Jason Forbes
Jason Forbes | |
|---|---|
| File:JasonForbes-Orsino.jpg | |
| Born | Jason Alexander Forbes 27 October 1990 Bristol, England, United Kingdom |
| Education | Queen Elizabeth's Hospital |
| Alma mater | Jesus College, Cambridge |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, writer, comedian |
Jason Forbes (born 27 October 1990) is a British actor, writer and comedian best known for the CITV series Horrible Science,[1] for playing PC Peasey in the Professor Branestawm movies on BBC One,[2] and as a member of the award-winning sketch trio 'Daphne'.[3]
Forbes is co-creator, star and writer of the BBC Radio 4 series, Daphne Sounds Expensive.[4]
Early life and education
Forbes was born in Bristol, England, and educated at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital in Clifton.[5][6][7] He then went up to Jesus College at the University of Cambridge to read English,[8] graduating in 2012.[9]
At school he joined the 'Gabblers' Club' – a Bristol-based after-dinner speaking society for young students; and, in 2008, was awarded the Gabblers' prize for 'Best Speaker'[10] – a prize formerly awarded to stand-up comedian Mark Watson.[11]
At Cambridge University, Forbes wrote and performed in a number of comedy shows as a member of the famous Cambridge Footlights. In 2012, he co-wrote and performed in Perfect Strangers – the Footlights' 50th annual revue – touring the UK and the United States.[12][13] He also performed in a number of 'serious plays', from contemporary to Shakespeare;[14] and on London's West End as part of a showcase directed by former Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, Max Stafford-Clark.[15]
Prior to becoming a professional actor, Forbes worked as a marketing executive, civil servant, computer programmer, web designer, graphic designer and teacher of languages.[16]
Career
Comedy
Daphne
In September 2014, Forbes reunited with his Cambridge Footlights contemporaries Phil Wang and George Fouracres to form the sketch group 'Daphne'.[17]
The trio began hosting a comedy night called Nova Nova, every other month at the Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone, where they trialled their new material alongside guests, including British comedians Harry Hill and James Acaster.[18]
Daphne went on to win the London Sketchfest's prize for 'Best New Act' in 2015.[19] Their first Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Daphne Do Edinburgh, was critically acclaimed[20] and Daphne were nominated for the 2015 Foster's (formerly Perrier) Award for 'Best Newcomer'.[21][22][23]
Radio
Daphne Sounds Expensive (BBC Radio 4)
In February 2016, the BBC announced that Daphne would be bringing a "Goon Show-esque" comedy called Daphne Sounds Expensive to BBC Radio 4,[24] with the first episode airing on 14 July 2016.[25]
The series consists of four thirty-minute episodes.[26]
Style and influences
Forbes is a lover of physical comedy and often incorporates slapstick humour into his routines. He has cited Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Rowan Atkinson, the late Sir Norman Wisdom and, "most of all", Michael Crawford among his physical influences. "Against all advice," says Forbes in an interview with online blog Comedy Blogedy, "I'd try everything they did at home: bumping into things, falling over, deliberately spilling stuff and – to my mother's horror – throwing myself down the stairs."[27]
Forbes apparently perfected his stair-fall in a university production of Michael Frayn's Noises Off.[28]
Of his sketch group Daphne's debut Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, The List magazine's Brian Donaldson remarked upon a "wild slapstick moment that will hopefully not result in an injury to Forbes before August is out."[29]
Film and television
Forbes made his first TV appearance in 2013 in Kerry, a BBC Three 'Comedy Feed' episode by comedic actress Kerry Howard.
He later appeared in The Mimic on Channel 4 and Pompidou by Little Britain star Matt Lucas on BBC One.
