Bennett Arron
Encyclopedia
Bennett Chico Arron is an award-winning Welsh
writer and stand-up comedian
. In 1997 he was a finalist of the BBC New Comedy Awards
, alongside Peter Kay
and Justin Lee Collins
. He is a past winner of the BBC Wales New Writer's Award and the TAPS Comedy Writer of The Year Award.
Born in Port Talbot
in South Wales
on the 10th November 1957, Bennett moved to London to attend the drama school, the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts
. It was there that he started writing and performing sketches. After leaving Drama School he formed the Sketch Group 4-Ply. The group toured venues around the country and had a sell-out show at the Edinburgh Festival
.
Since then Bennett has had a very successful career as a stand-up comedian and has written for several television programmes. In 2007, he wrote, directed and presented the documentary How Not To Lose Your Identity for Channel 4 http://www.channel4.com/news/microsites/I/identity/ which was based on his own experience of Identiy Fraud and proved how easy a crime it easy to carry out. In the programme he stole the identity of the then Home Secretary
, Charles Clarke
and was subsequently arrested. The programme was critically acclaimed by the Press ("Pick of the Week" The Guardian, "fascinating and disturbing ****" The TV Times) and led to Bennett touring a show based on his experiences as well as being commissioned to write a book.
, Freddie Starr
, The Real McCoy
, Large, Stop the World, No Limit, The Varrell and Decker Show, Samstag Nacht, The April Hailer Show, The 11 O'Clock Show, Commercial Breakdown
, RISE
and V Graham Norton
.
He has also written for Situation Comedies, including Ed Stone is Dead
(starring Richard Blackwood
) and Sam's Game
(Starring Davina McCall
and Ed Byrne
). He is currently one of the main writer's on two children's series; The Slammer
(BBC 1) and Genie In The House
(the highest rated programme on Nickelodeon
.)
and Germany. He also regularly performs at large corporate events.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
writer and stand-up comedian
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
. In 1997 he was a finalist of the BBC New Comedy Awards
BBC New Comedy Awards
The BBC New Comedy Awards first appeared in 1995 and were considered to be one of the top UK comedy newcomer awards until they were axed in 2006. It was announced in the summer of 2006 that they were being replaced by a nationwide talent hunt that places its emphasis on sketch writing and filmed...
, alongside Peter Kay
Peter Kay
Peter John Kay is an English comedian, writer, actor, director and producer. His work includes That Peter Kay Thing , Phoenix Nights , Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere , Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and other independent productions which have included two sell out tours.-Early career:Peter Kay...
and Justin Lee Collins
Justin Lee Collins
Justin Lee Collins, commonly known as JLC, is an award-winning English comedian and television presenter.A Bristolian, he's well known for his strong West Country accent, shaggy appearance and colourful shirts....
. He is a past winner of the BBC Wales New Writer's Award and the TAPS Comedy Writer of The Year Award.
Born in Port Talbot
Port Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
in South Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
on the 10th November 1957, Bennett moved to London to attend the drama school, the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts
Academy of Live and Recorded Arts
The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts is a British drama school situated on Wandsworth Common, South West London and in Wigan, Greater Manchester making it the only CDS drama school to offer identical training at two separate institutions across The United Kingdom...
. It was there that he started writing and performing sketches. After leaving Drama School he formed the Sketch Group 4-Ply. The group toured venues around the country and had a sell-out show at the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
.
Since then Bennett has had a very successful career as a stand-up comedian and has written for several television programmes. In 2007, he wrote, directed and presented the documentary How Not To Lose Your Identity for Channel 4 http://www.channel4.com/news/microsites/I/identity/ which was based on his own experience of Identiy Fraud and proved how easy a crime it easy to carry out. In the programme he stole the identity of the then Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
, Charles Clarke
Charles Clarke
Charles Rodway Clarke is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Norwich South from 1997 until 2010, and served as Home Secretary from December 2004 until May 2006.-Early life:...
and was subsequently arrested. The programme was critically acclaimed by the Press ("Pick of the Week" The Guardian, "fascinating and disturbing ****" The TV Times) and led to Bennett touring a show based on his experiences as well as being commissioned to write a book.
