Jeff Kristian

Jeff Kristian (born 11 May 1964) is an English actor, writer, singer, recording artist and television presenter. He is probably best remembered for his television presenting role as Big Brother's Singing Drag Queen on Big Brother's Bit on the Side.[1]

Television

While attending school in Bermondsey, London in 1970, Kristian was cast as a Young Charlie Chaplin by entertainer Tommy Steele for his BBC vehicle, Tommy Steele In Search of Charlie Chaplin.[2] In 1995, Kristian was interviewed for HTV's magazine programme Spotlight to promote his single Reach Out (I'll Be There). While filming Spotlight, he was almost arrested while waiting for the film crew at the station in Bristol. In costume, Police had mistaken him for a prostitute.[3] 2003, he appeared on Channel 4's reality show The Salon.[4] In 2012, he was cast as presenter Big Brother's Singing Drag Queen on Channel 5's reality show Big Brother spin offs Big Brother's Bit on the Side and Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side, alongside then presenter Emma Willis.[5] From 2015, he was host and presenter on American television magazine programme London Calling.[6]

Film

Kristian's film debut was a short appearance as Queen Of The Aliens in the 1998 Alexander Kauffman film Trouble on Earth, which featured at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999.[7] Writer and director Eme Guitron cast him in the title roles in his short film Little Red Riding Hood: Uncensored in 2003 and Snow White: My Confidential Drawers in 2004,[8] which featured at the Mexican Film Festival 2004. He was cast as The Man in the Gsus Lopez 2011 short Ephemeral Nature, which won Best Film at ASVOFF Barcelona 2012.[9] Lopez also cast him as The Ice Cream Man in the 2013 short It Melts,[10] which won Best Fashion Film at Charleston Fashion Week in 2014.

Kristian also starred as Mary in Lopez's short Out, which was nominated for The Dorothy Slipper Award 2014 and The European Short Film Award 2015.[11] Kristian appeared as The Diva and The Jogger in Salem Kapsaski's feature Spidarlings.[12] Kristian wrote and produced the film's soundtrack.

Stage

In 1979, Kristian became a founder member of The Spangles, a six-piece meet-and-greet group that followed Gary Glitter’s entourage[13] as he toured the UK university circuit before his later fall from grace under Operation Yewtree. From 1992 Kristian began touring the UK in cabaret, with his review The Kinky Hanky Panky Show.[14] He followed this in 1993 with his female impersonation[15] creation The Diva Show, which won Boyz Magazine's reader's poll award for Best Drag Act in 1994. The Stage Newspaper reviewed The Diva Show, stating: "There's no doubting his talent".[16] He took up residency at Molly Moggs Theatre Bar in Soho, London with The Jeff Kristian Show,[17] which at fifteen years is the longest running consecutive drag show in Soho's history.[18]

Recording

In 1985 Kristian became front man of R&B band Dooyah! Under Garry Winkler's Globaldale Management,[19] they performed across the south-east of England, notably the 100 Club, Dingwalls,[20] The Town and Country Club, The Rock Garden, The Mean Fiddler and The Cliffs Pavilion.[21] A single Love's Where You Find It/Spend! Spend! Spend! was co-produced with Essex Radio DJ Roger Dexter. A live album produced by Stevie Wonder producer Malcolm Cecil at Westlake Studios in Hollywood[22] was never released. In 1995, he released the single Reach Out (I'll Be There)[23]

In 2000, Maltese Eurovision star Chiara Siracusa recorded four songs written by Kristian[24] for her album What You Want: Never Question Why, Stars, Fighting For My Love and Angel. In 2003, Kristian's song They Called It Love recorded by family vocal group Next Of Kin was entered for the UK selection of The Eurovision Song Contest.[25]

Writing

Kristian has written features for several magazines, including LGBT History Month[26] and Pinkwire, for which he has also written a regular light-hearted semi-autobiographical column since 2010 called Adventures of a Drag Queen. 2012 saw the publication of Kristian's debut novel Where D'Ya Put Yer Willy?[27] September 2012, Kristian was invited to read from his book at The Polari Salon at London's Southbank Centre.[28]

Personal life

Kristian met his second partner, club-promoter David Warrior on Valentine's Day 1989,[29] they created the men-only nightclub Attitude[30] which ran for three years from 1993. In 1996, Kristian met his third and current partner, property developer Charlie Curtis.[31]

