name	Vic Reeves
birth name	James Roderick Moir
birth date	January 24, 1959
birth place	Leeds, England
medium	Stand up, Television
active	1989–present
genre	Surreal humour, Physical comedy
influences	Monty Python, Spike Milligan, Malcolm Hardee, Eric Morecambe, Steve Martin
influenced	Charlie Higson, Paul Whitehouse, Noel Fielding, Matt Lucas and David Walliams, Harry Hill
spouse	Sarah Vincent (1990-1999) (two children) Nancy Sorrell (2003 to date) (two children)
footnotes	}}

James Roderick Moir (born 24 January 1959), better known by the stage name Vic Reeves, is an English comedian, best known for his double act with Bob Mortimer (see Vic and Bob). He is known for his surreal and non sequitur sense of humour.

In 2003, he and Bob Mortimer were listed in ''The Observer'' as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. In a 2005 poll to find ''The Comedian's Comedian'', Reeves and Mortimer were voted the 9th greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.

Personal life

Early life

James Roderick Moir was born in Leeds, the son of James Neill (1926–2004) and Audrey Moir (née Leigh). At the age of five, he moved to Darlington with his parents and younger sister Lois. He attended Heathfield Nursery and went on to the nearby secondary school, Eastbourne Comprehensive in Darlington.

Marriage

Moir has four children; the eldest two are Alice Vincent Moir (born May 1993) and Louis Vincent Moir (born July 1997 in York), by his first wife Sarah Vincent, whom he married in 1990. They divorced in 1999.

He met his second wife, Nancy Sorrell, in 2001, and the couple married on 25 January 2003. Sorrell gave birth to twin girls Elizabeth and Nell at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent on 25 May 2006.

He now lives in Charing, near Ashford. He is a keen amateur birdwatcher. In August 2006 he attended the National Crabbing Competition at Walberswick in Suffolk along with Sorrell and their twin daughters.

Moir buried his classic Austin A40 Somerset in his back garden, as shown on the BBC's 1997 ''Omnibus'' documentary - ''A Film Of Reeves & Mortimer''. He also appeared on the ITV show Mr and Mrs with his wife Nancy Sorrell.

Career

After school, Moir undertook an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering, before moving to London and becoming a factory inspector.

He also formed the Fashionable Five, a group of five friends (including Jack Dent, who ran the original Fan Club) who would follow bands like The Enid and Free onto stage, and perform pranks (including Moir pretending to have a brass hand, and following a Terry Scott lookalike around Darlington town centre in single file formation). Eventually, they formed their own band. Reeves had an early breakthrough with the help of comedian Malcolm Hardee.

In 1983, he began a part-time course at a local art college, developed his love of painting and eventually persuaded a local art gallery to stage an exhibition of his unique work. Although still primarily known as a comedian, he is also gaining a reputation as an artist. His drawings and paintings have been used in his television shows and form a major part of his 1999 book, ''Sun Boiled Onions''.

As Vic Reeves

As well as working and performing in bands, in London, Moir also joined the alternative comedy circuit under many different guises. These included a loudmouth American called Jim Bell, a beat poet called Mister Mystery and, eventually, "The North-East’s Top Light Entertainer" - Vic Reeves. His stage show ''Vic Reeves Big Night Out'' began life as a regular Thursday night gig at Goldsmith’s Tavern, New Cross (now the New Cross House). Here he met Bob Mortimer, a solicitor who attended the show and enjoyed it so much that he soon began to participate. His television debut came in December 1986 on Channel 4 Television's The Tube in a comedy game show segment called "Square Celebrities", suspended by a wire to ask the "celebrities" questions. His next appearance was on the short-lived chat/comedy show One Hour with Jonathan Ross in a game show segment known as ''Knock Down Ginger''. His growing TV profile led to ''Big Night Out'' being given a slot on Channel 4 the following year. It was about this time that Vic and Bob rented a back room at Jools Holland's office/recording studio in Westcombe Park, Greenwich where they would spend hours writing material.

Reeves continued to work alongside Bob Mortimer as a comedy duo in ''The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer'', ''Shooting Stars'', and ''Bang Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer'', some of which also featured future cast members of ''The Fast Show'' and ''Little Britain''.

Reeves is one of the few comedians to have had a number one hit record in the UK Singles Chart, which he did in company with The Wonder Stuff, singing "Dizzy" (previously a number one hit for Tommy Roe). The single's B-side was the original composition "Oh! Mr. Hairdresser", recorded with The Images of Cream and supposedly featuring Bob Mortimer on mandolin. He had also released a version of ''Born Free'', which was critically acclaimed and also reached the top ten. A third single during the same period, ''Abide With Me'', had little success. All three tracks appeared on his album, ''I Will Cure You'', released in 1991. In 1995, Reeves collaborated with EMF, covering The Monkees hit "I'm a Believer". Before finding fame, Reeves appeared in the Shakin' Stevens video promo for "What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For".

A 1994 pilot written by Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson entitled ''The Honeymoon's Over'' was due to feature Chris Bell, a character from ''The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer''. The series was never commissioned. The same year, Reeves made a guest appearance on the Radio 1 series ''Shuttleworth's Showtime'', hosted by John Shuttleworth.

Between August 1998 and May 1999, Reeves and Mortimer presented the Channel X produced BBC Saturday night family game show ''Families at War'' alongside Alice Beer.

Reeves played Marty Hopkirk in the BBC's 2000–2001 thriller series ''Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)'' - a revival of the original 1960s series, with Mortimer as Randall, Emilia Fox as Jeannie and Tom Baker as Wyvern.

In 2000, he presented a series entitled, ''Vic Reeves Examines'' on UK Play. The programme featured celebrities such as Ricky Gervais, Johnny Vegas, Lauren Laverne and Emma Kennedy discussing a topic of their choice. The same year, Reeves presented a one-off radio show on BBC Radio 1, entitled ''Cock of the Wood''.

