Spencer Jones (comedian)
| Spencer Jones | |
|---|---|
| Medium | Television, stage |
| Nationality | English |
| Genres | Character comedy, physical comedy, prop comedy[1] |
| Notable works and roles | Big Babies Upstart Crow |
| Website | thespencerjones |
Spencer Jones is an English actor, comedian and writer. Jones has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and around the UK with his one-man show. He was co-creator and co-star of the CBBC comedy Big Babies, and has a regular role in the sitcom Upstart Crow.
Career
Jones co-created with Jon Riche and co-starred in Big Babies for CBBC in 2010.[2] The series was nominated for the BAFTA award for best children's comedy that year.[3] In 2011 he appeared in the play Wedding Band at the Edinburgh Fringe.[4]
Jones first performed his own show at the Edinburgh Fringe in Bob Slayer's Bookshop in 2014, performing as his character, The Herbert.[5] In 2015 he came joint second (with Jenny Collier) in the New Act of the Year final.[1] He won the Comedian's Choice award (also known as The Barry Award) for both "best show" and "best performer" the same year for his Edinburgh, The Herbert In Proper Job at Heroes of Fringe venue, TheHive.[6]
In 2015 Jones wrote and starred in the comedy short Spencer Jones's Christmas for Sky TV's on demand service, which won the 2016 Broadcast Digital Award for Best Scripted Online Short.[7] Jones performed his comedy act on British television for the first time in Live from the BBC, which was broadcast on BBC Two in March 2016.[8] In 2016 he was nominated for "breakthrough act" and "music and variety award" in the Chortle Awards.[9] However, these categories were won by Joseph Morpurgo and Pippa Evans, respectively.[10]
Jones plays Shakespearean actor William Kempe in the sitcom Upstart Crow, which was broadcast on BBC Two beginning in May 2016. Jones plays the character as a parody of Ricky Gervais using his manner and speech patterns.[11] He was asked to play the character this way to draw a comparison between Kempe, a popular comic actor of the 16th century, and Gervais in the present day;[12] according to the show's producer Gareth Evans, "what we tried to show was that every era has its own maverick comedy guy who's slightly ahead of his time and is following the beat of a slightly different drum".[11]
Jones's other television credits include Still Open All Hours,[13] Skins[14] and Hollyoaks Later.[15]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Big Babies | Brooks | 13 episodes |
| 2012 | Skins | Doctor Proctor | Series 6 Episode 6 ("Nick") |
| 2012 | Hollyoaks Later | Dave | 5 episodes |
| 2015 | Spencer Jones's Christmas | Dad | |
| 2016 | Still Open All Hours | Kevin | Series 2 Episode 5 |
| 2016 | Upstart Crow | Kempe | 6 episodes |
| 2016 | Live from the BBC | Himself | 1 episode; stand-up |
References
- ^ a b "Spencer Jones, comedian". Chortle. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ "Spencer Jones and Jon Riche interview – Big Babies". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ "Children's in 2010: BAFTA Awards". BAFTA. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ "Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015 – Spencer Jones is The Herbert in 'Proper Job'". The Edinburgh Reporter. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ "Fringe Favourite Spencer Jones Props Up In Soho". Londonist. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ "Spencer Jones is the comics' favourite... twice". Chortle. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ "Best Scripted Online Short: Spencer Jones's Christmas". Broadcast. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ "Live from the BBC, Spencer Jones and James Acaster". BBC. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ "Vote in the 2016 Chortle Awards". Chortle. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ "Chortle Award 2016 winners named". Chortle. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ a b Dowell, Ben (3 May 2016). "Upstart Crow: Ricky Gervais mocked in new Ben Elton Shakespeare comedy". Radio Times. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ Spencer Jones on channeling Ricky Gervais in Upstart Crow. London Live. 24 May 2016. Event occurs at 2:45. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ "BBC One – Still Open All Hours, Series 2, Episode 5, The Groom Kevin". BBC. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ "Spencer Jones is The Herbert". Chortle. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ "Hollyoaks Later Episode 1 Series 0 cast list and preview". Radio Times. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.