Activist

In 1994, Kristian publicly joined with a large group of Drag Queens including Lili Savage and Regina Fong to boycott the 1995 Gay Pride Festival, in relation to, "The committee's failure to meet any of our basic needs indicating the level of contempt in which we are obviously held."[32] Between 1993 and 1995, Kristian and David Warrior created and co-owned Attitude, a controversial men only nightclub in Peckham, South London. The bar won three Capital Gay Readers' Poll Awards in 1995 for Best New Bar, Best Bar[33] and Best Barman. Later the same year, Southwark Council in South London began a prosecution at Tower Bridge Road Magistrates Court against Kristian as Licensee on three charges of "running an unlicensed sex encounter establishment".[34] Magistrate Jacqueline Comyns describe Southwark Council's challenge[35] as, "slipshod"[36] and dismissed all three charges against Kristian, who had faced a maximum fine of £60.000[37] At the end of the trial, Kristian, who claimed he was not present when police officers covertly visited the bar,[38] pleaded guilty to three offences and was fined £540 without costs.[39] Kristian was hailed as a gay activist[40] by setting up a fund to assist other gay people challenged for their sexuality and for standing up to Southwark Council by claiming his venue would, against all odds remain trading.[41] In 2013, Jeff participated in an awareness campaign for registered charity The Katy Holmes Trust, along with Russell Watson, Wendi Peters and Tricia Penrose.[42]