In 2004 he and Sorrell were both contestants in the fourth series of ''I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!''. Along with Mortimer, he appeared in the series ''Catterick'' as several characters.

In September 2005 Reeves hosted a show for Virgin Radio called ''Vic Reeves Big Night In'' produced by Mark Augustyn, for a short period on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7.00pm.

In May 2006 he presented a programme on ITV Tyne Tees about Northeast comedy culture, ''It's Funny Up North with... Vic Reeves''.

Reeves presented a historical ten-part series, entitled ''Rogues Gallery'', which was shown on the Discovery Channel (UK) in 2005. In the series, he investigated, and portrayed Anne Bonny & Mary Read, Captain Kidd, Claude Duval, Jonathan Wild, Rob Roy, Colonel Blood, George Ransley, Deacon Brodie, Blackbeard and Dick Turpin. Nancy Sorrell also appeared in some episodes. Continuing in this vein, ''Vic Reeves' Pirates'' was shown on ITV West, and subsequently on The History Channel in 2007.

In 2007, Reeves hosted a show called ''Vic Reeves Investigates: Jack the Ripper''. Reeves, with the help of historians and leading experts, tried to discover who Jack the Ripper was. At the end of the show, he came to the conclusion that Jack the Ripper was Francis Tumblety.

He was the main presenter of ''Brainiac: Science Abuse'' during the fifth and sixth series, replacing Richard Hammond, who quit the show. The series began on 8 May 2007.

Beginning in June 2007, Reeves presented a BBC Radio 2 panel game called ''Does the Team Think…''.

In late 2007, Reeves appeared in a weekly radio-based sketch show on BBC Radio 2, entitled ''Vic Reeves' House Arrest''. The first episode was broadcast on 17 November 2007 and the series ran for six episodes. The show's premise was that Reeves had been put under house arrest for "a crime he didn't commit", and each episode consists of the various events that take place in and around his house on a particular day. Reeves' comedy partner Bob Mortimer plays his housecall-making hairdresser, Carl, while other performers include ''The Mighty Boosh'' star Noel Fielding as a local vagrant who comes to Reeves' door on a weekly basis looking for work, and Reeves' wife Nancy Sorrell in multiple roles.

On 20 February 2008, Reeves appeared onstage at the ''BRIT Awards'' to present the "Mastercard British Album" award to winners, Arctic Monkeys. He was visibly disorientated and event co-host Sharon Osbourne called him a "pissed bastard" and repeatedly told him to "piss off". There have been claims by ''The Sun'' newspaper that Reeves' addled state was due to his autocue failing. In ITV's Teletext music magazine Planet Sound interview, which took place half an hour after the show, Reeves stated that he was trying to read the autocue, and was pushed away by Osbourne whilst trying to do his job. He called Osbourne's behaviour "unacceptable". Planet Sound defended Reeves, saying "for the record" he was not drunk, and declared that there are better people to present live awards ceremonies than the Osbournes, such as Jonathan Ross.

On 27 February 2008, Reeves announced that he and Mortimer were working together on a new sitcom about super heroes who get their powers through a malfunctioning telegraph pole. He also reiterated his desire to bring back ''Shooting Stars'' for a 6th series. Along with his son, he is also featured in one edition of a factual TV series for Five, Dangerous Adventures For Boys, based on the best-selling book written by Conn and Hal Iggulden, The Dangerous Book for Boys.

In February 2009, Reeves appeared as presenter of the first episode of ''My Brilliant Britain'', one of the new television shows commissioned for UKTV People channel's relaunch as Blighty.

On 25 August 2009, Reeves appeared as a guest on the BBC One programme ''The One Show'' alongside Bob Mortimer

Series 6 of ''Shooting Stars'' began airing on 26 August 2009 with Reeves returning as co-host with Mortimer, along with Ulrika Jonsson and Jack Dee as team captains.

Reeves appeared as one of the guests in ''Reece Shearsmith's Haunted House'', a light-hearted radio discussion show which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in two parts, either side of Halloween. The first part aired on 29 October 2009 and the second on 5 November 2009.

Reeves also lends his voice to the Virgin Atlantic Airlines onboard safety video, alongside Dani Behr.

In May 2011, Reeves commemorated the Royal Wedding by painting 100 plates bearing a picture he drew of William and Kate, with the slogan "Our future King and Queen, Bill and Cath." He also painted a vase, which bore a shirtless William. The plates were priced at £100GBP each.

In July 2011, Vic rejoined Bob for a selection of YouTube Improvised Comedy Sketches, in association with Fosters - They released their "Afternoon Delight" clips every weekday afternoon in July.

Television appearances

Reeves has appeared without Mortimer on a number of British television shows, primarily game shows, poll programs and charity telethons. These include:

2012 in British television ''Vic Reeves' Turner Prize Moments'' Channel 4BBC 2 ''Never Mind The Buzzcocks ''My Brilliant Britain'' ''Celebrity Come Dine With Me'' FiveBBC OneBBC TwoChallenge TVITV ''Would I Lie To You? (TV series) ''8 Out of 10 Cats'' ''Loose Women'' BBC OneBBC TwoITV2Channel 4ITV Wales & WestSky OneFive (channel)Channel 4Sky OneCBBCBBC OneITV1Channel 4BBC TwoITV1Channel 4BBC Two ''QI'' ''Never Mind the Buzzcocks'' ''Turn Back Time (TV series)Tyne Tees TelevisionBBC TwoBBC TwoBBC OneBBC Two ''Richard & Judy'' ''Friday Night with Jonathan Ross'' ''The South Bank Show'' BBC TwoSky OneDiscovery ChannelChannel 4Channel 4 ''I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'' BBC TwoBBC OneITV1BBC One Presenter ''Auction Man'' Living (channel) ''Celebrity Mastermind (TV series)BBC TwoBBC FourITV1 ''It's Your New Year's Eve Party'' ITV1BBC TwoChannel 4BBC OneChannel 4 ''Vic Reeves Examines'' BBC TwoBBC OneBBC OneBBC One ''Clive Anderson All Talk'' ''TFI Friday'' ''Children in Need'' ''British Comedy Awards 1993''

