Cowards
Encyclopedia
Cowards are a British four-man comedy act, composed of Tim Key
, Stefan Golaszewski
, Tom Basden
and Lloyd Woolf
.
(although Key was not a student), Cowards formed in October 2004 and began performing their sketches live. They performed a new hour of material each month. In 2005 and 2006 they had sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, performing at the Pleasance.
Cowards took over the BBC Three
website on the 25 January 2007 and built their own "comedy world". Presented as living inside the website for a six-week duration, Cowards would walk on to the screen and encourage visitors to click through to their comedy area. In that area users could view a range of pre-filmed sketches and animation, as well as 'overhead' sketches filmed to give the impression the act are ‘living’ on the site. As part of the BBC
360 degree development strategy the material was used as a pilot for a TV series.
The group's first radio series was broadcast in April 2007 on BBC Radio 4
, and a second was broadcast in autumn 2008. Both have since been released as a CD Audiobook by BBC Worldwide
.
A three episode TV series was shot for BBC Four
with director Steve Bendelack
in early 2008, and was broadcast in January 2009. The show was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA in the "Best Entertainment" category.
Esquire Magazine named the Cowards on its list of "60 Brilliant Brits Shaping 2009".
Tim Key
Tim Key is an English actor, comedy writer, and performance poet. In 2009, he was the winner of the Edinburgh Comedy Award and was also nominated for the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality.-Edinburgh Fringe:...
, Stefan Golaszewski
Stefan Golaszewski
Stefan Golaszewski is an English writer, performer, director and pop singer. He is part of comedy sketch group Cowards.-Career:Golaszewski was the Cambridge Footlights President from 2002-3....
, Tom Basden
Tom Basden
Tom Basden is a British actor and comedy writer, and a member of the British four man sketch group Cowards. He has written and performed extensively for comedy shows on the BBC and Channel 4 and often collaborates in two-man shows with fellow Cowards member Tim Key.-Education:Basden was educated...
and Lloyd Woolf
Lloyd Woolf
Lloyd Woolf is a British comedian and member of the four man group Cowards, which also includes Tim Key, Tom Basden and Stefan Golaszewski.Woolf was born in Swansea...
.
History
Having all studied at Cambridge University and/or been involved in FootlightsFootlights
Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, commonly referred to simply as the Footlights, is an amateur theatrical club in Cambridge, England, founded in 1883 and run by the students of Cambridge University....
(although Key was not a student), Cowards formed in October 2004 and began performing their sketches live. They performed a new hour of material each month. In 2005 and 2006 they had sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, performing at the Pleasance.
Cowards took over the BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
website on the 25 January 2007 and built their own "comedy world". Presented as living inside the website for a six-week duration, Cowards would walk on to the screen and encourage visitors to click through to their comedy area. In that area users could view a range of pre-filmed sketches and animation, as well as 'overhead' sketches filmed to give the impression the act are ‘living’ on the site. As part of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
360 degree development strategy the material was used as a pilot for a TV series.
The group's first radio series was broadcast in April 2007 on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, and a second was broadcast in autumn 2008. Both have since been released as a CD Audiobook by BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
.
A three episode TV series was shot for BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
with director Steve Bendelack
Steve Bendelack
Steve Bendelack is a British film and television director, who has worked primarily on a range of highly-acclaimed comedy programmes.Originally an assistant to Peter Fluck and Roger Law on satirical TV puppet show Spitting Image, Bendelack went on to direct the show in later years...
in early 2008, and was broadcast in January 2009. The show was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA in the "Best Entertainment" category.
Esquire Magazine named the Cowards on its list of "60 Brilliant Brits Shaping 2009".