In 2014, he appeared on BBC One alongside Harry Hill, David Mitchell, Ben Miller, Miranda Richardson, Simon Day and Charlie Higson, as PC Peasey in Higson's adaptation of The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm by Norman Hunter.[30]
In May 2015, ITV announced that Forbes would among the cast of their new series Horrible Science, based on the Horrible Science books by Nick Arnold.[31]
Forbes also joined the cast of Tracey Ullman's new sketch show, Tracey Ullman's Show, for BBC One[32] and HBO.[33] He will be a regular in the next series of Tracey Ullman's Show, and will portray former American World No. 1 professional tennis player, Arthur Ashe, in the 2017 movie Borg vs. McEnroe, starring Sverrir Gudnason and Shia LaBeouf.[34][35]
Credits
Film and television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Kerry | Various | TV pilot |
| 2014 | The Mimic | Spa worker | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2014 | The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm | PC Peasey | TV movie |
| 2015 | Pompidou | Ambulance Volunteer | TV series (1 episodes) |
| 2015–present | Horrible Science | Junior/Various | TV series (10 episodes) |
| 2015 | BBC's Fresh from the Fringe | Various | (as part of sketch trio, Daphne) |
| 2015 | Professor Branestawm Returns | PC Peasey | TV movie |
| 2016 | Tracey Ullman's Show | Various | |
| 2016 | The Windsors | Paramedic | TV series (1 episode)[36] |
| 2017 | Borg vs. McEnroe | Arthur Ashe | Feature film[37] |
Radio
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | BBC Radio 4's Fresh from the Fringe | Various | (as part of sketch trio, Daphne) |
| 2015 | Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 Extra) | Various | Series 13, Episode 4[38] |
| 2016 | Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 Extra) | Various | Series 14, Episode 2[39] |
| 2016 | Daphne Sounds Expensive (BBC Radio 4) | Creator / Writer / Performer | Radio series[40][41] |
Awards and nominations
Forbes' sketch group Daphne were the winners of the London Sketchfest's prize for 'Best New Act' in 2015.[42] Their first Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Daphne Do Edinburgh, was critically acclaimed[43] and Daphne were nominated for the 2015 Foster's (formerly Perrier) Award for 'Best Newcomer'.[44][45][46]
References
Citations
- ^ Ben Miller is bringing Horrible Science to CITV, Digital Spy – 21 May 2015
- ^ The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm – Credits, BBC One
- ^ Edinburgh festival 2015: 10 comedy acts to watch, The Guardian
- ^ Daphne Sounds Expensive, BBC Radio 4
- ^ QEH Bristol News
- ^ Guide to Independent Schools
- ^ The Good Schools Guide
- ^ Cast & Crew | CAST 2011
- ^ The Company – Footlights International Tour 2012
- ^ QEH Bristol News
- ^ Talking it up, Bristol Grammar School
- ^ The Company – Footlights International Tour 2012
- ^ Dates – Footlights International Tour 2012
- ^ Person: Jason Forbes, Camdram
- ^ Show: Marlowe Showcase 2012, Camdram
- ^ Interview with Daphne, Comedy Blogedy
- ^ who? | Daphne | Sketch comedy from Phil Wang, Jason Forbes & George Fouracres
- ^ Nova Nova, Daphne – Official Website
- ^ Seven sketch comedy shows to see at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, TimeOut
- ^ Best-reviewed Edinburgh Fringe shows 2015, British Comedy Guide
- ^ Foster's Edinburgh Comedy awards shortlist announced, BBC News
- ^ Record 8 nominees for Edinburgh Comedy Award, Chortle
- ^ Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards – newcomers
- ^ Radio 4’s Comedy Commissioner announces a raft of new commissions BBC Media Centre
- ^ Daphne Sounds Expensive – Series 1, Episode 1, BBC Radio 4
- ^ Daphne Sounds Expensive – Series 1, Episode Guide, BBC Radio 4
- ^ Interview with Daphne, Comedy Blogedy
- ^ Noises Off, The Tab
- ^ Daphne Do Edinburgh – Wild and original sketches from a three-man team clearly going places, The List
- ^ Jason Forbes, IMDb
- ^ Horrible Science, ITV/CITV
- ^ who? | Daphne | Sketch comedy from Phil Wang, Jason Forbes & George Fouracres
- ^ "Tracey Ullman on BBC's Female Revolution". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ Jason, Daphne Comedy - Official Website
- ^ Shia LaBeouf to play John McEnroe in movie of Wimbledon legend's 1980 battle with Borg - The Guardian
- ^ Jason Forbes IMDB
- ^ Jason, Daphne Comedy - Official Website
- ^ "Episode 4, Series 13, Newsjack – BBC Radio 4 Extra". BBC. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ^ "Episode 2, Series 14, Newsjack – BBC Radio 4 Extra". BBC. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ Radio 4’s Comedy Commissioner announces a raft of new commissions, BBC Media Centre
- ^ Daphne Sounds Expensive, BBC Radio 4
- ^ Seven sketch comedy shows to see at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, TimeOut
- ^ Best-reviewed Edinburgh Fringe shows 2015, British Comedy Guide
- ^ Foster's Edinburgh Comedy awards shortlist announced, BBC News
- ^ Record 8 nominees for Edinburgh Comedy Award, Chortle
- ^ Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards – newcomers
External links
- 1990 births
- People educated at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol
- Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge
- Lists of people associated with the University of Cambridge
- British sketch comedians
- English male comedians
- English male film actors
- English male television actors
- Black British male actors
- Black English male actors
- 21st-century English male actors
- English male radio actors
- English male stage actors
- British comedy writers
- Living people
- British people of West Indian descent
- British people of Jamaican descent
- British people of Dominica descent
- Male actors from Bristol