style="width:10%;"	Year(s)	Title	Channel	Role	No of Episodes	Notes
	2012 ||	''The Ministry of Curious Stuff''	CBBC	Renton Skinner>Dan Skinner)	13	Credited as Jim Moir
rowspan="3"	2011	|	Channel 4	Presenter	1
''Comedy Showcase	The Fun Police''	|	Richard Traves	1	Pilot. Credited as Jim Moir
''Eric and Ernie''	|	George Bartholomew, father of Eric Morecambe	1	Credited as Jim Moir
	2010	|	BBC 2	Panelist - on Noel's team	1	Series 24 Episode 9
	2009	|	Blighty (TV channel)>Blighty	presenter	1
rowspan="6"	2008	|	Channel 4	waiter / support for contestant Sorrell	1
''Dangerous Adventures For Boys''	|	Contestant (with son, Louis Moir)	1
''Hole in the Wall (UK game show)	Hole in the Wall''	|	Contestant (with Sorrell)	1
''The Culture Show Uncut''	|	Reporter	1
''Take It Or Leave It (game show)	Take It Or Leave It''	Challenge ||	Celebrity contestant (with Sorrell)	1
''2008 BRIT Awards''	|	Award presenter
2007–2008	Would I Lie To You?'' ||	BBC One	Panel member	2
2005–2008	|	Channel 4	Panel member	8
rowspan="17"	2007	|	ITV	Interviewee (with Sorrell)	1
''The One Show''	|	Interviewee	1
''Something for the Weekend (2000s BBC TV series)	Something for the Weekend''	|	Interviewee	1
''Deadline (reality TV series)	Deadline	|	Contestant (with Sorrell)	1
''Memoirs of a Cigarette''	|	Contributor	1
''Vic Reeves' Pirates''	HTVThe History Channel ||	Presenter	6
''Vic Reeves Investigates: Jack the Ripper''	|	Presenter
''Pirate Ship... Live''	Five ||	Presenter
''The Big Fat Quiz of the Year#The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz	The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz''	|	Guest appearance
''Brainiac: Science Abuse''	|	Presenter	21	Series 5 & 6
''Shaun the Sheep''	|	Theme tune "Shaun the Sheep - Life's a Treat"
''Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon (UK game show)	Gameshow Marathon''	|	Panel member	1	''Blankety Blank'' episode
''100 Greatest / 100 Worst	100 Greatest Stand Ups''	|	Contributor
''The Grumpy Guide to... Art''	|	Contributor		Grumpy Old Men (TV series)>Grumpy Old Men''
''Dale's Supermarket Sweep''	|	Contestant	1
''Law of the Playground''	|	Contributor	11
''The Truth About Food''	|	Contributor
2006–2007	|	BBC Two	Panel member	4
1998–2007	|	BBC Two	Panel member	2
rowspan="6"	2006	Turn Back Time ||	BBC Two	Interviewee	1
''It's Funny Up North with... Vic Reeves''	Tyne TeesITV1 ||	Presenter
''The Story of Light Entertainment''	|	Contributor	2
''Summer Exhibition''	|	Panel judge
''Comedy Connections - "Shooting Stars"''	|	Subject / Interviewee	1
''Jools Holland's Hootenanny (UK TV series)	Hootenanny''	|	Intervieweesinger
2004–2006	|	Channel 4	Interviewee	3
2002–2006	|	BBC One	Interviewee	2
rowspan="6"	2005	|	ITV1	Subject / Interviewee	1
''The Best & Worst of God''	|	Presenter
''Final Chance to Save''	|	Contributor
''Rogues Gallery''	Discovery Channel UK ||	Presenter	10
''The Death of Celebrity''	|	Contributor
''100 Greatest / 100 Worst	50 Greatest Comedy Sketches''	|	Contributor
rowspan="6"	2004	|	ITV1	Contestant (with Sorrell)	8
''Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)	Who Do You Think You Are?''	|	Subject	1
''Star Sale''	|	Contributor	1
''Hell's Kitchen (UK TV series)	Hell's Kitchen''	|	Boorish Customer	1
''BBC Breakfast	Breakfast''	|	Interviewee	1
''Vic's Chicks'' (BBC Three (via the Red Button (Digital Television)	red-button)	|	10 episodes
rowspan="2"	2003	|	BBC One
''Most Haunted''	LivingTV ||	Celebrity guest (with Sorrell)	1
rowspan="3"	2002	Mastermind'' ||	BBC Two	Contestant	1	Reeves' specialist subject was "Pirates"
''Surrealissimo - The Trial of Salvador Dalí''	|	Paul Éluard
''These Things Take Time - The Story of The Smiths''	|	Voice of animated Morrissey
rowspan="6"	2001	|	BBC One	Contributor
''British Comedy Awards 2001''	|	Award presenter
''I Love the '90s''	|	Contributor	1	"I Love 1991" episode
''We Know Where You Live. Live!''	|	Performer		Four Yorkshiremen sketch
''Comic Relief (charity)#2001 event	Comic Relief: Say Pants to Poverty''	|	Presenter
''Top Ten''	|	Contributor	1	"Prog Rock" episode
rowspan="5"	2000	|	Play UK	Presenter	12
''Robot Wars (TV series)	Robot Wars''	|	Contestant	1
''Night of a Thousand Shows''	|
''Dale Winton	Dale's All Stars''	|	Interviewee	1
''This Is Your Life (UK TV series)	This Is Your Life''	|	Contributor	1	Episode for Tom Baker
1999 in British television	1999	|	Channel 4	Interviewee	1
1996 in British television	1996	|	Channel 4	Interviewee	2
1995 in British television	1995	|	BBC One	Contributor
1993 in British television	1993	|	ITV

Books

''For books on or by Reeves and Mortimer, see Vic and Bob#Books'' ''Vic Reeves' Vast Book of World Knowledge'' - a surreal encyclopaedia with text and artwork by Reeves. Atlantic Books, Released in October 2009.

