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Elis James

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Elis James
Birth nameElis James
Born (1980-11-03) 3 November 1980 (age 44)
Haverfordwest, Wales
MediumStand-up, television, radio
NationalityBritish
Years active2005–present
GenresObservational comedy
Subject(s)Everyday life
Partner(s)Isy Suttie (1 child)
Websiteelisjames.com

Owain Elis James (born 3 November 1980) is a Welsh comedian and actor originally from Carmarthen. He later lived in Cardiff and is now based in London. He is bilingual in Welsh and English, and has performed in both languages.[1]

Early life

James was born in Haverfordwest and grew up in Carmarthen, Wales.[2] James's mother worked with the father of Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert and the mother of Welsh musician Euros Childs.[3]

Prior to becoming a professional comedian, James engaged in various forms of employment, including temp work, charity work and part-time work at a cafe.[2] James explained in 2012:

... I did normal office work which I was absolutely terrible at—I once got sacked from a temping job for slouching, and would routinely lie to get myself out of trouble before forgetting what lie I had told and thus making the problem worse. I did one temping job where I could do the work I needed to in about an hour so I’d take books in and read them when the boss wasn’t looking.[2]

Career

Comedy

James began his comedy career in 2005, but made the transition to full-time comedy work in 2008.[4][2] Prior to moving full-time to comedy, James was guitarist with the Cardiff-based indie/punk band Heck, fronted by Jemma Roper.[5] The band recorded an EP and received airplay on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Introducing's Wales show, then broadcast on Radio 1. They also performed on new bands nights organised by the NME.[6]

James commenced his role as Rex Jones, an old caretaker who is a post-Marxist with a health-and-safety obsession, in the live show Chris Corcoran's Committee Meeting in 2009. The show, conceived by Welsh comedian Chris Corcoran, was held for three years at the now-closed Muni Arts Centre. Corcoran explained in 2014: "We would write each show from scratch in the space of five days and the first time we’d perform it would be in front of the audience."[7]

James supported Gilbert on his national UK tour, "Rhod Gilbert and the Award-Winning Mince Pie", in 2010. Supporting Gilbert, James experienced performances before audiences of over 1,500 people and he later said that he felt like a "pop star" when he walked on stage during the tour.[3] James performed the "Daytripper" show at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe.[8]

James and Corcoran then performed in a "best of" show based on the Chris Corcoran's Committee Meeting shows, including the Social Club FM spin-off radio show, at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The show received the Guardian Pick of the Fringe accolade and led to the production of The Committee Meeting television pilot after the Tiger Aspect production company expressed interest.[7]

In 2012, in response to a question about whether there is a difference between English and Welsh comedy, James replied:

There are differences, however slight, and the references are obviously different. But not so different that Welsh comics can't be successful in England, and vice versa. There are plenty of regional differences in English humour. I would tailor my material differently if I was in Aberystwyth as opposed to Manchester, but not radically.[9]

James was the MC of the Machynlleth Comedy Festival Gala performance at the May 2014 Hay Festival. James performed alongside partner Isy Suttie, as well as comedians Henry Paker and Mike Wozniak.[10] At the 2015 Machynlleth Comedy Festival, James performed a new Work in Progress show as well as a set in Welsh.[11]

Radio

James played Rex Jones in the radio spin-off of Chris Corcoran's Committee Meeting, Social Club FM, which was initially broadcast in August 2011 for BBC Radio Wales and ran for two years.[7][12]

On 16 February 2014, James started a morning radio show on XFM (now Radio X), which he co-hosts with fellow comedian John Robins.[13]

Since 2014, James has co-written and co-starred in the BBC Radio Wales sketch show Here Be Dragons. The show won the 2014 Sony Award - Bronze for Best Comedy.[14]

Television

James presented early episodes of the S4C music television programme Bandit[15] and has appeared in segments of Hwb, S4C's Welsh-learners program.[16]

In 2013 The Committee Meeting was part of BBC Three's "Comedy Feeds", a series of comedy television pilots available exclusively via the BBC iPlayer.[17] The pilot starred James and Corcoran, and featured guest Colin Baker. It was screened on BBC One Wales in August 2014.[7]

In 2014 James appeared as Nigel in episode 3 of Crackanory, series 2, on the Dave channel.

