Dave Spikey: Difference between revisions

Dave Spikey
Dave Spikey
Birth name	David G. Bramwell
Born	6 October 1951 (age 72); Farnworth, England
Medium	Actor, comedian, writer and producer
Nationality	British
Years active	1990-Present
Notable works and roles	That Peter Kay Thing (2000); Phoenix Nights (2001-2002); Dead Man Weds (2005)
Website	www.davespikey.co.uk

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Dave Spikey (born as David G. Bramwell, on 6 October 1951 in Farnworth, Lancashire, England)^[1] is an English comedian based in Chorley, Lancashire.

Spikey spent his early career working as a Biomedical Scientist in the haematology laboratory at Bolton General Hospital. It was during this period in the 1980s that Spikey scripted and performed in a number of amateur pantomimes with a group of like-minded health workers called the Bolton Health Performers.^{[citation needed]}

He is married to wife Kay, who he has known since school. Despite this, and the fact that they were both students at Bolton General, Kay working in the Blood Transfusion Department, it was a while before they got together romantically. They are both vegetarians.

Biography

Early years

In 1992, Spikey was asked to form a double act with Rick Sykes, as purely a 'one-off' to support a popular musical duo called 'Intaglio'.^[2] Dave and Rick were known as Spikey and Sykey. The double act's most notable success came on Central TV's New Faces show.

A turning point came one summer Sunday evening in 1993 when Spikey got a phone call to see if 'he could get to Blackpool in half an hour'. Cannon and Ball were appearing at The Opera House and they needed a compere immediately.^{[citation needed]}

He was the last host of UK gameshow Chain Letters in 1997, following on from Jeremy Beadle, Andrew O'Connor, Allan Stewart, Ted Robbins and Vince Henderson. While working on the show, he once got trapped by the rotating Chain Letters revolving sign.^{[citation needed]}

Success

Spikey won the Best Newcomer award at the British Comedy Awards, and then starred in Phoenix Nights, a hit comedy series on Channel Four in which he played Jerry St. Clair. Peter Kay has announced that a new series of Phoenix Nights is to be made, however it is unknown whether Spikey will return.^{[citation needed]}

In 2003, Spikey released his first DVD, The Overnight Success Tour. Towards the end of 2004, he wrote the ITV comedy-drama Dead Man Weds, in which he also co-starred, in 2005, with Johnny Vegas. The DVD was very unsuccessful.

Since 2005, Spikey has been one of the regular team captains on the comedy panel game, 8 Out of 10 Cats although did not return for the series in 2007. That year also saw the release of his second live DVD, Living The Dream. He presented the darts gameshow Bullseye on Challenge for two series.

Spikey has two new projects in the pipeline which have been commissioned by the BBC, being Magnolia, a sitcom about painters and decorators, and Footballers Lives - a comedy about a pub football team, which was due to air by the end of 2006. He was also on the panel for talent show When Will I Be Famous?.

Because of his time at hospital, Spikey's chosen subject on Celebrity Mastermind in 2006 was Human Blood. He won this show.

Dave Spikey is patron of the non-profit radio station "Chorley FM" which is not the fictitious radio station made famous by "That Peter Kay Thing" and "Phoenix Nights" TV Series. He also contributed the initial voice over for the Foxey Bingo adverts.

Dave Spikey's first book, He Took My Kidney Then Broke My Heart, was published in October 2009 by Michael O'Mara Books.

Despite his age he likes to keep in shape and regularly plays 5 a-side football

Live Shows/tours

2003: 'Overnight Success'
2005: 'Living the Dream'
2007: 'An audience with Dave Spikey'
2008: 'The Best Medicine'
2009: 'The Best Medicine: Repeat Prescription'

References

^ ^a ^b GRO Birth Index: Oct/Nov/Dec 1951, Brawell, David G., Farnworth 10c 142.
^ The Intaglio Project.

Preceded by Jim Bowen	Host of Bullseye 2006	Succeeded by Series ended

Preceded by Vince Henderson	Host of Chain Letters 1997	Succeeded by Series ended

[grobirth-1] GRO Birth Index: Oct/Nov/Dec 1951, Brawell, David G., Farnworth 10c 142.

[2] The Intaglio Project.

[1]

[2]

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 A turning point came one summer Sunday evening in 1993 when Spikey got a phone call to see if 'he could get to [[Blackpool]] in half an hour'. [[Cannon and Ball]] were appearing at The Opera House and they needed a compere immediately.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}
-He was the last host of UK gameshow ''[[Chain Letters]]'' in 1997, following on from [[Jeremy Beadle]], [[Andrew O'Connor]], [[Allan Stewart (comedian)|Allan Stewart]], [[Ted Robbins]] and [[Vince Henderson]]. While working on the show, he once got trapped by the rotating ''Chain Letters'' revolving sign.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}. How we laughed (but not at the 'jokes')
+He was the last host of UK gameshow ''[[Chain Letters]]'' in 1997, following on from [[Jeremy Beadle]], [[Andrew O'Connor]], [[Allan Stewart (comedian)|Allan Stewart]], [[Ted Robbins]] and [[Vince Henderson]]. While working on the show, he once got trapped by the rotating ''Chain Letters'' revolving sign.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}
 ===Success===