''Vic Reeves Me:Moir (Volume One)'' - autobiography by Vic Reeves, Virgin Books, 2006

''Sunboiled Onions'' - diary, paintings and drawings by Vic Reeves, Penguin Books, 1999

Advertising

''For advertisements featuring both Reeves and Mortimer, see Vic and Bob#Advertising''

Reeves has appeared in television advertisements for a number of products, both with comedy partner Mortimer, and alone.

An advertisement for Guinness quoted Reeves as saying "88.2% of Statistics are made up on the spot"

He has done (solo) advertising work for a variety of products including MFI, Müller Light, First Direct, Churchill Insurance, Cadbury's Boost, Mars Bar, Fanta, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Domestos bleach, Maryland Cookies, and he cross-dressed for a 2008 advertisement for 888 Holdings' Bingo website 888 Ladies.

Reeves also advertised Jools Holland's 2006 album ''Moving Out to the Country''.

In 2011, Vic Reeves was featured in an East Coast Trains advert, promoting the first class service. During the advert, Vic is seen using his love of art by sketching and painting the surround passengers and on-board train attendant.

See also

Vic and Bob

References

External links

Sky one Webpage about Vic Reeves Investigates: Jack the Ripper

Vic Reeves Pirates

Driving Ban For Comic Vic Reeves.

Vic Reeves' author page, Conville and Walsh.

Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:People from Leeds Category:People from Darlington Category:Alumni of Middlesex University Category:English radio personalities Category:English television presenters Category:English comedians Category:British radio DJs Category:Virgin Radio (UK) Category:Participants in British reality television series Category:I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! contestants Category:English comedy writers Category:English autobiographers Category:English comedy musicians Category:English television actors

de:Vic Reeves fr:Vic Reeves nl:Vic Reeves pl:Vic Reeves

name	Vic
settlement type	Municipality
image shield	Coat of Arms of Vic.svg
pushpin map	Spain Catalonia
pushpin map caption	Location in Catalonia
coordinates type	region:ES-CT_type:city(10908)
coordinates display	inline,title
subdivision type	Country
subdivision name
subdivision type1	Community
subdivision name1
subdivision type2	Province
subdivision name2	Barcelona
subdivision type3	Comarca
subdivision name3	Osona
leader title	Mayor
leader name	Josep Maria Vila d'Abadal Serra (CIU)
area total km2	30.60
elevation m	484
population total	38321
population as of	2007
population density km2	auto
population demonym	Vigatà, vigatana
timezone1	CET
utc offset1	+1
timezone1 dst	CEST
utc offset1 dst	+2
footnotes	}}

Vic () is the capital of the ''comarca'' of Osona, in the Barcelona Province, Catalonia, Spain. Vic's location, only 69 km far from Barcelona and 60 km from Girona, has made it one of the most important towns in central Catalonia.

History

Vic is of ancient origin. Vic, in past times, was called ''Ausa'' by the Romans. Iberian coins bearing this name have been found there. The Visigoths called it Ausona. Sewage caps on sidewalks around the city will also read "Vich," an old form of the name.

During the 8th and 9th centuries, Vic sat in the Spanish Marches that separated Frankish and Islamic forces. It was destroyed in 788 during a Muslim incursion. Afterwards only one quarter was rebuilt, which was called ''Vicus Ausonensis'' (''vicus'' is Latin for city borough), from which the name Vic was derived. It was repopulated by Wilfred the Hairy in 878 who gained control over the high part of the city and gave up the lowest part to the bishop to construct the episcopal see. From then on, the city was ruled by the count of Barcelona and by the bishop of Vic.

At a council in Toulouges in 1027, the bishop of Vic established the first Peace and Truce of God that helped reduce private warfare.

During the 18th century the city was the first focus of the rebellion against the centralist policy of King Philip V of Spain. The conflict became the War of the Spanish Succession, which resulted in Catalonia losing its freedom as a nation.

In the early 20th century Vic had 9500 inhabitants, and in 1992 it hosted Roller Hockey events of the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics.

Ecclesiastical history

The bishopric is a suffragan of the archbishopric of Tarragona, bounded on the north by Girona, on the east by Girona and Barcelona, on the south by Barcelona and Tarragona, on the west by Tarragona and Lleida. It lies within the four Catalonian provinces, but the greater part of it in that of Barcelona.

The introduction of Christianity was undoubtedly very early, as martyrs of Ausa are recorded in the time of Emperor Decius, and in the earliest records of the Tarraconensian sees the Bishop of Vic is one of the very first mentioned. None, however, is mentioned by name until 516 when Cinidius is named as assisting at the provincial Council of Tarragona and Girona. Aquilinus (589-99) attended the third Council of Toledo; Esteban, the fourth and one at Egara; Dominus, the sixth of Toledo; Guericus, the eighth; Wisefredus sent his vicar to the thirteenth, and attended in person the fifteenth and sixteenth. With this bishop ends the history of the Church of Ausona before the Saracen invasion.

The reconquest of Vic was begun in the time of Louis the Pious, who confided the civil government to Borrell, Count of Ausona, all ecclesiastical matters being under the direction of the Archbishop of Narbonne.

In 826 Vic fell once more into the hands of the Moors and was finally reconquered by Wilfred the Hairy, independent Count of Barcelona.

Count Wilfred dedicated the famous monastery of Ripoll to the Blessed Virgin, and obtained from the Archbishop of Narbonne the consecration of Godmarus as Bishop of Vic. The bishops and the family of Montcada disputed the right of sovereignty over the city until 1315, when the Bishop Berenguer Gaguardia ceded his rights to the king, James II, who also purchased the rights of the Moncadas.

