Paul Foot (comedian)
| Paul Foot | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Medium | Stand-up, television |
| Nationality | British |
Paul Foot (born 1974) is an English comedian. He commands a significant cult following called The Guild of Connoisseurs.[1] Foot is known for his musings, rants, 'disturbances' and apparent aversion to pop culture. The Daily Express likened Foot to "a rare exotic bird"[2], whilst six national newspapers including the The Independent and The Age have declared Paul to be "a comedy genius".[3][4][5]
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[edit] Biography
Foot was born and raised in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire,[6] he studied mathematics at Merton College, Oxford.[7] It was during his studies he first started performing stand-up.[8] As of 2011 Foot has refused to discuss his years at Oxford or former pursuits as a mathematics student[9]. Graduating from Oxford in 1995, Foot was head-hunted by a computer software company in the run-up to the dot-com bubble, however he loathed the industry: “I had to read manuals on HTML and just write websites from scratch. None of us really knew what we were doing”.[10] He started to pursue a career in comedy, doing open mic slots at various venues, in the hope that show business would allow him to meet his idol Ella Fitzgerald. Tragically Ella Fitzgerald died a few days after this decision was made, but Foot decided to stick with comedy as a career anyhow.[10] He is openly gay[11].
[edit] Live performances
Foot frequently performs live, with resident slots at various London comedy clubs, and his connoisseurs sometimes demand shows in particularly obscure parts of Britain. He usually takes a show to the Edinburgh Fringe such as By The Yard (2009) and Ash In The Attic (2010) which was directed by Noel Fielding.
In 2003 Foot and Russell Brand appeared in a double act at Cafe Royal.[12] Foot's style of comedy had a strong influence on Brand who was inspired by Foot's eccentric hair, quirky mannerisms and love for florid language. In The Guardian Paul MacInnes wrote about their similarities in an article that explored the notion of 'copycat comedians'.[13] Bruce Dessau made similar observations in The Standard[14]
[edit] Ash In The Attic
Foot's 2010 Edinburgh show Ash In The Attic enjoyed a second sell-out run at London's Soho Theatre in February 2011.[15] Ash In The Attic was then taken to Melbourne for the 2011 Melbourne International Comedy Festival as part of the official gala selection[16] where it received a 5 star review in The Age[17]. Australian Chortle wrote in their review that Ash In The Attic was "One of the best comedy shows ever to have been performed in Melbourne"[18].
[edit] Still Life
Foot performed eight secret London previews for his 2011 Edinburgh show Still Life before taking it to the Fringe where the show had a sell-out run at the Underbelly.[19]. Foot will tour the UK this autumn with Still Life starting at the Soho Theatre on 26th September[20]. The poster image for Still Life is an original artwork, a portrait of Foot amidst various fruits, by Victoria Brook.[21]
[edit] Secret shows
In September 2006, Foot started a regular London-based solo variety show called Paul Foot's Comedy for Connoisseurs. The title comes from the name given to his fans, "The Guild of Paul Foot Connoisseurs", for whom Foot arranges "secret" events advertised only via his official website and mailing list.[6][22] In the secret shows Foot often enters a surreal territory, taking on the personae of his own character creations such as 'Penny' and 'Skeleton Johnson', and sometimes improvising elaborate mini-dramas in which he plays all of the parts.
Foot's television appearances in 2010 introduced a new generation to his style of comedy, leading some 'Connoisseurs of The Guild of Paul Foot Connoisseurs' unable to attend Foot's Secret Shows due to this new wave of popularity with a younger, student demographic booking them out. Foot addressed this problem by organising his first 'Secret Secret Show' for his longest-serving connoisseurs. The show was not advertised anywhere on his website.[23]
[edit] Television
Foot has appeared on numerous television shows including:
- FAQ U (Channel Four)
- Edinburgh and Beyond (Paramount Comedy Channel)
- Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive (BBC Three)
- Come Dine With Me (Channel 4)
- Richard & Judy (Channel 4)
- Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC Two)[24]
- Russell & Katy Get Married (FIVE)
- Big Brother's Big Mouth (Channel 4)[25]
- The 50 Funniest Moments of 2010 (Channel 4)[26]
- Greatest Christmas TV Ads (FIVE)[27]
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival All Star Supershow (Channel Ten - Australia)
In 2008 Foot was a finalist in NBC's Last Comic Standing.[28]
In 2011 Foot filmed a series of TV adverts for Virgin Mobile in Australia. He helped to devise his character in the campaign called 'Robin Da Hood', a bizarre fusion of medieval eccentricities and modern-day Australian urbanity.[29]
[edit] Awards
