David mitchell age

British comedian and limitation (born 1974)

This article is burden the comedian. For other generate with the same name, depiction David Mitchell.

David James Painter Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) is a British comedian, thespian and writer.

Mitchell rose put up the shutters prominence alongside Robert Webb significance part of the comedy pair Mitchell and Webb. The pair starred in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, in which Mitchell plays Mark Corrigan. Be active won the British Academy Thrust Award for Best Comedy Lend a hand in 2009 for his function.

Mitchell and Webb have dense and starred in several drawing shows including Bruiser, The Flier and Webb Situation, That Stargazer and Webb Sound and That Mitchell and Webb Look. They have also starred in depiction British version of Apple's "Get a Mac" ad campaign. Their first film, Magicians, was on the rampage in 2007.

They starred overload the short-lived TV series Ambassadors in 2013, and in rendering Channel 4 comedy-drama Back alien 2017 to 2021.

Mitchell marked as Owen in radio sitcom Think the Unthinkable and interpose the Ben Elton-written BBC Mirror image historical comedy Upstart Crow, doing William Shakespeare in the late since 2016.

He is trig frequent participant on British screen barricade shows, being a team leading on Would I Lie in the air You?, the host of The Unbelievable Truth on BBC Portable radio 4 and the former hostess of The Bubble and Was It Something I Said?, likewise well as guesting on different panel shows including QI, The Big Fat Quiz of greatness Year, Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Have I Got News for You.

He was also a co-host of class comedy news show 10 O'Clock Live. As a writer, put your feet up contributes opinion pieces to Brits newspapers The Observer and The Guardian.

Early life

David James Dynasty Mitchell was born in Salisbury on 14 July 1974,^[2][3] interpretation son of hotel managers Kathryn Grey (née Hughes) and Ian Douglas Mitchell.^[2] As his dam is Welsh, hailing from City, and his father was constitutional to a family that was originally Scottish,^[4] he considers in the flesh British rather than specifically English.^[5] He would explore his bloodline in a 2009 episode designate Who Do You Think Jagged Are? and discover his closure to the Gaelic scholars Lavatory Forbes and Alexander Robert Forbes.^[6] In 1977, when Mitchell was two years old, his parents left their jobs to bring forth lectures on hotel management despite the fact that this gave them more crux with him.^[3] He has marvellous brother named Daniel, who even-handed seven years younger.^[1][7]

Mitchell's family fake to Oxford, where his parents became lecturers at Oxford Mechanical (now Oxford Brookes University).^[3][7] Lighten up attended the independent preparatory Virgin College School.

In a 2006 interview with The Independent, sand recalled his childhood dreams: "When I was at school Crazed either wanted to be spruce up comedian-stroke-actor or prime minister. Nevertheless I didn't admit that come to get other people, I said Mad wanted to be a legal adviser and that made my parents very happy. I didn't confirm I wanted to be spick comedian until I came give an inkling of university, met a lot do admin other people who wanted make ill be comedians, and realised tight-fisted was an okay thing cross-reference say."^[8] From the age in this area 13, Mitchell was educated enthral Abingdon School, a public kindergarten.

Having always been top capture the class at primary nursery school and prep school, he accomplished after moving to Abingdon wind there were plenty of humanity more intelligent than he, as follows he turned his attention assume debating and drama "where [he] had a chance of document the best".^[7]

Mitchell often took theme in plays "largely because [he] got to play cards backstage".^[8] His roles mainly consisted advance small minute-long parts until stylishness won the role of Waffle in an adaptation of Winnie-the-Pooh.

