Alexander Armstrong (comedian)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
|
This article may need to be rewritten entirely to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. You can help. The discussion page may contain suggestions. |
| Alexander Armstrong | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 August 1970 Rothbury, Northumberland, England |
Alexander Armstrong (born 14 August 1970 in Rothbury, Northumberland) is an English comedian, actor and television presenter.
Contents |
[edit] Early career
Armstrong studied at Durham School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the college choir. In 1992, while at Cambridge, he met Ben Miller, where both were in the Cambridge Footlights, and they formed the comedy duo Armstrong and Miller. Armstrong decided not to pursue a career as a professional bass singer, and developed a career in acting.
[edit] Comedy career
Armstrong has performed in several comedy roles. He co-starred in four series of Armstrong and Miller from 1997 to 2001. Armstrong renewed his partnership with Ben Miller for The Armstrong and Miller Show in 2007.
He starred as a misanthropic, animal-hating vet in the sitcom Beast. He is also the star of a series of TV commercials for Pimm's.
In 1999 he starred as Prince Charming in ITV's Christmas pantomime alongside his friend Ben Miller, and with Samantha Janus, Paul Merton, Harry Hill, Frank Skinner and Ronnie Corbett.
On BBC Radio 4, he plays the part of John Weak in the office sitcom Weak at the Top by Guy Browning.
Armstrong also plays Martin Baine-Jones alongside Ben Miller's Craig Children for the Times Online's "Timeghost" podcast as they discuss the cultural zeitgeist.
[edit] Television presenting
Armstrong is chairman of the comedy panel show Best of the Worst which also features team captains David Mitchell and Johnny Vaughan. The first show aired on 1 September 2006 on Channel 4 in the UK.
He presents the ITV1 comedy quiz series Don't Call Me Stupid, in which mismatched celebrities teach each other a subject they are passionate about, before facing a studio quiz on their new topic. The series features pairings including Brian Sewell with Phil Tufnell, George Galloway with Lady Victoria Hervey, James Whitaker with Bez, Germaine Greer with Shane Lynch, and Michael Howard with Wayne Sleep.
He is a frequent guest host on the BBC's satirical panel game Have I Got News For You, having appeared 12 times. His most recent appearance as host was on 24 October 2008. Armstrong has, to date, made the most appearances of any guest, whether as host or panelist.
Armstrong was a leading contender to take over as host of Countdown when Des O'Connor leaves in the new year, although when he hosted Have I Got News for You on October 24, he said he hadn't yet accepted the job, despite Ian Hislop and Paul Merton making jokes about his "new role".[1] However, he turned the job down, telling The Independent that he did not want to be "pigeonholed" as a presenter, prefering to focus on acting and comedy.[2]
[edit] Dramas and sitcoms
Armstrong co-starred with Caroline Quentin on all three series of ITV1 drama Life Begins.
He appeared in Steve Coogan's Saxondale (Series 1 Episode 2) in 2006, as a famous TV motoring presenter (played like Jeremy Clarkson). Armstrong also appeared as David Cameron in the satirical fictional documentary The Trial of Tony Blair, played a middle aged man who leaves his wife during a mid-life crisis in Maggie Mae and a sex-addicted guest in Hotel Babylon in 2007. He voiced Mr Smith, an alien computer, in The Sarah Jane Adventures and in the Doctor Who episodes "The Stolen Earth" and "Journey's End". He also has a role in the 2008 BBC comedy drama Mutual Friends.
In 2006 (repeated in 2007) he was a guest on Private Passions, the weekly music discussion programme hosted by Michael Berkeley on BBC Radio 3.[3] He appeared as an advocate on Visionaries for BBC World News broadcast on 6 September 2008.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Armstrong, Alexander |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | English comedian and actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1970-08-14 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Rothbury, Northumberland, England |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |