| Jack Dee | |
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| Jack Dee in 2007. | |
| Born | 24 September 1961 Petts Wood, England |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Influences | Larry David |
| Spouse | Jane Dee (1989-) |
| Notable works and roles | The Jack Dee Show (1992-94) Just For Laughs (1992) 'Art' (1998) Jack Dee: Live at the Apollo (2004–06) Lead Balloon (2006–present) |
| British Comedy Awards | |
| Best Stage Newcomer 1991 Best Standup Comedian 1997 |
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James Andrew Innes "Jack" Dee (born 24 September 1961) is an English standup comedian, actor and writer known for his sardonic, curmudgeonly, and deadpan style.
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Dee was the youngest of three children and was born in Petts Wood, then in Kent, now in Greater London,[1] but his family moved to Winchester when he was young. His father was a printer and his mother the daughter of two unsuccessful repertory actors (and the great-niece of C.W.Stamper, motor engineer to King Edward VII). His education meandered from fee-paying to state. His first school was The Pilgrims' School, a junior independent school. His parents moved him to the state Montgomery of Alamein School for his secondary education.
He took his A-levels at Peter Symonds' College, and walked away with a D and an F grade. Following this, he planned to attend drama college, but his plans were scuppered when his mother persuaded him to get a vocation, so he entered the catering industry and became a waiter.[2] In his twenties he worked at the Ritz and started drinking heavily. He attended church and attempted to become a priest. After he realised that wasn't for him he gave that up, he quit drinking, although he would later describe his condition as "alcohol abuse" rather than alcoholism, which it was reported as at the time.[3] Since then he has gone on to advertise John Smith's Bitter.
Dee's first public act was an open-mic gig in 1986 at the Comedy Store, which he went to one evening after work.[4] He was encouraged to write additional material and to tour the circuit. Since the 1990s he has performed sell-out acts at many high-profile venues (including the London Palladium and the Hammersmith Apollo). After he scooped the British Comedy Award for Best Stage Newcomer in 1991, Dee was offered his own show; The Jack Dee Show first went out on Channel 4 in February 1992, bringing him to a wider audience. His combination of stand-up routines on television continued with Jack Dee's Saturday Night on ITV, Jack Dee's Happy Hour in 1997 and later Jack Dee Live at the Apollo in 2004 on BBC One.
Aside from his successful stand-up career, Dee has played starring roles and guest appearances in television series. He played the part of Doug Digby in the Grimleys pilot (1997) before the role was recast for the series, and made guest appearances on such programmes as Silent Witness, Dalziel and Pascoe and Jonathan Creek.
In 2001, he won Celebrity Big Brother (then linked to fundraising for Comic Relief). During evictions, he dressed up in a tweed jacket and cap and held his packed suitcase, hoping to be voted out. During the eviction of another housemate he briefly absconded to sneak a quick kiss with his wife. He also escaped for several hours at night-time. He has subsequently said that he dislikes the treatment of the housemates by the show and its producers, and has refused all permission for any of the clips to be shown again.[5]
In 2004 he played the role of Steven Sharples MP alongside Warren Clarke and Dervla Kirwan in The Deputy. Dee's performance was praised, though the film itself received a lukewarm response.[6] Later that year he starred in another one-off drama, Tunnel of Love. He was the celebrity advocate in Britain's Best Sitcom for Fawlty Towers and presented an hour-long documentary about the series.
In 2005 he co-hosted Comic Aid, a one-off gathering of comedians that aimed to raise money for the Asian Tsunami Appeal. In May of the same year he appeared on the "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" segment of the BBC Two series Top Gear, achieving a lap time of 1:53.5 (52nd on the Suzuki Liana leader board). His most recent series Lead Balloon, which he also co-wrote, began on BBC Four on 4 October 2006. Described as "Britain's answer to Curb Your Enthusiasm",[7] Lead Balloon sees Dee play the semi-biographical role of Rick Spleen. A second series of eight episodes was commissioned and was broadcast on BBC Two in 2007, with a third series debuting on Thursday 13 November 2008.