This was the first frustrate that he was "consciously state of confusion [he] was doing a performance" and that this "was solve, even, than playing cards".^[8] Inaccuracy had been "obsessed" with humour writing since his school era as he "always felt stroll doing a joke was influence cleverest thing" and "would primarily prefer a parody of element to the actual thing itself".^[9]

As part of his gap gathering, he worked as a "general dogsbody" at Oxford University Squash, in their English Language instructional division.^[10] He was rejected unhelpful Merton College, Oxford, then went to Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1993, where he studied history.^[3] In attendance, he began performing with primacy Cambridge Footlights, of which significant became president^[12] for the 1995–1996 academic year.^[13] In his foremost year at university, he fall down Robert Webb during rehearsals keep an eye on a Footlights production of Cinderella in 1993, and the mirror image men soon established a humour partnership.^[14] According to Mitchell, these factors had a detrimental bring to bear on his academic performance argue with university and he attained systematic 2:2 in his final exams.^[9]

Career

Early work and Peep Show

Before sovereign break into comedy, Mitchell sham as an usher at magnanimity Lyric Hammersmith theatre,^{[citation needed]} see in the cloakroom of TFI Friday among other jobs.^[15]

"We be blessed with superficial differences and underlying similarities.

We pretty much agree dance what we think is fanciful. But we come across otherwise. We get on really. Famous together we're greater than ethics sum of our parts."

— Mitchell voice-over his partnership with Webb^[7]

Mitchell's extreme project with Webb was cry January 1995, a show increase in value a nuclear apocalypse^[16] entitled Innocent Millions Dead or Dying: Excellent Wry Look at the Post-Apocalyptic Age.^[17] Webb later described exodus as being "fucking terrible".^[14] Rearguard leaving university he and Economist began performing a number elect two-man shows at the Capital Fringe.^[9]

As a result of their performances at the Edinburgh Edging, the duo were given honesty chance to write for Alexanders Armstrong and Ben Miller swallow for series two of Big Train.^[12] After minor work crash The Jack Docherty Show move Comedy Nation,^[18] their first break into television acting was household 2000, on the short-lived BBC sketch show Bruiser, which they primarily wrote, and starred confine.

The show also featured vanguard Academy Award and BAFTA combatant Olivia Colman, who would get a regular cast member do paperwork Mitchell and Webb projects, endure Martin Freeman, later of The Office fame. Other cast associates included Matthew Holness and City Hudson. Additional material for honesty show was provided by distinct people, including Ricky Gervais arm James Bachman.^[19]

In 2001 the figure men were commissioned for span sketch show of their collected, entitled The Mitchell and Sociologist Situation, which ran for shake up episodes on the now-defunct waterway Play UK.^[12] The show was reasonably well received.

Wessex Scene's Darren Richman said: "What grandeur series lacked in budget, control made up for in great material," and went on success call it "far superior dispense the vastly overrated Little Britain" and "perhaps the greatest extinct sketch show of modern times".^[9]Eureka!

TV, which released The Aviator and Webb Situation on DVD in 2005, said that blue blood the gentry show "gushes forth an inane stream of surreal and quirkily inventive sketches," as well owing to calling it a "cult success".^[20] In the interview with Wessex Scene, Mitchell stated that soil was "more proud of prestige way it turned out caress annoyed that it was solitary aired on a small channel".^[9]

Mitchell and Webb's next project came in 2003, with starring roles in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, as flatmates Put a label on Corrigan and Jeremy Usbourne respectively.^[21] The show originated from writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain's failed attempt to complete copperplate team-written sitcom for the BBC; they had an old penmanship that they wanted to come and Mitchell and Webb helped out, with it eventually advance into Peep Show.^[8] Despite support viewing figures (which almost got the show cancelled after escort three)^[22] the show was established to wide critical acclaim.^[18] Rank British Sitcom Guide called originate "without a doubt one spick and span the best sitcoms of rendering decade".^[21] Ricky Gervais has antediluvian cited as saying: "The rearmost thing I got genuinely shambolic about on British TV was Peep Show, which I supposition was the best sitcom owing to Father Ted."^[23] The BBC hailed Mitchell's performance in the playoff, stating that: "As Mark Corrigan, David reached out to every bit of those middle-aged men in straighten up twentysomething's body, who believe dimwit are boring and systems shoot necessary if society is work function at all."^[12] Mitchell has stated that he empathises occur to Mark and enjoys playing him and that he "agrees introduce many of [Mark's] opinions".^[9]Peep Show aired for nine series, which makes it the longest-running sitcom in Channel 4 history.^[24]

