Jason Wood (comedian)
Encyclopedia
Jason Robert Wood was a British
comedian
. He was a regular performer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he was best known for his comic musical impersonations of performers including Cher
and Morrissey
. He frequently headlined comedy clubs.
Wood was born in Luton
, and attended Icknield High School.
In 2004, he took part in the first series of Strictly Come Dancing
. He and his partner, professional dancer Kylie Jones
, were the first to leave the competition. He was a contestant on the second series of The Underdog Show
.
Wood was gay
. His show "My Anus Horribilis," its name a play on Queen Elizabeth's 1992 "Annus Horribilis" Christmas message, was about how "[The Christian right is] pushing the country backwards, and I wanted to point that out. It’s insane when they’re quoting Leviticus to outlaw gay sex, yet most people, who have never read the Bible, won’t know that book also threatens punishment for people who wear shirts of mixed fibre." His Fringe show in 2006 attracted a damning one-star review by The Scotsman
newspaper. He referred to this on subsequent posters, quoting, "A star – The Scotsman".
Wood lived with his dog Jim in a cottage in Sundon
, Bedfordshire
, where he died (Wood not the dog) on 20 February 2010 aged 38. Initial reports suggested he died in his sleep. He is survived by his father Brian, mother Ann and sister Ann.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. He was a regular performer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he was best known for his comic musical impersonations of performers including Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
and Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
. He frequently headlined comedy clubs.
Wood was born in Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, and attended Icknield High School.
In 2004, he took part in the first series of Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
. He and his partner, professional dancer Kylie Jones
Kylie Jones
Kylie Jones is a professional ballroom dancer. She was the 2000 and 2001 World Ballroom Champion, the 2001 European Ballroom Champion, the 2000 and 2001 Open British Ballroom Champion, and the 2000 and 2001 United Kingdom Ballroom Champion....
, were the first to leave the competition. He was a contestant on the second series of The Underdog Show
The Underdog Show
The Underdog Show was a six week television series presented by Julian Clary and his dog, Valerie. The series was produced by the independent production company Splash Media.-Format:...
.
Wood was gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
. His show "My Anus Horribilis," its name a play on Queen Elizabeth's 1992 "Annus Horribilis" Christmas message, was about how "[The Christian right is] pushing the country backwards, and I wanted to point that out. It’s insane when they’re quoting Leviticus to outlaw gay sex, yet most people, who have never read the Bible, won’t know that book also threatens punishment for people who wear shirts of mixed fibre." His Fringe show in 2006 attracted a damning one-star review by The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
newspaper. He referred to this on subsequent posters, quoting, "A star – The Scotsman".
Wood lived with his dog Jim in a cottage in Sundon
Sundon
Sundon is a civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire.There are two settlements: the one called Upper Sundon at the top of the hill is now the main village, and the presumably older one by the church is now a hamlet called Lower Sundon....
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, where he died (Wood not the dog) on 20 February 2010 aged 38. Initial reports suggested he died in his sleep. He is survived by his father Brian, mother Ann and sister Ann.