Bishop Atton (960-72) is worthy of mention as a great promoter of education. Many persons availed themselves of the advantages offered by his reforms, among them Gerbert, the monk of Aurillac, afterwards Pope Sylvester II, who was distinguished for his learning.

Another of the most illustrious bishops of Vic was Oliva (1018–46), son of the Count of Besalú, and Abbot of Ripoll where he reconstructed and richly decorated the church. The dedication took place 15 January 1032. He also, with the help of Ermesinda, Countess of Barcelona, reconstructed the cathedral and dedicated it to Sts. Peter and Paul on 31 August 1038. In the time of his successor Guillermo I the relics of its patron saints, the martyrs Lucianus and Marcianus, were found at Vic, and a council was held for the restoration of peace among the faithful.

Berenguer Seniofredo reformed the chapter, expelling lax members and introducing regular observance. Berenguer obtained for himself the dignity of Archbishop of Tarragona, which was contested by the Bishop of Narbonne. Among the Spanish bishops who attended the Council of Trent was Acisclo Moya de Contreras, Bishop of Vic, who was accompanied by the theologian Pedro Mercado.

Of the more recent bishops, Josep Morgades i Gili deserves special mention. He restored the monastery of Ripoll, destroyed and pillaged by the revolutionists, and reconsecrated its church on 1 July 1893. He also established at Vic an archaeological museum where he collected many treasures of medieval art which had been dispersed among the ancient churches of the diocese. The next Bishop of Vic was Josep Torres i Bages, a man of great culture and learning.

Other celebrated natives of the Vic diocese include:

::*Saint Antoni Maria Claret i Clarà, archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, confessor of Isabella II and founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in North America also known as the Claretians.

::*Archbishop Josep Sadoc Alemany i Concill, Dominican and first archbishop of San Francisco, California.

::*See also Roman Catholic Diocese of Vic

Culture

Among other centers and institutions working to promote culture education, Vic is renowned for:

The ''Universitat de Vic'', a young but active University that, according to its numbers, has grown to be the most important outside the four main cities of Catalonia.

The ''Museu episcopal'', a medieval art museum administered by the bishopric.

The ''Museu de la pell'', a museum dedicated to leathers.

The popular markets, trade fairs and festivals. Especially the ''Mercat de música viva de Vic & Mercat Medieval''.

Economy

For centuries, the city's primary industrial and commercial activity was a textile industry, now almost disappeared. Nowadays, the pillars of the economy are agriculture and other alimentary industries, and construction.

The city is famous for its sausages and other pork derivatives, especially ''fuet'', a thin cured sausage. The making of cured sausages and cold meats stems from the long tradition of pig farming in the Vic plain.

Main sights

It is disputed whether the Church of Sant Pere Apòstol or Sta. Maria la Rodona was the first cathedral church. For centuries the bishops celebrated the first Christmas Mass in this church, and the third in that of Sant Pere.

The ancient Church of S. Maria was rebuilt from the foundations by Canon Guillem Bonfil in 1140, and consecrated forty years later by Bishop Pere Retorta. In 1787 it was demolished to make room for the new Cathedral. Bishop Jordi (915- 38) reconsecrated the Church of Ripoll and also consecrated that of Sta. Maria de Manresa.

The original cathedral, which had but a single nave, thick walls, and few windows, was replaced by that built by Bishop Oliva. As early as the thirteenth century Bishop Raimond d'Anglesola wrote a pastoral letter exhorting his people to contribute towards repairing the cathedral. In 1401 Bishop Diego de Heredia added a transept, and in 1585 the door of Sant Joan was added, but the necessity of a complete reconstruction was soon recognized, and towards the end of the eighteenth century the building was torn down, and the cornerstone of the new one was laid on 24 September 1781. It was consecrated on 15 September 1803. It is classic in design, a combination of Doric and Tuscan, with a facade of white stone enriched with a beautiful balustrade. It has three entrances, corresponding to the three naves, and colossal statutes of its six patrons. The interior is Corinthian. All the monuments and altars were destroyed when the old church was demolished, except the high altar which is of alabaster, in the Gothic style, and was given early in the fifteen century by D. Bernat Despujol. Among the chapels that of St. Bernat Calvó (1233–43), who assisted James I of Aragon in the conquest of Valencia, deserves special mention. The two-storied Gothic cloister is exceedingly beautiful. A handsome Gothic doorway leading to the chapter house has been preserved.

The conciliar seminary was begun in 1635 by Gaspar Gil and was finally finished, by command of Pope Benedict XIV, by Manuel Muñoz in 1748. The modern seminary is located in the former Jesuit College. It has sent out many famous men, among them Balmes and the poet Jacint Verdaguer, author of "L'Atlàntida". The episcopal palace was destroyed in the wars of 1640 and rebuilt by degrees, being completed by Bishop Veyan. The archaeological museum is in this building.

Manresa, where St. Ignatius Loyola wrote his Spiritual Exercises, is situated in the Diocese of Vic. His memory is venerated in the Santa Cova, which has been converted into a church, and a magnificent college of the Jesuits built near it.

Demography

1900	1930	1950	1970	1986	2007

Miscellaneous

The University of Vic never attained to any great importance; it is not known when or by whom it was founded. King Philip II granted it the privilege of conferring degrees, but only in philosophy and the arts (1599). Philip V, in the Corts of Barcelona (1702), granted it the power to confer degrees in theology and other higher sciences.

The greatest glory of Vic of modern times is Jaume Balmes, the foremost Spanish philosopher of the nineteenth century, whose remains are interred in the cloister of the cathedral. His first centenary was celebrated at Vic by a Catholic Congress.