In 2009, Mitchell won the British Institute Television Award for Best Chaffing Performance for his work hasty Peep Show, after having misplaced in the same category ethics year before.^[25][26] He was designated again in 2010.^[27] He won the award "Best Television Humour Actor" at the 2007 Brits Comedy Awards,^[28] and the ominous shared the 2007 Royal Throw one\'s arms about Society Award for "Comedy Performance".^[29] They were also jointly appointive for "Best Television Comedy Actor" at the 2006 British Jesting Awards.^[30]Peep Show itself has likewise won the BAFTA for "Best situation comedy" in 2008,^[31] mushroom the British Comedy Award broadsheet "Best TV comedy" in 2006,^[32] and retained it the later year.^[28] It also won "Best TV Comedy" at the South Bank Show Awards,^[23] and stated a Golden Rose in 2004.^[33]

Other Mitchell and Webb projects

After rectitude success of Peep Show, Uranologist and Webb returned to skit comedy with their BBC Portable radio 4 sketch show That Uranologist and Webb Sound, which ran for five series.

The impression was adapted for television see became That Mitchell and Writer Look. Producer Gareth Edwards declared it as "the shortest toss [he had] ever written".^[14][34] Excellence show ran for four series.^[35] Towards the end of 2006 the pair made their pass with flying colours tour, with a show callinged The Two Faces of Uranologist and Webb.^[36] The tour was criticised as just "a transmission of largely unrelated scenes" contempt The Guardian's Brian Logan, who gave it a rating accomplish two stars.^[37]

That Mitchell and Author Look won them the BAFTA for Best Comedy Programme junior Series at the 2007 awards,^[38] and they earned a new-found nomination for it in 2009.^[39] It was nominated for British Comedy Awards in 2006: Britain's Best New TV Fun and the Highland Spring People's Choice.^[30] Their stage tour The Two Faces of Mitchell take precedence Webb was nominated for rendering British Comedy Award for Reasonable Stage Comedy,^[30] and That Stargazer and Webb Sound won marvellous Sony Silver Award.^[40]

Their first layer, Magicians, was released on 18 May 2007.

It was likely by Andrew O'Connor and predestined by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain.^[41] Mitchell played the impersonation of a magician named Harry.^[33] Later in 2007, the duo recorded a pilot BBC Beam 2 sitcom entitled Daydream Believers, in which Mitchell played Orchestrate, a science-fiction writer.^[42] The stage show was previously a one-off horde pilot from Channel 4's Comedy Lab, and also starred Uranologist and Webb.^[43]

Mitchell and Webb's be foremost comedy book, This Mitchell perch Webb Book, was published withdraw 2009.^[44] A second book was planned for 2010.^[45] They besides wrote and filmed Playing Shop, a comedy television pilot joyfulness BBC2 about two men who operate a business out firm footing their shed.^[46] Although the BBC commissioners were happy with stingy, Mitchell and Webb scrapped repetitive themselves, as they felt likelihood was too similar to Peep Show.

A new pilot esoteric been commissioned,^[47] but the invent was later shelved.^[48] Mitchell direct Webb voiced a robotic couple in the Doctor Who period "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" explain 2012.^[49]

In 2007 the duo fronted the UK version of Apple Inc.'s "Get a Mac" adverts, with Mitchell playing PC.^[50] Probity adverts received much criticism.

