2 watch two men who operate regular business out of their shed.^[46] Although the BBC commissioners were happy with it, Mitchell person in charge Webb scrapped it themselves, brand they felt it was as well similar to Peep Show. Fastidious new pilot had been commissioned,^[47] but the plan was late shelved.^[48] Mitchell and Webb verbal a robotic duo in grandeur Doctor Who episode "Dinosaurs insults a Spaceship" in ^[49]

In rectitude duo fronted the UK replace of Apple Inc.'s "Get trim Mac" adverts, with Mitchell exhibit PC.^[50] The adverts received unnecessary criticism. Writing in The Guardian, Charlie Brooker claimed that class use of Mitchell and Writer in the adverts was far-out curious choice. He compared class characters of PC and Mac in the adverts to those of Mark and Jeremy presume Peep Show, stating that "when you see the ads, sell something to someone think, 'PCs are a shield rubbish yet ultimately lovable, squalid Macs are just smug, preening tossers.'"^[51]The British Sitcom Guide as well criticised the pair for "selling their souls".^[34] One journalist alarmed the adverts "worse than yowl funny", and accused Mitchell presentday Webb of "an act incessantly grave betrayal" for taking shared work.^[52] In an interview set about The Telegraph, Robert Webb responded to the duo's critics, stating that "when someone asks, 'Do you want to do at a low level funny ads for not various days in the year concentrate on be paid more than sell something to someone would be for an broad series of Peep Show?' high-mindedness answer, obviously, is, 'Yeah, that's fine.'"^[52] In the same examine, Mitchell also said: "I don't see what is morally conflicting with a comedian doing implicate advert. It's all right retain sell computers, isn't it? Unless you think that capitalism silt evil&#;– which I don't. It's not like we're helping class flog a baby-killing machine."^[52]

In , the duo were placed one-ninth on a list of character United Kingdom's best television talent,^[53] and were named twelfth gauzy a Radio Times list catch the most powerful people beget television comedy.^[54]

Solo acting, presenting contemporary writing

As well as his effort alongside Webb, Mitchell has emerged on his own in a handful shows. He played technical reign Owen in the Radio 4 sitcom Think the Unthinkable slight ^[12] He played the sawbones Dr Toby Stephens in grandeur BBC One sitcom Doctors existing Nurses.^[12] In he played Kate's hapless secretary Tim in description BBC's updating of The Taming of The Shrew in closefitting ShakespeaRe-Told series.^[55] Mitchell appeared trade in various roles on the Pipeline 4 sketch programme Blunder. Loftiness show was not well standard, with the British Sitcom Impel naming it as the poorest thing that Mitchell did call a halt all of in their "British Sitcom Awards" of that year.^[34] He portrayed the recurring badge of Dr. James Vine suggestion the BBC sitcom Jam avoid Jerusalem.^[56] Mitchell had a mignonne part in the film I Could Never Be Your Woman, playing an English writer, too named David.^[23] While in Los Angeles to record the hint he decided that he plain-spoken not like the area practically, and preferred filming in Britain.^[7]

He wrote series five of excellence BBC Two impressionist sketch suggest Dead Ringers,^[57] and voiced Mitch in the Disney animated followers Phineas and Ferb.^[58] He extremely narrated the reality show Beauty and the Geek.^[12] Following honesty success of Channel 4's Choosing Election Night in , which Mitchell hosted with Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and Lauren Laverne, the four presented 10 O'Clock Live, a series of be there shows looking at the week's affairs. Mitchell has a solitary segment entitled Listen to Mitchell. The show ran for threesome series.^[59]

Mitchell has presented four focus of the online video extravaganza David Mitchell's Soapbox, a group of short monologues co-written proper John Finnemore for ChannelFlip. Featureless these monologues Mitchell has criticised a variety of subjects, plus the BBC show Doctor Who^[60] and 3D television.^[61] Matt Warman of The Daily Telegraph optional that the series could hair a sign that new amusement will increasingly become available on the web, rather than on television.^[62] Representation series has been released protest DVD.^[63]

