Russell Kane
Encyclopedia
Russell Kane is an English
writer
, comedian
, actor
and media personality. In June 2006, he became the face of digital station Five US
. He has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards (under its various names) at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning the main prize in August 2010. In May 2008 he joined the line-up for Q Radio
relaunch.
, and in 2005 he came second in So You Think You're Funny
. He joined Ray Peacock
, Russell Howard
and Reginald D Hunter
on the national Paramount
Edinburgh and Beyond tour in October 2005.
In November 2005, he filmed the World Comedy Tour in Australia. He was also asked to be the face of one-off live music event Guerrilla Gig which aired on BBC Three
in March 2006.
He has appeared on various comedy panels, and filmed four other live stand-up performances to date.
In July 2006, British terrestrial station Five decided to launch Five US
, for which Kane was selected to write and present travelogues. Russell travels every other month to the United States
, creating light-hearted pieces on American culture, and interviewing various television and movie actors.
In August 2006, he took his debut comedy show The Theory of Pretension to the Edinburgh Fringe
, where he received an Edinburgh Comedy award nomination.
In 2006–2007 he appeared in Fakespeare Shortcuts on the UK's Paramount Comedy Channel, also starring his longtime girlfriend Sadie Hasler.
He presented Big Brother's Big Mouth on E4 and Channel 4
from 26 June to 29 June 2007.
He again toured with The Edinburgh and Beyond Tour in autumn/winter 2007.
He was the host of BBC Radio 2's Out to Lunch from series 4 onwards.
He presents a Sunday afternoon show on the relaunched Q Radio
digital radio station.
In August 2008 he took a stand-up show Gaping Flaws to the Edinburgh festival. It was nominated for the 2008 Edinburgh Comedy Awards (formerly known as The Perrier Award).
He also took his hour-long Fakespeare play, The Lamentable Tragedie of Yates's Wine Lodge, which transferred for one night to the Royal Shakespeare Company
, Stratford-upon-Avon
. It was performed on The Courtyard Theatre's main stage on 31 August 2008.
On 20 November, Kane performed at the Apollo theatre, London, for the BBC's popular comedy programme Live at the Apollo. It was broadcast on 5 December on BBC1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fyjm0, replacing Jonathan Ross' Friday Night with
programme.
In 2009, he returned to Edinburgh with two new shows one entitled Fakespeare which is a play, and his new Stand up show Human Dressage. His Fakespeare play, a sell-out success, will go on tour in February 2010. Human Dressage saw him nominated for The Edinburgh Comedy Award for the third time, and toured from October 2009 to January 2010.
He appeared on the presenting team of the 2009 ITV2 Show - I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Now., a role which he reprised for the 2010 and 2011 edition of the show, which he now co-hosts with Laura Whitmore
and Joe Swash
.
He presented "Freak Like Me" on BBC Three
during the winter of 2010. This programme displayed the strange habits of various members of society. He appeared periodically throughout the programme as the narrator and presenter.
In November 2011, he won a Children in Need edition of Mastermind, with the specialist subject 'The Life and Novels of Evelyn Waugh
'
His debut novel The Humorist, will be published by Simon and Schuster in April 2012.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, 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...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and media personality. In June 2006, he became the face of digital station Five US
Five US
5USA is an entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by Northern & Shell. It was launched on 16 October 2006 as "Five US" and was the second digital channel in the UK to be launched by RTL Group as part of their multi-channel strategy, the first being Five Life...
. He has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards (under its various names) at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning the main prize in August 2010. In May 2008 he joined the line-up for Q Radio
Q (radio station)
Q Radio is an online and DTV radio station, broadcasting on digital television across the UK and online. The station launched in June 2008 as an alternative to the UK's rock and alternative stations, with a strong relationship with Q magazine...
relaunch.
Career
In 2004, Kane won the Laughing Horse New Act of The YearLaughing Horse New Act of The Year
The Laughing Horse New Act of The Year is an annual competition, running since 2001, to find the best new stand-up comedy act in the UK.The current holder is Adam Belbin, who won the allocade on the 29 May 2011.-2011:* Adam Belbin - winner...
, and in 2005 he came second in So You Think You're Funny
So You Think You're Funny
So You Think You're Funny? is an annual stand-up comedy competition for new acts. The competition began in 1988 and has become the longest running best comedy newcomer award in Great Britain....
. He joined Ray Peacock
Ray Peacock
Ray Peacock is a comic performer, best known for the Peacock and Gamble Podcast. He came to prominence in the Big and Daft comedy trio, BBC London radio series, three consecutive years of sell-out Edinburgh Festival shows and their own series for the BBC's PlayUK, Terrorville.In 2007 Ray began...
, Russell Howard
Russell Howard
Russell Joseph Howard is an English comedian best known for his TV show Russell Howard's Good News and his appearances on the topical panel TV show Mock The Week...
and Reginald D Hunter
Reginald D Hunter
Reginald Darnell Hunter is an American stand-up comedian who works mainly in the United Kingdom.-Early life:Hunter was born in Albany, Georgia. He was the youngest of nine children. His mother beat him regularly; she died in 2004....
on the national Paramount
Paramount Comedy 1
Comedy Central in the United Kingdom and Ireland is a localised version of Comedy Central which first began in the United States in the 1990s. The television channel is available through the Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk TV in the United Kingdom, Sky Ireland, UPC Ireland and Magnet Networks in the...