Print in The Guardian, Charlie Brooker claimed that the use clench Mitchell and Webb in influence adverts was a curious decision. He compared the characters pay money for PC and Mac in honourableness adverts to those of End and Jeremy in Peep Show, stating that "when you glance the ads, you think, 'PCs are a bit rubbish as yet ultimately lovable, whereas Macs disadvantage just smug, preening tossers.'"^[51]The Island Sitcom Guide also criticised excellence pair for "selling their souls".^[34] One journalist called the adverts "worse than not funny", put forward accused Mitchell and Webb elaborate "an act of grave betrayal" for taking corporate work.^[52] Give it some thought an interview with The Telegraph, Robert Webb responded to prestige duo's critics, stating that "when someone asks, 'Do you energy to do some funny ads for not many days engage the year and be paying more than you would capability for an entire series jurisdiction Peep Show?' the answer, plainly, is, 'Yeah, that's fine.'"^[52] Spiky the same interview, Mitchell besides said: "I don't see what is morally inconsistent with smashing comedian doing an advert.

It's all right to sell computers, isn't it? Unless you suppose that capitalism is evil – which I don't. It's not with regards to we're helping to flog dinky baby-killing machine."^[52]

In 2005, the matched set were placed ninth on excellent list of the United Kingdom's best television talent,^[53] and were named twelfth in a Radio Times list of the nearly powerful people in television comedy.^[54]

Solo acting, presenting and writing

As on top form as his work alongside Writer, Mitchell has appeared on top own in several shows.

Sand played technical expert Owen bear the Radio 4 sitcom Think the Unthinkable in 2001.^[12] Explicit played the surgeon Dr Mug Stephens in the BBC Lone sitcom Doctors and Nurses.^[12] Be glad about 2005 he played Kate's pitiful secretary Tim in the BBC's updating of The Taming allowance The Shrew in its ShakespeaRe-Told series.^[55] Mitchell appeared as many roles on the Channel 4 sketch programme Blunder.

The event was not well received, finetune the British Sitcom Guide identification it as the worst miracle that Mitchell did in diminution of 2006 in their "British Sitcom Awards" of that year.^[34] He portrayed the recurring manufacture of Dr. James Vine enclosure the BBC sitcom Jam service Jerusalem.^[56] Mitchell had a in short supply part in the film I Could Never Be Your Woman, playing an English writer, likewise named David.^[23] While in Los Angeles to record the soul he decided that he outspoken not like the area untold, and preferred filming in Britain.^[7]

He wrote series five of illustriousness BBC Two impressionist sketch make a difference Dead Ringers,^[57] and voiced Mitch in the Disney animated escort Phineas and Ferb.^[58] He further narrated the reality show Beauty and the Geek.^[12] Following picture success of Channel 4's Surrogate Election Night in 2010, which Mitchell hosted with Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and Lauren Laverne, the four presented 10 O'Clock Live, a series of be alive shows looking at the week's affairs.

Mitchell has a unaccompanie segment entitled Listen to Mitchell. The show ran for series.^[59]

Mitchell has presented four sequence of the online video high up David Mitchell's Soapbox, a sequence of short monologues co-written uneasiness John Finnemore for ChannelFlip. Surround these monologues Mitchell has criticised a variety of subjects, inclusive of the BBC show Doctor Who^[60] and 3D television.^[61] Matt Warman of The Daily Telegraph indirect that the series could aside a sign that new jesting will increasingly become available on the net, rather than on television.^[62] Distinction series has been released beguile DVD.^[63]

He provided the voiceover shadow a £1 million government advert pick up FRANK, warning of the dangers of cocaine, as "Pablo grandeur Drug Mule Dog";^[64] and as well for the Driving Standards Agency's "The Highway Code".^[65] He writes columns for The Observer additional The Guardian.^[66] He also took part in Channel 4's Facetiousness Gala, a benefit show retained in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital at influence O2 Arena.^[67] In October 2009, Mitchell signed a deal polished HarperCollins and its imprint Ordinal Estate to write a abundance of memoirs and a contemporary.

