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Dane Baptiste

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Dane Baptiste
Born
Hither Green
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Stand-up comedian, writer, and presenter

Dane Baptiste (born 3 September 1981) is a British stand-up comedian, writer and presenter. He was the first Black British act to be nominated for the "Best Newcomer" award at 2014's Edinburgh Comedy Awards and his comedy series Sunny D premiered on BBC Three in Spring 2016.[1] He has made numerous TV and radio appearances, and hosts his own podcast Dane Baptiste Questions Everything. In January 2021, Baptiste's comedy pilot Bamous launched on BBC Three / BBC One.[2]

Early life

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Baptiste is from Hither Green,[3] South East London.[4] He attended Haberdashers' Hatcham College in New Cross, and then achieved a degree in business at Bradford University.[5] He worked in media sales before becoming a comedian.

Stand up career

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Baptiste started performing stand-up comedy in 2012.

Baptiste was the first Black Briton to be nominated for the 2014 “Best Newcomer” Edinburgh Comedy Award.[6] After the success of his debut stand up-show “Citizen Dane”, he completed two sold-out runs at London's Soho Theatre (with additional dates added to accommodate demand).

He was nominated for a Chortle award in 2015.[3]

His second stand-up show “Reasonable Doubts” sold out and was met with critical acclaim at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with his first nationwide solo tour following in 2016.

In 2018, Baptiste set out on a world tour, including Australia and New Zealand, with his smash-hit third stand-up hour G.O.D. (Gold. Oil. Drugs.) about the worldwide pursuit of wealth, power and pleasure.

In 2021, Baptiste launched a new show and international tour, The Chocolate Chip. 

Television career

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Baptiste has made various television appearances on Sweat the Small Stuff,[7] Virtually Famous,[8] Celebrity Squares,[9] Safeword,[10] Live at the Apollo,[11] Live from the BBC,[12] Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled,[13] Mock the Week,[14] 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown,[15] Pants of Fire,[16] Stand Up Sketch Show,[17] Pointless, Comedy Central's Roast Battle, Comedians Giving Lectures,[18][19] Comedians Solving World Problems, Gagging Order, Elevenish[20], CelebAbility,[21] Black, British and Funny,[22] Frankie Boyle's New World Order,[23] and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled.[24]

He has hosted Live At The Apollo (BBC Two), Live from the Comedy Store (Comedy Central) and Tonight at the London Palladium (ITV1).

In December 2018 he won a week-long series in the BBC's Richard Osman's House of Games.[25]

In 2016 Baptiste created, wrote and starred in sitcom Sunny D, which was then purchased for an American remake in 2018 by Lionsgate Pictures.

During the 2020 lockdown Baptiste performed on The Big Night In for Children in Need and Comic Relief.

In January 2021, Baptiste's BBC pilot Bamous premiered on BBC Three / BBC One.[2]

Writing career

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In 2016 Baptiste wrote his first sitcom Sunny D. Baptiste was the first black comedian to write a commissioned pilot for the BBC that became a series.

Baptiste wrote for Idris Elba at the 2018 FIFA Awards.

In 2020, Baptiste created and wrote BBC pilot Bamous.[26]

Baptiste hosted his own podcast Dane Baptiste Questions Everything,[27] is a member of comedy collective Quotas Full and is currently working on numerous scripted projects for both the UK and US.

He has also appeared on other podcasts including Evil Genius with Russell Kane,[28] West: Word - The Westworld podcast for Sky TV, Geoff Lloyd's Hometown Glory on Union Jack Radio Archived 26 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine, FRANK with Olivia Lee and Maria Shehat, The Gaffer Tapes: Fantasy Football Podcast,[29] and Mo Money, Mo Problems with Mo Gilligan.

He has been a guest on several episodes of BBC Radio 4's Just A Minute[30] and The News Quiz.[31]

Controversy

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On 1 May 2024, Baptiste issued a death threat on social media to an unidentified female comic, whom he described as a "Zionist" and a "dumb woman". Baptiste said he did so after receiving abusive messages from multiple accounts regarding his pro-Palestinian views.[32]

Baptiste said he wanted the recipient of the message to "sit down with your husband and kids and imagine what their lives will be without you... I'll sit in prison while your family sit in the cemetery".[33]

His post was condemned by other comedians as being antisemitic and misogynist, resulting in his agents, Gag Reflex and Insanity Group, dropping Baptiste the following day. Baptiste later described the post as "a massive error of judgment" and apologised to the Jewish community, colleagues and fans.[34]

References

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  1. ^ Logan, Brian (20 March 2016). "Dane Baptiste: 'If we lived in an equal society, I wouldn't need to do comedy'". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Bamous - BBC Three". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Reasonable Doubts?". Sutton Guardian. Newsquest. 19 November 2015. p. 23.
  4. ^ "Comedy at the Fringe". BBC Three.
  5. ^ Dessau, Bruce (28 July 2017). "Dane Baptiste on going back to Edinburgh Fringe: 'It's the place where I'm not subject to censorship'". evening Standard. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Best Newcomer". Edinburgh Comedy Award. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  7. ^ Sweat the Small Stuff. 12 November 2014. BBC Three.
  8. ^ Virtually Famous. 11 May 2015. ITV2.
  9. ^ Celebrity Squares. 24 May 2015. ITV.
  10. ^ Safeword. 27 August 2015. ITV2.
  11. ^ Live at the Apollo. 23 November 2015. BBC Two.
  12. ^ Live from the BBC. 23 March 2016. BBC Three.
  13. ^ Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled. 14 June 2016. Dave.
  14. ^ Mock the Week. 16 June 2016. BBC Two.
  15. ^ 8 Out of 10 Cats. 6 December 2016. Channel 4.
  16. ^ "Pants On Fire". fulwell73. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  17. ^ The Stand Up Sketch Show - Watch episodes, retrieved 14 July 2020
  18. ^ UKTV. "Comedians Giving Lectures on UKTV Play". UKTV Play. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Comedians Giving Lectures - Dave Comedy". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  20. ^ "@elevenish - ITV2 Sketch Show". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  21. ^ Iain Stirling's CelebAbility - Watch episodes, retrieved 14 July 2020
  22. ^ "Mo Gilligan: Black British & Funny - C4 Documentary". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  23. ^ "BBC Two - Frankie Boyle's New World Order, Series 4, Episode 4". BBC. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  24. ^ Hitler & Jingle (Comedy), Alan Davies, Lolly Adefope, Dane Baptiste, David Mitchell, 14 June 2016, retrieved 13 January 2021{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  25. ^ "BBC Two - Richard Osman's House of Games, Series 2, Episode 50". BBC. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  26. ^ "Dane Baptiste brings brand new entertainment show Bamous to BBC Three". Pressparty. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  27. ^ Bennett, Steve. "Podcast deal for Dane Baptiste". www.chortle.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  28. ^ "BBC Sounds - Evil Genius with Russell Kane - Downloads". BBC. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  29. ^ "Week 31: Train Baptiste #FPL 16/17".
  30. ^ Just A Minute. BBC Radio 4.
  31. ^ The News Quiz. BBC Radio 4.
  32. ^ "British Comedian Behind BBC Shows Criticized Over Alleged "Antisemitic" Death Threat To Female Comic". Deadline Hollywood. 2 May 2024.
  33. ^ "Dane Baptiste issues a death threat to fellow comic". Chortle. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  34. ^ "Dane Baptiste: I made an 'error of judgment'". Chortle. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
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