Other celebrated natives of Vic include:

Trinitarian Saint Michael de Sanctis

Joseph Sadoc Alemany, (1814–1888), born in Vic, later Archbishop of San Francisco

On 2005-12-22, some inhabitants of the city won a total prize of about 500 million euros in the Spanish Christmas Lottery.

Sport

The city has a roller hockey team, CHP Vic, one of the most important in Spain, and dispute the main League OK Liga.

See also

List of municipalities in Barcelona

Osona

Plain of Vic

Sources and references

Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rius Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). ''Guia de Catalunya'', Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).

Paul Freedman, "The Diocese of Vic" has broad implications for the medieval history of Catalonia in general

Diocese of Vic general information of the Catholic-Hierarchy website

External links

Official website Information - Generalitat de Catalunya Information Statistical information - Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya Information from the Diputació de Barcelona

University of Vic

Tourist information

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ar:فيتش (إسبانيا) an:Vic ast:Vic bg:Вик (град) ca:Vic cy:Vic de:Vic es:Vich eo:Vic eu:Vic fr:Vic (Espagne) gl:Vic bpy:আউসা it:Vic nl:Vic ja:ビック (スペイン) pl:Vic pt:Vic ty:Vic ru:Вик (Барселона) fi:Vic uk:Бік (місто)

name	Lynda Bellingham
birth name	Meredith Lee Hughes
birth date	May 31, 1948
birth place	Montreal, Québec, Canada
nationality	British
employer	ITV
occupation	Broadcaster, actress, author
television	''Loose Women''
years active	1971–present
children	2 sons
spouse
website	www.lyndabellingham.com }}

Lynda Bellingham (born Meredith Lee Hughes on 31 May 1948) is a Canadian-born English actress, broadcaster and author.

Early life

Bellingham was born to a single mother in Montreal and adopted by an English couple at the age of four months. She was brought up in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England and was educated at Aylesbury High School and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Acting career

Twice in the 1960s Bellingham appeared in the Pendley Open Air Shakespeare Festival. She got her big break as a nurse in an ITV afternoon soap opera of the 1970s, ''General Hospital''. She went topless for her roles in ''Confessions of a Driving Instructor'' and ''Sweeney!'' (1977).

She is best known as the head of the family in the Oxo television adverts during the 1980s. Other prominent roles included the James Herriot drama ''All Creatures Great and Small'' (where she was the second actress to play Helen Herriot on television, replacing Carol Drinkwater) and the situation comedy ''Second Thoughts'' and its sequel, ''Faith in the Future''.

She starred in the 14-part ''Doctor Who'' serial ''The Trial of a Time Lord'' (1986) as the Inquisitor. Bellingham reprised the Inquisitor character for the Big Finish Productions audio series, ''Gallifrey''. In 1998 she appeared in Gleb Panfilov's ''The Romanovs: A Crowned Family'' as Empress Alexandra.

From 2000 to 2003, Bellingham played Pauline Farnell, the compassionate accountant in ''At Home with the Braithwaites'' alongside Amanda Redman and former ''All Creatures Great and Small'' colleague Peter Davison. In 2007, she appeared alongside Redman again, this time playing DCI Karen Hardwick in New Tricks. For several months in 2004, she had a recurring role in ''The Bill'' as villainess Irene Radford.

She also had a memorable role in the ITV comedy ''Bonkers'' playing Mrs. Wadlow, a man-eating suburban housewife who seduces her neighbour's teenage son and turns him into her gigolo. Later that year she filmed guest appearances in episodes of ''Love Soup'' and ''Robin Hood''. In October 2007, she appeared in a play entitled ''Vincent River'' at the Trafalgar Studios in London. Her performance received critical acclaim, and it was announced on ''Loose Women'' in early 2008 that the play would be moving to Broadway in July of that year, although this never actually transpired.

From September 2008 to July 2009, she played the role of Chris Harper in the stage version of ''Calendar Girls'' on tour and in the West End. She returned to the show for further tours in 2010 and 2011.

Other appearances

Since 2007, Lynda has been doing the voice-over on the Vodafone adverts with the slogan: ''Make the most of now''.

Lynda joined ''Loose Women'' in early 2007, and she still continues as a regular panelist, despite taking a year out to mull over her acting career.

In 2009 she was one of the contestants on Series 7 of ''Strictly Come Dancing'', the BBC ratings winner where she partnered Darren Bennett. She was voted out by the judges in the fourth week.

In 2010, Lynda was the voice-over for British rap band N-Dubz's six part reality show on Channel 4.

Lynda guest hosted ''Lorraine'' in December 2010.

From 2011 onwards, she was the face of online shopping brand isme.com. She is featured in, or provides voice-over for, a variety of adverts on television and in the media, including one promoting the company as sponsors of Loose Women on ITV.

Writing

In 2010, Bellingham launched her book ''Lost and Found'', a story of her life and career and toured the country for private readings.

Personal life

Bellingham has been married three times, first in 1975 to film and theatre producer Greg Smith, best remembered for the ''Confessions'' films. Her second marriage (1981–1996) was to Nunzio Peluso with whom she had two sons, Michael and Robbie.

On 31 May 2008, she married her boyfriend, Spanish-based mortgage broker Michael Pattemore (known on ''Loose Women'' as "Mr Spain") at St Stephen Walbrook on her 60th birthday. On 3 March 2010, on ''This Morning'' she announced she would be returning to do more Oxo commercials.

Bellingham states that she does not have many passions, apart from reading and horses. She originally had horse-riding aspirations, but they were dashed by the onset of hayfever in her teens.