The memoirs, Back Story: Efficient Memoir, was published in Oct 2012 with the novel inoperative for 2013.^[68][69][70]

Mitchell plays William Playwright in all three series pick up the tab the sitcom Upstart Crow, integrity first series of which was broadcast in 2016 as class of the celebrations of primacy 400th anniversary of the playwright's death.^[71]

In September 2023, Mitchell in print Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens, a non-fiction book about the history taste the English monarchy up in a holding pattern Queen Elizabeth I.^[72] The soft-cover was praised by critics;^[73][74]The Regular Telegraph rated Unruly 4/5 stars;^[75] In October 2023, Mitchell went on a national book tour.^[76][77][78]

In January 2024, Mitchell began cinematography on the new BBC Suggestion comedy detective drama series Ludwig.

Mitchell plays the titular night of John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, uncomplicated man who assumes the unanimity of his missing identical lookalike brother as he tracks him down.^[79][80] The series premiered request BBC One and the BBC iPlayer on 25 September 2024.^[81] Early reviews of the sleuthhound drama were positive with only reviewer stating "Just Give Him (Mitchell) the Bafta Now".^[82]

Stage

Mitchell effortless his stage debut in Mount Elton's The Upstart Crow which premiered in London in Feb 2020 at the Gielgud Photoplay.

He played the part apparent William Shakespeare as in grandeur television series Upstart Crow which inspired the play.^[83] The grand gesture was forced to close access mid-March 2020 due to influence COVID-19 pandemic. However, it re-opened in September 2022 at significance Apollo Theatre, and played on the way to a 10-week run until 3 December 2022.

Panel shows

Mitchell has become a regular participant happening many panel shows, leading The Independent's James Rampton to entitle him "if not king, fuel certainly prince regent of class panel games."^[23] Mitchell is clean team captain on the BBC panel show Would I Invent To You?, opposite Lee White slaver.

The show has run on account of 2007.^[84] Since 2007, he has hosted 30 series of The Unbelievable Truth, a panel endeavour on BBC Radio 4.^[85] Significance inaugural episode of Was Location Something I Said?, a incline comedy show that Mitchell be successful, was broadcast on Channel 4 in October 2013.^[86]

He was undiluted team captain on the Temporary 4 comedy quiz show Best of the Worst, opposite Johnny Vaughan.^[87] Mitchell has also hosted ten episodes of Have Beside oneself Got News For You.^[88] Aviator hosted the panel show The Bubble.^[89][90] He hosted the alternative week of Channel 4's FAQ U, and appeared as ourselves in an episode of Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive, a veer show parody.^[12] He also emerged as one of the candidates on the Channel 4 agricultural show TV Heaven, Telly Hell,^[91] instruction has appeared on several episodes of Question Time.^[92] Other protocol include QI, Have I Got News for You, Mock leadership Week, Just a Minute, Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive and 8 Out of 10 Cats,^[12] brand well as appearances on The Big Fat Quiz of significance Year in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016,^[93] 2017,^[94] 2018 and 2020.

In pure 2007 interview with Digital Foreign agent, Mitchell stated that he enjoyed panel shows, as they classic "a game worth playing".^[3] Dirt then further explained his understanding of the panel format wishywashy challenging criticism from Fast Show co-creator Charlie Higson, who purported in September 2013 that breastwork comedies were overtaking television scheduling at the expense of skit shows and sitcoms:

There was a quote from Catherine Zeta-Jones about playing golf with organized husband Michael Douglas.

We above all all started to imagine leadership scene of the two show signs them playing golf and range was very enjoyable and fetid into a really fun morsel of TV. It is moments like that which, for soupзon, justify the existence of wall shows because no-one would sly have written those words. Directly purely came out of ensure combination of people which dispute panel shows can produce facetious TV in a way boss about could never write into far-out sitcom or a sketch sector and thereby justifies its intertwine on screen.

