Jason Forbes (actor)

Jason Forbes
Born Jason Alexander Forbes
(1990-10-27) 27 October 1990
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
Education Queen Elizabeth's Hospital
Alma mater Jesus College, Cambridge
Occupation Actor, comedian

Jason Forbes (born 27 October 1990) is a British actor and comedian best known for the CITV series Horrible Science,[1] for playing PC Peasey in the Professor Branestawm movies on BBC One,[2] and as a member of the award-winning sketch trio 'Daphne'.[3]

Early life and education

Forbes was born in Bristol, England, and educated at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital in Clifton,[4][5][6] He then went up to Jesus College at the University of Cambridge to read English,[7] graduating in 2012.[8]

At school he joined the 'Gabblers' Club' – a Bristol-based after-dinner speaking society for young students; and, in 2008, was awarded the Gabblers' prize for 'Best Speaker'[9] – a prize formerly awarded to stand-up comedian Mark Watson.[10]

At Cambridge University, Forbes wrote and performed in a number of comedy shows as a member of the famous Cambridge Footlights. In 2012, he co-wrote and performed in Perfect Strangers – the Footlights' 50th annual revue – touring the UK and the United States.[11][12] He also performed in a number of 'serious plays', from contemporary to Shakespeare;[13] and on London's West End as part of a showcase directed by former Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, Max Stafford-Clark.[14]

Career

Comedy

Daphne

In September 2014, Forbes reunited with his Cambridge Footlights contemporaries Phil Wang and George Fouracres to form the sketch group 'Daphne'.[15]

Forbes and sketch group, Daphne, among the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy 'Best Newcomer' Award Nominees 2015

The trio began hosting a comedy night called Nova Nova, every other month at the Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone, where they trialled their new material alongside guests, including British comedians Harry Hill and James Acaster.[16]

Daphne went on to win the London Sketchfest's prize for 'Best New Act' in 2015.[17] Their first Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Daphne Do Edinburgh, was critically acclaimed[18] and Daphne were nominated for the 2015 Foster's (formerly Perrier) Award for 'Best Newcomer'.[19][20][21]

Radio

In February 2016, the BBC announced that Daphne would be bringing a "Goon Show-esque" comedy to BBC Radio 4.[22]

Style and influences

Forbes is a lover of physical comedy and often incorporates slapstick humour into his routines. He has cited Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Rowan Atkinson, the late Sir Norman Wisdom and, "most of all", Michael Crawford among his physical influences. "Against all advice," says Forbes in an interview with online blog Comedy Blogedy, "I’d try everything they did at home: bumping into things, falling over, deliberately spilling stuff and – to my mother's horror – throwing myself down the stairs."[23]

Forbes apparently perfected his stair-fall in a university production of Michael Frayn's Noises Off.[24]

Of his sketch group Daphne's debut Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, The List magazine's Brian Donaldson remarked upon a "wild slapstick moment that will hopefully not result in an injury to Forbes before August is out."[25]

Film and television

Forbes made his first TV appearance in 2013 in Kerry, a BBC Three 'comedy feed' by comedic actress Kerry Howard.

He later appeared in The Mimic on Channel 4 and Pompidou by Little Britain star Matt Lucas on BBC One.

In 2014, he appeared on BBC One alongside Harry Hill, David Mitchell, Ben Miller, Miranda Richardson, Simon Day and Charlie Higson, as PC Peasey in Higson's adaptation of The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm by Norman Hunter.[26]

In May 2015, ITV announced that Forbes would among the cast of their new series Horrible Science, based on the Horrible Science books by Nick Arnold.[27]

Forbes has also joined the cast of Tracey Ullman's new sketch show for BBC One[28] and HBO.[29]

Credits

Film and television

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Kerry Various TV pilot
2014 The Mimic Spa worker TV series (1 episode)
2014 The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm PC Peasey TV film
2015 Pompidou Ambulance Volunteer TV series (1 episodes)
2015–present Horrible Science Junior/Various TV series (10 episodes)
2015 BBC's Fresh from the Fringe Various (as part of sketch trio, Daphne)
2016 Tracey Ullman's Show Various

Radio

Year Title Role Notes
2015 BBC Radio 4's Fresh from the Fringe Various (as part of sketch trio, Daphne)
2015 Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 Extra) Various Series 13, Episode 4[30]
2016 Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 Extra) Various Series 14, Episode 2[31]

Awards and nominations

Forbes' sketch group Daphne were the winners of the London Sketchfest's prize for 'Best New Act' in 2015.[32] Their first Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Daphne Do Edinburgh, was critically acclaimed[33] and Daphne were nominated for the 2015 Foster's (formerly Perrier) Award for 'Best Newcomer'.[34][35][36]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Ben Miller is bringing Horrible Science to CITV, Digital Spy – May 21, 2015
  2. ↑ The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm – Credits, BBC One
  3. ↑ Edinburgh festival 2015: 10 comedy acts to watch, The Guardian
  4. ↑ QEH Bristol News
  5. ↑ Guide to Independent Schools
  6. ↑ The Good Schools Guide
  7. ↑ Cast & Crew | CAST 2011
  8. ↑ The Company – Footlights International Tour 2012
  9. ↑ QEH Bristol News
  10. ↑ Talking it up, Bristol Grammar School
  11. ↑ The Company – Footlights International Tour 2012
  12. ↑ Dates – Footlights International Tour 2012
  13. ↑ Person: Jason Forbes, Camdram
  14. ↑ Show: Marlowe Showcase 2012, Camdram
  15. ↑ who? | Daphne | Sketch comedy from Phil Wang, Jason Forbes & George Fouracres
  16. ↑ Nova Nova, Daphne – Official Website
  17. ↑ Seven sketch comedy shows to see at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, TimeOut
  18. ↑ Best-reviewed Edinburgh Fringe shows 2015, British Comedy Guide
  19. ↑ Foster's Edinburgh Comedy awards shortlist announced, BBC News
  20. ↑ Record 8 nominees for Edinburgh Comedy Award, Chortle
  21. ↑ Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards – newcomers
  22. ↑ Radio 4’s Comedy Commissioner announces a raft of new commissions, BBC Media Centre
  23. ↑ Interview with Daphne, Comedy Blogedy
  24. ↑ Noises Off, The Tab
  25. ↑ Daphne Do Edinburgh – Wild and original sketches from a three-man team clearly going places, The List
  26. ↑ Jason Forbes, IMDb
  27. ↑ Horrible Science, ITV/CITV
  28. ↑ who? | Daphne | Sketch comedy from Phil Wang, Jason Forbes & George Fouracres
  29. ↑ "Tracey Ullman on BBC's Female Revolution". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  30. ↑ "Episode 4, Series 13, Newsjack – BBC Radio 4 Extra". BBC. Retrieved 2015-10-03.
  31. ↑ "Episode 2, Series 14, Newsjack – BBC Radio 4 Extra". BBC. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  32. ↑ Seven sketch comedy shows to see at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, TimeOut
  33. ↑ Best-reviewed Edinburgh Fringe shows 2015, British Comedy Guide
  34. ↑ Foster's Edinburgh Comedy awards shortlist announced, BBC News
  35. ↑ Record 8 nominees for Edinburgh Comedy Award, Chortle
  36. ↑ Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards – newcomers

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, March 30, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.