References

Film producer Greg Smith has passed away Borehamwood Times, 1 April 2009

External links

Official Lynda Bellingham website

Category:Living people Category:1948 births Category:English television actors Category:English television presenters Category:English writers Category:Alumni of the Central School of Speech and Drama Category:People from Aylesbury Category:Strictly Come Dancing participants Category:People educated at Aylesbury High School

de:Lynda Bellingham no:Lynda Bellingham ru:Беллингем, Линда

name	Bob Mortimer
birth date	May 23, 1959
birth place	Acklam, Middlesbrough, England
medium	Stand up, Television
nationality	British
active	1986 – Present
genre	Surreal humour, Physical comedy
influences	Monty Python, The Goons
influenced	Matt Lucas and David Walliams, Johnny Vegas
notable work	''Vic Reeves Big Night Out''''The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer''''Shooting Stars''
website	}}

Robert Renwick "Bob" Mortimer (born 23 May 1959 in Middlesbrough) is an English comedian and actor, who is best known for his double act with Vic Reeves (see Vic and Bob). He owns the independent production company Pett Productions with Vic Reeves and Lisa Clark and is the voice of Churchill the Dog in adverts for Churchill Insurance.

Early life

Mortimer's biscuit salesman father died, very young, in a car crash and as a result he and his three brothers were brought up by their mother, Eunice. He attended Acklam High School on the site of Acklam Hall in Acklam, Middlesbrough. He trialled for local professional football club Middlesbrough, but was not able to take the sport up due to arthritis. He left school with three A-levels and went on to study law at the Universities of Sussex and Leicester. There, Mortimer became involved in political causes and the punk movement, starting a band called Dog Dirt. After leaving university with an LLM in Welfare Law, he moved to London and became a solicitor for Southwark Council. He then moved to a private practice.

Partnership with Vic Reeves

In 1986 Mortimer went to the Goldsmith's Tavern in New Cross, London to see a new show by a comedian called Vic Reeves. Mortimer was impressed by the performance, particularly the character Tappy Lappy, which was Reeves attempting to tap dance whilst wearing a Bryan Ferry mask and planks on his feet. Mortimer approached Reeves after the show, and the two began writing material for the next week's show together. They also became good friends, even forming a band called The Potter's Wheel. Mortimer began to perform on the show, which was christened ''Vic Reeves Big Night Out'', creating such characters as the Singing Lawyer, Graham Lister, Judge Nutmeg, and the Man With the Stick.

The show became very successful in south London and eventually outgrew Goldsmith's Tavern, moving in 1988 to the Albany Empire in Deptford. Mortimer soon became an integral part of the performance, providing him with a weekly break from the legal work which had begun to disillusion him.

Mortimer and Reeves made their television debut on the short-lived 1989 comedy/chat show ''One Hour with Jonathan Ross'', in the game show segment known as ''knock down ginger''.

Later that year they made their first television pilot together, ''Vic Reeves Big Night Out'', in late 1989. The television show remained true to the nightclub act's variety show format. Mortimer took a 10-week break from his legal job to film the series and never returned.

The two later created a one-off pilot for a sitcom called ''The Weekenders'' (1992). This was followed by the sketch show ''The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer'' (1993) and ''Shooting Stars'', a comedy panel show. The pilot episode of ''Shooting Stars'' aired in December 1993. After being commissioned, it ran for 5 series between 1995 and 2002, with a special anniversary edition broadcast in December 2008. A 6th series was broadcast in late 2009, followed by a 7th series in mid-2010, and 8th in 2011.

In 1999, their second sketch show was broadcast, ''Bang Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer''. A year later, Mortimer played the part of Jeff Randall in ''Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)'', opposite Reeves and Emilia Fox as Marty and Jeannie Hopkirk.

In 2003, Mortimer and Reeves were listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. In a 2005 poll to find ''The Comedian's Comedian'', they were voted the 9th greatest comedy act of all time by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.

In November 2007, Mortimer appeared as Reeves' hairdresser, Carl, in the weekly radio-based sketch show on BBC Radio 2, entitled ''Vic Reeves' House Arrest''. The first episode was broadcast on 17 November 2007 and the series ran for six episodes.

On 27 February 2008, Reeves announced that he and Mortimer were working together on a new sitcom about super heroes who get their powers through a malfunctioning telegraph pole.

Solo career & appearances

In 1997, in collaboration with Chris Rea, Mortimer recorded Rea's hit "Let's Dance" with his favourite football team, Middlesbrough F.C.. The single reached #44 in the UK charts.

In 1996 / 97, he appeared on an episode of Mash and Peas with Matt Lucas, David Walliams and Reece Shearsmith, in a sketch spoofing Seinfeld, called ''I'm Bland... yet all my friends are krazy!''.

In July 2002, Mortimer fought and defeated Les Dennis in the BBC's first ''Celebrity Boxing'' match, as part of Sport Relief 2002.

In 2002, Mortimer presented the Channel 4 list show ''The 100 Greatest World Cup Moments of All Time!. An updated show, again hosted by Mortimer, was broadcast by the channel in 2010, to coincide with the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

He produced and presented the second match, ''The Fight'', a year later, which saw Grant Bovey versus Ricky Gervais.

In 2005, he hosted his first major TV series without Vic Reeves, a comedy panel game for BBC One, called ''29 Minutes of Fame'', which featured regular guests such as Jo Brand.

Also in 2005, Mortimer voiced the character of Father Nicholas in the animated BBC Three series ''Popetown''. The show was not broadcast by the channel, for fear of offending Catholic viewers, though it saw a DVD release later that year.

Mortimer co-wrote the hit BBC Three television sketch comedy ''Tittybangbang'' with Jill Parker. ''Tittybangbang'' starred Lucy Montgomery and Debbie Chazen, with Tony Way, and ran for three series between 2006 and 2007.

He has appeared on BBC Two panel show ''Never Mind the Buzzcocks'' on 3 occasions to date - in 1996 as a team-mate of Sean Hughes; in 2000 as a team-mate of Phil Jupitus; and in 2008 as a team captain.

In April 2010, he appeared on the Sky1 panel show ''A League of Their Own'', as a team-mate of Andrew Flintoff.

Mortimer is now penning his first novel, provisionally titled "Have Her Over My Hedge (You've Never Trimmed It)", with Charlie Higson.