Edinburgh and Beyond tour in October 2005.
In November 2005, he filmed the World Comedy Tour in Australia. He was also asked to be the face of one-off live music event Guerrilla Gig which aired on 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...
in March 2006.
He has appeared on various comedy panels, and filmed four other live stand-up performances to date.
In July 2006, British terrestrial station Five decided to launch Five US
Five US
5USA is an entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by Northern & Shell. It was launched on 16 October 2006 as "Five US" and was the second digital channel in the UK to be launched by RTL Group as part of their multi-channel strategy, the first being Five Life...
, for which Kane was selected to write and present travelogues. Russell travels every other month to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, creating light-hearted pieces on American culture, and interviewing various television and movie actors.
In August 2006, he took his debut comedy show The Theory of Pretension to the Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
, where he received an Edinburgh Comedy award nomination.
In 2006–2007 he appeared in Fakespeare Shortcuts on the UK's Paramount Comedy Channel, also starring his longtime girlfriend Sadie Hasler.
He presented Big Brother's Big Mouth on E4 and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
from 26 June to 29 June 2007.
He again toured with The Edinburgh and Beyond Tour in autumn/winter 2007.
He was the host of BBC Radio 2's Out to Lunch from series 4 onwards.
He presents a Sunday afternoon show on the relaunched Q Radio
Q (radio station)
Q Radio is an online and DTV radio station, broadcasting on digital television across the UK and online. The station launched in June 2008 as an alternative to the UK's rock and alternative stations, with a strong relationship with Q magazine...
digital radio station.
In August 2008 he took a stand-up show Gaping Flaws to the Edinburgh festival. It was nominated for the 2008 Edinburgh Comedy Awards (formerly known as The Perrier Award).
He also took his hour-long Fakespeare play, The Lamentable Tragedie of Yates's Wine Lodge, which transferred for one night to the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
, Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
. It was performed on The Courtyard Theatre's main stage on 31 August 2008.
On 20 November, Kane performed at the Apollo theatre, London, for the BBC's popular comedy programme Live at the Apollo. It was broadcast on 5 December on BBC1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fyjm0, replacing Jonathan Ross' Friday Night with
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross was a British comedy chat show presented by Jonathan Ross. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 2 November 2001. The programme featured Ross's take on current topics of conversation, guest interviews and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
programme.
In 2009, he returned to Edinburgh with two new shows one entitled Fakespeare which is a play, and his new Stand up show Human Dressage. His Fakespeare play, a sell-out success, will go on tour in February 2010. Human Dressage saw him nominated for The Edinburgh Comedy Award for the third time, and toured from October 2009 to January 2010.
He appeared on the presenting team of the 2009 ITV2 Show - I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Now., a role which he reprised for the 2010 and 2011 edition of the show, which he now co-hosts with Laura Whitmore
Laura Whitmore
-Early life:Laura was born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.She attended St Patricks Primary School and Loreto Bray Secondary School until she was 18 years old...
and Joe Swash
Joe Swash
Joseph Adam Swash is an English actor and presenter. He once played Mickey Miller in the British television soap opera EastEnders. He is the older brother of Shana Swash, who played his on-screen younger sister Demi Miller until July 2006. He also won the TV reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me...
.
He presented "Freak Like Me" on 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...
during the winter of 2010. This programme displayed the strange habits of various members of society. He appeared periodically throughout the programme as the narrator and presenter.
In November 2011, he won a Children in Need edition of Mastermind, with the specialist subject 'The Life and Novels of Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
'
His debut novel The Humorist, will be published by Simon and Schuster in April 2012.
Autism joke controversy
In April 2010, Kane caused controversy on the Australian show "Good News Week" when he made a joke centred around autistic children, prompting an apology from the network and criticism from the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities.Awards
- 2004 Laughing Horse New Act of Year: Winner
- 2004 So You Think You're FunnySo You Think You're FunnySo You Think You're Funny? is an annual stand-up comedy competition for new acts. The competition began in 1988 and has become the longest running best comedy newcomer award in Great Britain....
: 2nd Place - 2006 If.comeddiesIf.comeddiesThe Edinburgh Comedy Awards, formerly the Perrier Comedy Awards, are presented to the best shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Established in 1981, they are the most prestigious comedy prize in the United Kingdom. The awards have been directed and produced by Nica Burns since 1984...
Nominee (formerly The Perrier) - 2008 If.comeddiesIf.comeddiesThe Edinburgh Comedy Awards, formerly the Perrier Comedy Awards, are presented to the best shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Established in 1981, they are the most prestigious comedy prize in the United Kingdom. The awards have been directed and produced by Nica Burns since 1984...
Nominee (formerly The Perrier) - 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee (formerly The Perrier)
- 2010 Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner
- 2011 Barry Award (for comedy) Winner