Tim Key

Tim Key (born 2 September 1976) is a British actor and comedy writer who has appeared on stage, radio and television. He is known for his humorous poetry.

Edinburgh

Key was first noticed in the stage production Far Too Happy with the Cambridge Footlights, which was a sell out at the Edinburgh Fringe and picked up a Perrier Award Best Newcomer Nomination. This show also featured Mark Watson, the comedian and Sophie Winkleman.

Key pretended to be a student at Cambridge University in order to be eligible for Footlights; in fact, he had been an undergraduate at Sheffield University and was simply living in Cambridge.

In 2003, Key returned to Edinburgh directing (with Mark Watson) a sketch show - Non-Sexual Kissing; and performing in Alex Horne's Making Fish Laugh. The latter was nominated for a Perrier Best Newcomer Award.

In 2004, Key took "Luke & Stella" to Edinburgh. This was a tragic one-man comedy play about a div-boy called Luke who has all sorts of problems one evening. He also performed in Alex Horne's Every Body Talks. Key also appeared in Mark Watson's 24 hour show.

In 2005, Key took Cowards to Edinburgh. Cowards is a four-man sketch group Cowards.. Key also performed in Alex Horne's When In Rome. Key also appeared in Mark Watson's 2005 minute show.

In 2006, Cowards returned to Edinburgh and Key performed in Mark Watson's 36 hour show.

In 2007, Key took his first solo poetry to Edinburgh. It was called The Slut in the Hut and sold out. Key performed it drunk in general.

In 2008, Key performed Freeze in Edinburgh. Freeze is a two-hander with Tom Basden. There was also a run of We Need Answers. Josie Long defeated Kristen Schaal to lift the title.

Radio and television

Key’s BBC radio 4 show All Bar Luke - the chronicles of a hapless "divboy", condemned to live on the outskirts of a morally bankrupt friendship group. The third series aired for the first time on Radio 4 in Summer 2008. It's finale was very sad. Radio 4 have ordered a Christmas special to be broadcast Christmas 2009.

There have also been two series of Cowards on BBC radio 4. These have since been released on CD. These were produced by Victoria Lloyd. The second series was broadcast in 2008.

Key's short film The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island, which he wrote and performed in with Tom Basden, won Best UK Short at the 2007 Edinburgh Film Festival. It was nominated for a BAFTA in the short film category but lost out to a Paddy Considine film. Considine is a hero of Key's

In 2007, Key appeared on Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe, reading a poem about Deal Or No Deal and again in November 2008, reading other poems about the Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross media spectacle, and children's TV advertising.

In 2006, Key worked on Time Trumpet, Armando Iannucci's inventive sketch show set in thirty years time and reflecting on the present and the future. Key memorably took the part of an Eastenders special effects superviser. He worked with Armando Iannucci again on a pilot, Shush, by Rebecca Front, Morwenna Banks and Arthur Mathews.

In 2008/2009 Key was resident poet on the radio show Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better on BBC Radio 4, each week reading a poem about human virtues. In series one Tim Minchin provided music and songs. In series two Tom Basden did the honours.

In 2009 Cowards transferred to BBC4. There were three episodes - written by The Cowards - Basden, Key, Golaszewski and Woolf - directed by Steve Bendelack, and produced by Seb Barwell.

Currently We Need Answers is on BBC4. A panel show pitting two celebs against each other. Mark Watson and Alex Horne made the show with Key and celebs answering questions include Germaine Greer, Michael Rosen and Robert Llewellyn.

Books

25 Poems, 3 Recipes and 32 Other Suggestions (An Inventory). Zoo Logic Ltd, 2007. ISBN 9780955370311

External links

• Cowards website BBC