Dee also makes frequent appearances on the panel shows I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, and Have I Got News for You, which he has guest-presented nine times, and he hosts segments of the BBC's biennial Comic Relief telethon. He starred in advertisements for John Smith's Bitter in the 1990s, becoming known as "the midget with the widget".
He made his stage debut in 1998, playing Yvan in Yasmina Reza's Olivier award-winning 'Art'. He later returned as Serge for a 13-week run at the request of the director.[1]
In 2008 Dee took part in the 15th anniversary special of Shooting Stars where he replaced Will Self as captain of Team A. The show aired on 30th December 2008 on BBC2.
Dee returned as team captain in series 6 of Shooting Stars on 26 August 2009.
In February 2009, it was announced that Dee would be one of a trio of hosts to replace Humphrey Lyttelton for the summer series of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (the others being Stephen Fry and Rob Brydon).[8] For the following series, which ran during November and December 2009, he served as the sole host. It has been suggested that Dee will become the programme's next permanent chair, but an official decision has not yet been announced.[9]
Over Christmas 2009, Dee played the role of John Tweedledum in The News at Bedtime.
Dee met his wife, Susan (Jane) Hetherington, in 1986 when he was working as a waiter in Fulham and she was a receptionist at a nearby hotel. They married in Winchester, Hampshire, in 1989. Together they have four children: Hattie Jane (born 1992, Wandsworth, London),[citation needed], Phoebe Jane (born late 1994/early 1995, Westminster, London) and twins, Miles Lionel and Charles Lionel 'Charlie' (born 1998, Westminster)[10] and live in Wandsworth. They decided to send their children to independent schools.
Dee has admitted to suffering from depression, and has claimed that his work is the best therapy for his condition, saying "if you have the impulse to be creative, you ignore it at your peril".[11]
He abused alcohol heavily in the 1980s. Following his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother he had a relapse, though did not attend AA meetings because he did not want paparazzi photographing him leaving the meetings.[12]
In 2007, the Daily Express reported that he was in negotiations with publishers to release his autobiography.[13] He signed with Doubleday in 2008 and the book, Thanks For Nothing: The Jack Dee Memoirs, was released in October 2009, along with an audiobook of the same title which he narrates.[14]. According to Dee, "it's really the story of how I got into comedy... It's kind of an autobiography but isn't, as it stops about 25 years ago. It goes right up to the first time I do stand up."[15]
In February 2009 Dee and several other entertainers wrote an open letter to The Times supporting Bahá'í leaders then on trial in Iran.[16]
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | British Comedy Award | Best Stage Newcomer | Won | |
| Perrier Comedy Award | Nominated | |||
| 1997 | British Advertising Award | John Smith's Bitter Commercials | Won | |
| British Comedy Award | Best Stand-up Comedian | Won | ||
| 2006 | British Academy Television Award | Best Entertainment Performance | Jack Dee Live at the Apollo | Nominated |
| Preceded by None |
Celebrity Big Brother UK Winner Series 1 (2001) |
Succeeded by Mark Owen |
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   | Jack Dee - BBC - Comedy - Shows A-Z Index |
| | The ups and downs of pros and cons - Television: The ups and downs of pros and cons | From the Observer | The Observer |
| | Dee writes BBC's answer to "Curb Your Enthusiasm" - Dee writes BBC's answer to 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' - Media, News - The Independent |
| | Jack Dee - Artist Home Page |
| | Chortle - Comedian Jack Dee on : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |
| | Jack Dee - screenonline: Dee, Jack (1961-) Biography |
| | Jack Dee - BFI | Film & TV Database | DEE, Jack |
| | Master of the dour - new insight - feature article , Roger McGough interview |
| | NMP Live Ltd - Celebrity Bureau - Celebrity, Speaker and Entertainment Bureau - NMP Live |
| | ''Lead Balloon'' homepage at bbc.co.uk - BBC - BBC Two Programmes - Lead Balloon |
| | Jack Dee reveals Doctor Who desire - The Stage / News / Jack Dee reveals Doctor Who desire |
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