In 1997 Foot won both the BBC New Stand-up Award and the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award, and was a finalist for the So You Think You're Funny award for newcomers.[30]
In 2011 Foot was nominated for a Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.[31]
[edit] Guild events
As well as secret stand-up comedy shows Foot arranges events for The Guild of Connoisseurs such as secret picnics, spoof lectures and guided tours. In July 2011 he scheduled an event at Stepney City Farm at which connoisseurs attempted to complete a 32,000 piece jigsaw puzzle.[32]
Foot hosts competitions within the Guild too, such as an annual tie design competition and portrait painting competitions.[33]
[edit] Radio
- The Infinite Monkey Cage (BBC Radio 4) - November 2010, May 2011
- Chequebook And Pen (BBC Radio 4) - December 2010
- The Late Show (talkSPORT) - February 2011[34]
[edit] Edinburgh shows
- Most Wanted (2003)
- Simple Pleasures (2004)
- Comedy For Connoisseurs (2007)
- Off The Top Of/With His Head (2008)
- By The Yard (2009)
- Ash In The Attic (2010)
- Still Life (2011)
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.paulfoot.tv/guild.php
- ^ http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/120596/Paul-Foot-By-The-Yard-The-Underbelly-Edinburgh-Festival-/Paul-Foot-By-The-Yard-The-Underbelly-Edinburgh-Festival-Paul-Foot-By-The-Yard-The-Underbelly-Edinburgh-Festival-Paul-Foot-By-The-Yard-The-Underbelly-Edinburgh-Festival-Paul-Foot-By-The-Yard-The-Underbelly-Edinburgh-Festival-Paul-Foot-By-The-Yard-The-Underbelly-Edinburgh-Festival-
- ^ "Cultural Life: Rhod Gilbert, comedian". The Independent (London). 7 January 2011. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/cultural-life-rhod-gilbert-comedian-2177716.html.
- ^ "Ash in the Attic". The Age (Melbourne). 6 April 2011. http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/comedy/ash-in-the-attic-20110406-1d3c6.html.
- ^ http://www.paulfoot.tv/press_quotes.php
- ^ a b Hay, Malcolm (25 September 2006). "Paul Foot: Interview". Time Out London (Time Out Group). http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/features/2022/Paul_Foot-Interview.html. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
- ^ Conchie, Peter (1 November 1997). "Comedy: Adrian Mole meets Emo Phillips". The Independent (London: Independent Print). http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/comedy-adrian-mole-meets-emo-phillips-1291494.html. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
- ^ "The Twelve Funniest Comedy Acts in the World Are Revealed on NBC's Last Comic Standing" (Press release). NBC. 7 July 2008. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080707nbc01. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
- ^ http://www.beatmagazine.co.uk/taking-comedy-to-the-next-level-an-interview-with-paul-foot
- ^ a b http://www.leedsstudent.org/2009-10-11/culture-2/arts/paul-foot-exposed
- ^ http://youtube.com/watch?v=xoW415APMzY
- ^ http://www.festivalhighlights.com/2004/paulfoot/PaulFootPR.pdf
- ^ MacInnes, Paul (11 September 2009). "Stewart Lee, Jack Whitehall and the trouble with copycat comedians". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2009/sep/11/stewart-lee-jack-whitehall-comedians.
- ^ http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/comedy/review-23432870-cult-stardom-could-be-a-hairs-breadth-away.do
- ^ http://www.allgigs.co.uk/view/event/341862/Paul_Foot_Soho_Theatre_Studio_London_4_February_2011.html
- ^ http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/paul-foot-ash-in-the-attic
- ^ "Ash in the Attic". The Age (Melbourne). 6 April 2011. http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/comedy/ash-in-the-attic-20110406-1d3c6.html.
- ^ http://au.chortle.com/shows/melbourne_2011/p/18908/paul_foot%3A_ash_in_the_attic/review
- ^ http://www.paulfoot.tv/show_diary.php
- ^ http://www.sohotheatre.com/pl2188.html
- ^ http://www.paulfoot.tv/page5.php
- ^ Foot, Paul. "Paul Foot's Secret Shows". The Guild of Paul Foot Connoisseurs. http://paulfoot.tv/secret.html. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
- ^ http://www.paulfoot.tv/show_diary.php
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016z920
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1714290/
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1823754/
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1823754/
- ^ "Last Comic Standing Finalist: Paul Foot". NBC.com. NBC Universal. http://www.nbc.com/Last_Comic_Standing/finalists/paul-foot.shtml. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6-BE1xFGv4&feature=player_embedded
- ^ "Paul Foot". Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide. http://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/p/403/paul_foot. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
- ^ http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/comedy/blogs/last-laugh/barry-award-nominees-announced-20110417-1djfk.html
- ^ http://www.paulfoot.tv/page6.php
- ^ http://www.paulfoot.tv/page1.php
- ^ http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/the-late-show