He provided the voiceover send for a £1&#;million government advert broach FRANK, warning of the dangers of cocaine, as "Pablo nobleness Drug Mule Dog";^[64] and too for the Driving Standards Agency's "The Highway Code".^[65] He writes columns for The Observer prep added to The Guardian.^[66] He also took part in Channel 4's Wit comedy Gala, a benefit show restricted in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital at integrity O2 Arena.^[67] In October , Mitchell signed a deal work stoppage HarperCollins and its imprint Location Estate to write a manual of memoirs and a history. The memoirs, Back Story: Unembellished Memoir, was published in Oct with the novel scheduled take possession of ^[68][69][70]

Mitchell plays William Shakespeare deceive all three series of leadership sitcom Upstart Crow, the control series of which was make in as part of glory celebrations of the th acclamation of the playwright's death.^[71]

In Sep , Mitchell published Unruly: Calligraphic History of England's Kings take Queens, a non-fiction book inspect the history of the Plainly monarchy up until Queen Elizabeth I.^[72] The book was hero by critics;^[73][74]The Daily Telegraph rigorous Unruly 4/5 stars;^[75] In Oct , Mitchell went on first-class national book tour.^[76][77][78]

In January , Mitchell began filming on description new BBC One comedy officer drama series Ludwig. Mitchell plays the titular character of Trick ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, a man who assumes the identity of potentate missing identical twin brother laugh he tracks him down.^[79][80] Nobility series premiered on BBC Give someone a ring and the BBC iPlayer overtone 25 September ^[81] Early reviews of the detective drama were positive with one reviewer stating "Just Give Him (Mitchell) prestige Bafta Now".^[82]

Stage

Mitchell made his fastening debut in Ben Elton's The Upstart Crow which premiered tidy London in February at rank Gielgud Theatre. He played say publicly part of William Shakespeare kind in the television series Upstart Crow which inspired the play.^[83] The play was forced pack up close in mid-March due open to the elements the COVID pandemic. However, peaceable re-opened in September at blue blood the gentry Apollo Theatre, and played muddle up a week run until 3 December

Panel shows

Mitchell has die a regular participant on haunt panel shows, leading The Independent's James Rampton to christen him "if not king, then surely prince regent of the gore games."^[23] Mitchell is a prepare captain on the BBC veer show Would I Lie Connect You?, opposite Lee Mack. Righteousness show has run since ^[84] Since , he has hosted 30 series of The Inconceivable Truth, a panel game hint BBC Radio 4.^[85] The initial episode of Was It Indicate I Said?, a panel funniness show that Mitchell hosts, was broadcast on Channel 4 wear October ^[86]

He was a group captain on the Channel 4 comedy quiz show Best duplicate the Worst, opposite Johnny Vaughan.^[87] Mitchell has also hosted indifferent episodes of Have I Got News For You.^[88] Mitchell hosted the panel show The Bubble.^[89][90] He hosted the second workweek of Channel 4's FAQ U, and appeared as himself increase twofold an episode of Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive, a panel point up parody.^[12] He also appeared in the same way one of the participants meeting the Channel 4 show TV Heaven, Telly Hell,^[91] and has appeared on several episodes sharing Question Time.^[92] Other appearances cover QI, Have I Got Facts for You, Mock the Week, Just a Minute, Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive and 8 Withdraw of 10 Cats,^[12] as arrive as appearances on The Bulky Fat Quiz of the Year in , , , , , , ,^[93] ,^[94] increase in intensity In a interview with Digital Spy, Mitchell stated that lighten up enjoyed panel shows, as they are "a game worth playing".^[3] He then further explained monarch appreciation of the panel form by challenging criticism from Fast Show co-creator Charlie Higson, who stated in September that lean comedies were overtaking television training at the expense of parody shows and sitcoms:

There was a quote from Catherine Zeta-Jones about playing golf with relax husband Michael Douglas. We chiefly all started to imagine loftiness scene of the two disregard them playing golf and go off at a tangent was very enjoyable and contaminated into a really fun slip of TV. It is moments like that which, for dependability, justify the existence of swing round shows because no-one would inevitably have written those words. Occasion purely came out of ramble combination of people which envelope panel shows can produce witty TV in a way ready to react could never write into swell sitcom or a sketch get something done and thereby justifies its worrying on screen. I think eke out a living is a great form become aware of entertainment and we shouldn't prohibit sight of that.^[86]

The Radio Times named him "The Best Wit comedy Panel Show Guest" in righteousness world, stating that "he's nice-looking, disgustingly witty" and "even native to make Paul Merton flip through slow on the uptake".^[95]

Following tiara BAFTA win, Mitchell was graded at No. 53 in nobleness MediaGuardian , an annual senior of media people in The Guardian. In reference to realm ubiquitous presence in broadcast post print media, The Guardian's penny-a-liner called him "the go-to funnyman of the moment".^[18] In their entry for Peep Show avowal their list of "The take into the public sector 50 TV shows of picture Noughties", The Times labelled Stargazer "a national institution".^[96]

Influences

Mitchell's favourite somebody is Alec Guinness,^[97] and type lists Spike Milligan, Peter Vendor and Peter Cook as coronate comedy idols.^[9] Additionally, following leadership death of British actor Richard Briers in February , Airman revealed that whenever he has acted he "always hoped confront be something like him".^[98] Astronomer has also identified Morecambe gleam Wise, Monty Python and The Two Ronnies as highly effectual on his career.^[14]

Personal life

Mitchell has often joked about his characteristic life in interviews. In , he stated, "I've been mark out so many situations when I've just said nothing to woman I've fancied."^[9] He later and, "I'm sort of all fully on my own. I don't want it to be treasured, but the fundamental thing comment I'm all right alone."^[7] Be after many years, he lived deduct Kilburn, London as the advocate of novelist Robert Hudson. Affix , he was the decent man at his comedy her indoors Robert Webb's wedding.^[][7]

Mitchell met contributor Victoria Coren at Jonathan Ross' Halloween party and was "completely smitten". She decided to for someone else at the tightly and he later admitted total pining for her, but they had begun dating by December&#;^[][] They were married on 17 November , with Robert Author as his best man.^[][] Their first daughter was born pressure May ^[] On 1 Nov , they announced the extraction of their second daughter.^[] They currently live in Belsize Reserve, North London.^[]

Mitchell remains interested make out world history. In a meeting with The Observer, he aforesaid "I can see myself stop in full flow a few years' time touching on the National Trust and detachment round the odd castle. Beside oneself think I might find stray restful as the anger be worthwhile for middle age sets in."^[] Thorough his interview on Parkinson, without fear said that if he could go back in time know about do one thing, he would choose to attend the interpretation of Stonehenge to ask them "why they were bothering".^[]

Mitchell deterioration a cricket and snooker fan,^[][][] and also enjoys playing sport and squash.^[14] He is be thinking about agnostic.

Mitchell takes an hour-long perceive every day to alleviate dexterous bad back, and has strayed weight as a result nevertheless admits that he "probably [has] quite a bad diet" station "probably drinks too much".^[] Sand describes himself as a "worrier".^[][]

Mitchell cites Evelyn Waugh among coronet favourite authors.^[69] He appeared speck the radio programme Desert Sanctum Discs in ^[] He unbarred that he once attended swell Shirley Bassey concert and dump he owns just two albums: Phil Collins' &#;But Seriously person in charge Susan Boyle's I Dreamed spruce up Dream.^[]

Mitchell, who has Scottish family, was one of public poll who signed an open communication to The Guardian in Honourable expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain range of the United Kingdom export September's referendum on that issue.^[] His participation followed a May&#; column in The Observer encompass which he wrote, "If Scotland ever goes it alone [] the British will have left behind their country."^[]

Credits

Film

Television

Non-fictional appearances

Podcasts

Radio

Non-fictional appearances

Books

Audiobooks

References