Writing credits
Bennett has written comedy material for Hale and PaceHale and Pace
Hale and Pace are an English comedy duo who have starred in several TV sketch series.-Early career:Gareth Hale and Norman Pace met at Avery Hill teacher training college in Eltham South East London. They discovered much in common, particularly humour, and began playing clubs in a comedy band. One...
, Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr is an English comedian who became famous in the early 1970s. He is also an impressionist and singer, with a chart album After the Laughter and UK Top 10 single, "It's You", in March 1974 to his credit.-Early career:Under his real name, he appeared as a teenager in the film Violent...
, The Real McCoy
The Real McCoy
"The real McCoy" is an idiom and metaphor used in much of the English-speaking world to mean "the real thing" or "the genuine article", e.g., "he's the real McCoy"...
, Large, Stop the World, No Limit, The Varrell and Decker Show, Samstag Nacht, The April Hailer Show, The 11 O'Clock Show, Commercial Breakdown
Commercial Breakdown
Commercial Breakdown is a BBC/Celador light entertainment television programme which shows humorous television advertisements from around the world.-History:...
, RISE
Rise
Rise or RISE may refer to:* Moving up-Music:* A type of melodic motion* Rise Records, a record label* Rise, an alias used by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne-Albums:...
and V Graham Norton
V Graham Norton
V Graham Norton was an entertainment programme shown on Channel 4 in the UK starring Graham Norton, broadcast every weeknight as a successor to the weekly So Graham Norton. It aired from 6 May 2002 to 26 December 2003. It featured celebrities who chatted with Graham and became involved in studio...
.
He has also written for Situation Comedies, including Ed Stone is Dead
Ed Stone Is Dead
Ed Stone Is Dead was a 2002 BBC sitcom starring Richard Blackwood, Bill Paterson and Claudie Blakley. It centers around Ed Stone who accidentally is killed by the grim reaper Nigel and becomes half-dead....
(starring Richard Blackwood
Richard Blackwood
Richard Blackwood , is an English comedian, media personality, occasional actor and MC. Blackwood is step-brother of Naomi Campbell after his father was married to her mother for a time...
) and Sam's Game
Sam's Game
Sam's Game is a celebrity poker program currently airing on Playboy TV. It features a lineup of comedians, Playmates, and professional Texas Hold 'Em players and is hosted by Simpsons co-creator, Sam Simon.-Format:...
(Starring Davina McCall
Davina McCall
Davina McCall is an English television presenter and actress, most notable as the presenter of the UK version of Big Brother up until its move to Channel 5.- Early life :...
and Ed Byrne
Ed Byrne
Ed Byrne is a Perrier Award-nominated, Irish stand-up comedian, voice over artist and actor. He has presented television shows Uncut! Best Unseen Ads and Just for Laughs, and is a regular guest on various television panel games...
). He is currently one of the main writer's on two children's series; The Slammer
The Slammer
The Slammer is a Children's Talent show that has been broadcasting on BBC One since 22 September 2006.Set in a fictional prison called HM Slammer, this programme follows a variety show format where “prisoners” compete, by performing to an audience, who decide which act should be released.The show...
(BBC 1) and Genie In The House
Genie In The House
Genie in the House is a British situation comedy broadcast on Nickelodeon about a widowed father with two teenage daughters who find a dusty old golden lamp while exploring the loft of their new home. A quick rub of the lamp releases Adil, a trainee genie from Balamkadaar who has been confined to...
(the highest rated programme on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon UK
Nickelodeon is a children's television channel available on Sky, Virgin Media, Smallworld Cable, TalkTalk TV and UPC Ireland in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including on demand on BT Vision. The channel was launched on 1 September 1993...
.)
Performing credits
As a stand-up comedian, Bennett has performed at every major venue in the UK as well as performing in The United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
and Germany. He also regularly performs at large corporate events.