References

  1. ↑ Darren Waite (June 5, 2012). "Jeff Kristian to appear on BB's Bit on the side". Pinkwire Magazine. p. 15. Retrieved February 9, 2016. Jeff Kristian will be appearing as The Singing Drag Queen in the new series of Endemol’s Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother’s Bit On The Side. Jeff will be there on Channel 5 with Brian Dowling for the launch Tuesday 5th June and also for the first eviction Friday 8th June. then for the next 13 weeks.
  2. ↑ Stacy Novak (July 27, 2012). "An Interview with Jeff Kristian". Transliving Magazine. You are most certainly one of the well known artists of our time, how did you get your first break into show business? When I was 6 years old, Tommy Steele came to my school in Bermondsey, London to cast a BBC TV Special called, Tommy Steele In Search Of Charlie Chaplin.
  3. ↑ Andy Mall (October 13, 2013). "The roar of the grease paint, the smell of the crowd". Boyz Magazine. p. 32. I was sitting on a bench in the shade, when suddenly a police car turned up and two policemen got out. Apparently. this strip of road was notorious for street walkers and they were adamant I was a transexual waiting for a customer.
  4. ↑ Jason Reid (June 8, 2012). "Big Brother's Drag Delight". QX Magazine. Did Endemol approach you? Yes, I've worked with them before on The Salon.
  5. ↑ Robert Ingham (August 16, 2012). "Where D'Ya Put Yer Willy? Book review". Pinkwire Magazine. Retrieved February 9, 2016. Jeff also appears as the resident singing Drag Queen on Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side,
  6. ↑ Michael Darton (January 19, 2016). "The Jeff Kristian Show At Molly Moggs". Theatre & Perform Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2016. You'll know Jeff from his regular appearances on Big Brother's Bit on the Side and London Calling.
  7. ↑ Martin Healey (February 24, 2000). "Where do you put your willy?". Translife Magazine. p. 15. Trouble on Earth, filmed in West London last year stars Jeff, leading a group of transvestites who come to earth to take over... Shown at Cannes 1999, according to Jeff, the rushes on set looked amazingly good.
  8. ↑ Rich Cline (May 4, 2004). "Two short films by Eme Guitron". Shadows On The Wall. ...But the real triumph is Kristian's outrageously camp and tetchy turn as the princess who's just had it with all the media rumours about her life.
  9. ↑ Federico Poletti (January 27, 2012). "A Shaded View on Fashion Film lands in Barcelona". Vogue Italia. Retrieved November 23, 2015. Gsus won the ASVOFF Barcelona Grand Prix for Best Film with Ephemeral Nature.
  10. ↑ Anabel Cuervas (August 11, 2015). "Fashion Filmmaker Gsus Lopez". So Catchy!. Retrieved November 23, 2015. I do, however, have an actor I am infatuated with because he is so incredibly talented, Jeff Kristian. He’s like a chameleon: he can work as a woman and a man and is the main character of Ephemeral Nature. He also has a cameo in It Melts as an ice-cream salesman and he’s the main character in OUT, where for the first time he plays a woman named Mary.
  11. ↑ http://www.laverdad.es/alicante/culturas/cine/201504/10/panoramica-talento-europeo-20150410005147-v.html La Verdad Magazine 10th April 2015.
  12. ↑ Robert Ingham (July 27, 2012). "The Jeff Kristian Interview". Pinkwire Magazine. Retrieved February 9, 2016. Not happy with these he has also just published his first novel “Where D’Ya Put Yer Willy?”, and is working on a comedy horror musical Spidarlings. "They asked me and we did a song called “Sing a Happy Song”. We recorded it and Tiffaney did a fantastic vocal on it. They were really pleased and said “Actually need another 12 songs”.
  13. ↑ Nic Kynaston (August 14, 1995). "Renaissance Man". Boyz Magazine. No newcomer to the music business, Jeff has toured the UK and Europe with soul band Dooyah and in the late 70s as part of the support act for Gary Glitter.
  14. ↑ "Have we met, Jeff?". Lancaster Evening Gazette. August 2, 1995. Abandoning his dream to become an interior designer, he toured the country with his award-winning solo act, The Kinky Hanky Panky Show.
  15. ↑ Maria Smith (September 9, 1994). "A 'Stormey' Night at Tudor Lodge". Repartee Magazine. pp. 9/10. A recent act to visit Ron's however was a real knock-out. Jeff Kristian was brilliant. I hesitate to label him as a 'drag act' because he is in actual fact a marvellous impressionist. Tina Turner, Madonna, Diana Ross and even The Weather Girls were just a few of the super impersonations we were treated to.
  16. ↑ Derek Smith (April 17, 1997). "Harefield St Valentine's". The Stage. But there is no doubting his talent and even though you have seen this type of act countless times before, his has to be one of the better ones.
  17. ↑ Jason Reid (June 8, 2012). "Big Brother's Drag Delight". QX Magazine. Jeff Kristian is at Molly Moggs (2 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 4TA) every Monday and Thursday at 8.30pm.
  18. ↑ Michael Darton (January 19, 2016). "The Jeff Kristian Show At Molly Moggs". Theatre & Perform Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2016. The West End's longest running drag show kicks off every Monday and Thursday at Molly Moggs Theatre Bar, Soho. You'll know Jeff from his regular appearances on Big Brother's Bit on the Side.
  19. ↑ "Boys do sign up for worldwide success". Evening Echo. January 4, 1988. Dooyah! the seven-piece Southend band have been busy launching their band on a global level. They have just signed to Globaldale Management Company as part of a three-band deal.
  20. ↑ "Slick boys go for gigs". Yellow Advertiser. March 27, 1988. Busy Southend band Dooyah! are about to launch themselves on the London gig scene. Over the last week they have gigged at Harlesden's Mean Fiddler and Fulham's King's Head. Their latest bash is at Dingwalls, Camden's top venue, tonight with a March 29 gig at Putney's Half Moon.
  21. ↑ Alan Wheeler (April 25, 1988). "Maiden singers lead heavy metal festival". Evening Echo. Pop, rock and soul act Dooyah! headline at The Maritime Room at the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff tonight.
  22. ↑ Alan Wheeler (January 4, 1988). "Boys do sign up for worldwide success". Evening Echo. The band have also spent a weekend with Malcolm Cecil recording in the Town House III studio in Battersea, which is part of the Virgin empire. The result of this was a 24 track demo of 15 original songs with at least four production quality numbers thanks to some mixing at Westlake Studios in Hollywood by Malcolm over the Christmas period.