Also in 2014, James appeared in the BBC Three "Comedy Feed" pilot Josh, starring Josh Widdicombe. A full six-episode season of Josh ran on BBC Three from 11 November to 16 December 2015.[18] BBC Three has ordered a second full season of Josh, to be released sometime after BBC Three converts to an online-only channel in February 2016.[19]

James also filmed a lead role in the BBC prison sitcom 600 Days, later renamed Crims.[20][21] The sitcom aired on BBC Three in early 2015.[22]

Awards and accolades

James won the Best Comedy prize at the National Student Radio Awards in 2006.[23]

Personal life

James follows football and is a Swansea City A.F.C. supporter. He explained in 2010 that the worst thing about being a comedian is when the timing of Swansea City games clash with his live show commitments. He also identified George Best and Muhammad Ali as his favorite sportspeople in 2010.[8]

James has an M.A. in Welsh history.[24] He is engaged to actress, comedian and musician Isy Suttie.[25] The couple live in south London and have a daughter, born in 2014.[26][27]

References

  1. ^ "Elis James on : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide", Comedians database, Chortle.co.uk, retrieved 6 July 2013
  2. ^ a b c d "Don't mind your ps and qs: Elis James". WalesOnline. Media Wales Ltd. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Elis James has Rhod Gilbert to thank for career leg up". WalesOnline. Media Wales Ltd. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  4. ^ Elis James, Comedy CV, retrieved 6 July 2013
  5. ^ "Heck". Myspace. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  6. ^ "New bands set for new London club night". NME. 1 August 2007. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d Chris Corcoran (8 August 2014). "Making The Committee Meeting". BBC Wales. BBC. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  8. ^ a b Jonny Abrams (4 August 2010). "Edinburgh Fringe Grilling: Elis James". Sports.co.uk. Sports.co.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  9. ^ Gig In A Castle – Isy Suttie & Elis James interview, British Comedy Guide, 21 June 2012, retrieved 6 July 2013
  10. ^ "ISY SUTTIE, HENRY PAKER, MIKE WOZNIAK AND ELIS JAMES". Hay Festival. Hay Festival of Literature & the Arts Ltd. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  11. ^ "What's On". machcomedyfest.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  12. ^ Social Club FM – Production Details, British Comedy Guide, retrieved 6 July 2013
  13. ^ "XFM Announces New Weekend Shows". XFM. 12 February 2014.
  14. ^ "2014 RADIO ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED". Radio Academy Awards. 12 May 2014.
  15. ^ Preview: Chris Corcoran and Elis James at Maesteg Town Hall, Cardiff: WalesOnline, 2 July 2009, retrieved 6 July 2013
  16. ^ Hwb — "Y Wers Gymraeg" (14/4/13) Pen. 31 / Eps. 31 on YouTube
  17. ^ "The Committee Meeting", Comedy Feeds, 2013, BBC Three, 2013, retrieved 6 July 2013
  18. ^ "Josh". BBC Three. BBC. December 2015.
  19. ^ "BBC Three orders a full series of Josh". Radio Times. 17 December 2015.
  20. ^ "Elis James to star in BBC Three prison comedy". Chortle. 20 March 2014.
  21. ^ "BBC - Crims is a new BBC Three comedy airing early January 2015 - Media centre". BBC.
  22. ^ "BBC Three - Schedules, Sunday 11 January 2015". BBC.
  23. ^ Coming Soon To The Glee Club : Elis James, The Glee Club, retrieved 6 July 2013
  24. ^ "BBC One - Whose Coat is That Jacket?, Episode 2". BBC. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  25. ^ Owen, Rhodri (6 October 2011), "Why Isy Suttie – Peep Show's Dobby – is learning Welsh", BBC News – South West Wales, BBC News, retrieved 6 July 2013
  26. ^ Day, Elizabeth (16 March 2013), "Isy Suttie: 'I like to explore love… and throw in stuff about cagoules'", The Observer, London: Guardian News and Media, ISSN 0029-7712, retrieved 6 July 2013
  27. ^ Jay Richardson (12 December 2014). "Isy Suttie writes her memoir". Chortle.
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