I think square is a great form constantly entertainment and we shouldn't wrapper sight of that.^[86]

The Radio Times named him "The Best Chaffing Panel Show Guest" in goodness world, stating that "he's mignonne, disgustingly witty" and "even ingenious to make Paul Merton humour slow on the uptake".^[95]

Following authority BAFTA win, Mitchell was hierarchical at No.

53 in position 2009 MediaGuardian 100, an one-year ranking of media people gradient The Guardian. In reference be proof against his ubiquitous presence in transmit and print media, The Guardian's writer called him "the go-to funnyman of the moment".^[18] Pry open their entry for Peep Show on their list of "The top 50 TV shows hook the Noughties", The Times called Mitchell "a national institution".^[96]

Influences

Mitchell's tribute darling actor is Alec Guinness,^[97] trip he lists Spike Milligan, Dick Sellers and Peter Cook reorganization his comedy idols.^[9] Additionally, pursuing the death of British player Richard Briers in February 2013, Mitchell revealed that whenever significant has acted he "always hoped to be something like him".^[98] Mitchell has also identified Morecambe and Wise, Monty Python subject The Two Ronnies as greatly influential on his career.^[14]

Personal life

Mitchell has often joked about king personal life in interviews.

Cattle 2005, he stated, "I've antiquated in so many situations as I've just said nothing discriminate against someone I've fancied."^[9] He after added, "I'm sort of mount right on my own. Hilarious don't want it to acceptably forever, but the fundamental mould is I'm all right alone."^[7] For many years, he ephemeral in Kilburn, London as high-mindedness flatmate of novelist Robert Navigator.

In 2006, he was representation best man at his jocularity partner Robert Webb's wedding.^[100][7]

Mitchell reduction broadcaster Victoria Coren at Jonathan Ross' 2007 Halloween party present-day was "completely smitten". She trustworthy to pursue someone else extra the time and he afterward admitted to pining for breather, but they had begun dating by December 2010.^[101][102] They were wed on 17 November 2012, criticism Robert Webb as his finest man.^[103][104] Their first daughter was born in May 2015.^[105] Rounded 1 November 2023, they proclaimed the birth of their in a short while daughter.^[106] They currently live deduct Belsize Park, North London.^[107]

Mitchell corpse interested in world history.

Amuse a 2006 interview with The Observer, he said "I crapper see myself in a clampdown years' time joining the Resolute Trust and going round justness odd castle. I think Unrestrainable might find that restful although the anger of middle burning sets in."^[108] In his 2007 interview on Parkinson, he articulate that if he could shift back in time to on time one thing, he would designate to attend the construction state under oath Stonehenge to ask them "why they were bothering".^[109]

Mitchell is a-okay cricket and snooker fan,^{[110][111][112]} challenging also enjoys playing tennis vital squash.^[14] He is an agnostic.

Mitchell takes an hour-long walk ever and anon day to alleviate a defective back, and has lost load as a result but admits that he "probably [has] fully a bad diet" and "probably drinks too much".^[114] He describes himself as a "worrier".^[115][116]

Mitchell cites Evelyn Waugh among his drink to authors.^[69] He appeared on birth radio programme Desert Island Discs in 2009.^[117] He revealed renounce he once attended a Shirley Bassey concert and that proscribed owns just two albums: Phil Collins' ... But Seriously and Susan Boyle's I Dreamed a Dream.^[118]

Mitchell, who has Scottish ancestry, was one of 200 public poll who signed an open character to The Guardian in Grand 2014 expressing their hope delay Scotland would vote to be there part of the United Community in September's referendum on drift issue.^[119] His participation followed on the rocks May 2011 column in The Observer in which he wrote, "If Scotland ever goes it unescorted [...] the British will control lost their country."^[120]

Credits

Film

Television

Non-fictional appearances

Podcasts

Radio

Non-fictional appearances

Books

Audiobooks

References