  23. ↑ Amanda Sewell (August 12, 1995). "Have you met Jeff?". Lancaster Evening Gazette. What is it about Jeff Kristian that makes me think he might have visited one or two of Blackpool's nightspots before? For sure, his new single, an upbeat revival of the Four Tops classic Reach Out (I'll Be There) will soon be filling the floor in the Flamingo - if it isn't doing already.
  24. ↑ Deo Grech (June 1, 2000). "Chiara... giving you what you want!". All Malta. UK composer and lyricist Jeff Kristian has also contributed one ballad and three uptempo songs. Although the music style is radically different from her previous collection, ballad lovers will not be disappointed by two tracks, 'Never Question Why' and 'Ballad of the Nymphs'. Two particular tracks, 'Fighting For My Love' and 'Angel' are strongly influenced by the latest styles by international music icons Madonna and Cher.
  25. ↑ Haydon Bridge (May 14, 2009). "Good Kristian Music". QX Magazine. I love Eurovision and, I don't know whether you know, I'm a songwriter as well. I did a song in 2003 for an act called Next Of Kin, 3 sisters and a brother, and the song was called They Call It Love.
  26. ↑ http://www.pinkwire.co.uk/magazine.php?section_id=8 LGBT History Month Magazine 2015.
  27. ↑ Robert Ingham (July 27, 2012). "The Jeff Kristian Interview". PinkWire Magazine. Retrieved November 28, 2015. It’s been a busy year so far for our resident Drag Queen, Jeff Kristian, with his usual shows at Molly Moggs and weekly appearances on Big Brother’s Bit On The Side. Not happy with these he has also just published his first novel “Where D’Ya Put Yer Willy?”
  28. ↑ "Polari First Book Prize". Time Out. September 15, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2015. Now in its second year, the Polari First Book Prize is for a debut book of poetry or prose, fiction or non-fiction, that explores the LGBT experience. Entertainment comes from authors and poets Susie Boyt, Neil Alexander, Jeff Kristian, Cherry Smyth and Robert Hudson.
  29. ↑ Rod Pringle (July 14, 1994). "Striking Attitudes in Peckham". Metro News. p. 13. Ironically it's also about the only night when owner Dave's boyfriend, drag star Jeff Kristian can go into the bar in his frock without feeling completely out of place. The two met on Valentine's day ten years ago.
  30. ↑ Nic Kynaston (August 14, 1995). "Renaissance Man". Boyz Magazine. Sharing a very comfortable house in Greenwich, next to a graveyard, with partner, manager and co-owner of Attitude David Warrior, I wonder if the pair of them ever prop up the bar on Attitude's famous Underwear-only nights?
  31. ↑ Haydon Bridge (May 14, 2009). "Good Kristian Music". QX Magazine. My partner Charlie Curtis is a property developer. He buys places probate and then renovates then and sells them on again.
  32. ↑ Roger Goode (July 1, 1994). "Angry drag queens flounce out of Pride". Capital Gay. More than 30 angry drag queens including Adrenal, David Dale and Regina Fong have said they will boycott next year's Pride Festival because of a series of humiliations. The letter was also signed by Susan Black, Jeff Kristian, Ebony, Lola Lasagne and Titi Le Camp.
  33. ↑ Roger Goode (January 27, 1995). "David's double whammy!". Capital Gay. p. 1. David Warrior, co-owner of Attitude bar, displaying his two greatest assets on Monday night - the Capital Gay 1994 Readers' Awards for Best Pub and Best New Pub/Club, that is!
  34. ↑ David Smith (November 9, 1995). "Underwear party pub prosecuted for 'unlicensed sex encounters'". Gay Times. Licensee Jeff Kristian was due to appear at Tower Bridge magistrates court on October 31st facing three charges of "running an unlicensed sex encounter establishment" contrary to the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1982.
  35. ↑ Roger Goode (November 8, 1995). "Y-Front Council's Dressing Down". The Gay Gazette. p. 1. The lawyer representing Jeff Kristian, who faced charges for running an unlicensed "sex encounter establishment", said the council challenge was a "vindictive prosecution aimed at a gay venue".
  36. ↑ Kevin O'Mally (November 9, 1995). "Charges Against Attitude Dropped". Thud. But magistrate Mrs M Comyns dismissed three charges of running an unlicensed sex encounter establishment against the bar's licensee Jeff Kristian, calling the prosecution "slipshod".
  37. ↑ Amanda Dunne (November 8, 1995). "Sex charges against gay bar thrown out". Pink Paper. Ms Comyns dismissed all three charges against Kristian, who had face a maximum fine of £60,000.
  38. ↑ Licensee Reporter (October 19, 2015). "Pub Loses License For Gay Sex Orgy". The Licensee and Morning Advertiser. Licensee Kristian told the court that he was not present on the night the officers visited his pub.
  39. ↑ Amanda Dunne (November 8, 1995). "Sex charges against gay bar thrown out". Pink Paper. At the end of the trial Kristian pleaded guilty to three offences of "allowing disorderly behaviour to take place on licensed premises". He was fined £540 but was not ordered to pay costs.
  40. ↑ Roger Goode (October 4, 1995). "We'll Take On Those Jackboot Johnnies". The Gay Gazette. p. 1. Jeff Kristian, himself facing prosecution under the 1832 disorderly house rule after a visit by Southwark Council to Attitude in Peckham, said the fund would be used to help individuals unable to afford the costly legal fees involved in defending themselves.
  41. ↑ Roger Goode (September 27, 1995). "Town Hall's Spies Strip to Y-Fronts". The Gay Gazette. p. 1. This week Kristian protested he was a victim of a council campaign to close the club. But Kristian pledged this week the club, which opened two years ago, would remain in business even if he was prevented from being its landlord.
  42. ↑ "Pyjamas Galore for Katy Holmes Day". Lancashire Evening Post. January 18, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2015. Celebrities have also come on board to support the day with singer Russell Watson, actress Wendi Peters, Jeff Kristian from Big Brother’s Bit On The Side and Tricia Penrose from Emmerdale are among those taking part.
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