He is currently writing a sitcom for the BBC, which will star Mackenzie Crook and Iain Lee.

Personal life

Mortimer is married to Lisa Matthews and has two children, Harry (b. March 1997) and Tom (b. August 1998). He lives in Dover, Kent.

Mortimer suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, which gives him great pain when he is stressed, especially before making a TV series or embarking on a tour. On those occasions, he controls the illness with steroids.

Mortimer is a life long fan of Middlesbrough F.C.

References

Category:1959 births Category:English comedians Category:English television presenters Category:Alumni of the University of Leicester Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex Category:People from Middlesbrough Category:Never Mind the Buzzcocks Category:English solicitors

name	Steve Coogan
birth date	October 14, 1965
birth place	Middleton, Lancashire, England, UK
birth name	Stephen John Coogan
spouse	Caroline Hickman(m. 2002–2005; divorced)
occupation	Actor, Comedian, Writer, Producer
relatives	Brendan Coogan, Martin Coogan (brothers) }}

Stephen John "Steve" Coogan (born 14 October 1965) is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Middleton, Lancashire, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show ''Spitting Image.'' In the early 1990s, Coogan began creating original comic characters which he presented in stage shows, this led to him winning the 1992 Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, for his show with long-time collaborator John Thomson. The most prominent characters he developed at this time were Paul Calf, a stereotypical lower class Mancunian and his sister the promiscuous Pauline (played by Coogan in drag).

Working with Chris Morris, Patrick Marber and Armando Iannucci for ''On The Hour'' and ''The Day Today'', Coogan developed his most popular and most developed character; Alan Partridge, a socially awkward and politically incorrect regional media personality, who developed to feature in his own eponymous television series, ''Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge'' and ''I'm Alan Partridge'', which were well received and were nominated for five BAFTAs in total. Outside the UK, Coogan is better known for his roles in films including ''24 Hour Party People'', ''The Wind in the Willows'', ''Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief'', ''Night at the Museum'', ''Tropic Thunder'', ''Hamlet 2'', ''A Cock and Bull Story'', ''The Trip'' and ''The Other Guys''.

On 22 November 2011, Coogan, along with Hugh Grant, gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry on phone hacking, favouring regulation of the press.

Early life

Coogan is one of seven children born to Kathleen (née Coonan), a housewife, and Anthony Coogan, an IBM engineer. He was born in his parents' house and brought up in Alkrington, a suburb of Middleton, north of Manchester, in an Irish working class family. Coogan was brought up as a Roman Catholic. He had a happy childhood growing up with four brothers and two sisters, and in addition his parents fostered children on a short-term basis, sometimes accommodating two or three foster children at a time. Coogan had a talent for impersonation, and wanted to go to drama school, despite being advised by a teacher that it could lead to a precarious profession.

He went to five interviews for drama school in London, and then – after gaining confidence by joining a theatre company in Manchester called New Music – gained a place at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre. Coogan's brother Martin was the vocalist and wrote the music for The Mock Turtles, a successful indie rock band in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Career

Coogan started out as a comic and mimic in Ipswich, as well as doing voice-over work for adverts and impressions on ''Spitting Image''. In 1988, he did impressions of Prince Charles which featured on the Urban label release "Don't Believe the Hype" by acid house artist Mista E. The impressions were also used as jingles in 1988-89 on the BBC Radio 1 FM Friday night dance music show ''Jeff Young's Big Beat''. In 1993 Coogan starred alongside Caroline Aherne and John Thomson in a one-off Granada TV sketch show ''The Dead Good Show''.

Alan Partridge

Coogan collaborated with Chris Morris and Armando Iannucci, amongst others, on the Radio 4 comedy show ''On the Hour'', where he helped give birth to his most famous creation, Alan Partridge. Alan went on to have his own radio show, as well as appearing on TV in ''The Day Today'' and his own chat show, ''Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge''. In 1997, he returned with the sitcom ''I'm Alan Partridge'', which was followed by a second series in 2002. Partridge was part of Coogan's 2008 stand-up tour, and an Alan Partridge film is in production and will be released in 2013.

Other TV roles

''Paul Calf'' first began as a character named 'Duncan Disorderly' in Coogan's early stand-up routines. Calf first came to wider public notice in 1993, with several appearances on ''Saturday Zoo'', a late-night variety show presented by Jonathan Ross on Channel 4. Paul has appeared in two video diaries, an episode of ''Coogan's Run'', and in various stand-up performances. He is an unemployed Manchester wastrel with a particular hatred of students. His catchphrase is "Bag o' shite". Paul lives in a council house in the fictional town of Ottle with his mother and his sister, Pauline Calf (also played by Coogan). His father died some time before the first video diary was made. For a long time he was obsessed with getting back together with his ex-girlfriend, Julie. Paul's best friend is "Fat" Bob (played by John Thomson), a car mechanic who eventually married Pauline. Paul supports Manchester City and is very partial to Wagon Wheels. He wears Burton suits, sports a bleached mullet and drives a Ford Cortina.

Other Coogan creations include Tommy Saxondale, Duncan Thicket and Portuguese Eurovision winner Tony Ferrino. Duncan Thicket has appeared in a tour of live shows. Other TV shows he has starred in include ''Coogan's Run'', ''Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible'', ''Monkey Trousers'' and ''Saxondale''. Coogan has provided voices for the animated series ''I Am Not an Animal'' and ''Bob and Margaret'', the one-off BBC2 comedy about sheep ''Combat Sheep'', two Christmas specials starring ''Robbie the Reindeer'', and an episode of the BBC Radio Four spoof sci-fi series ''Nebulous''.

During the 1989 series of The Krypton Factor, Coogan was invited to participate in a series of mini-films for the observation round.

He starred in BBC2's ''The Private Life of Samuel Pepys'' in 2003, and ''Cruise of the Gods'' in 2002. In 2006, he had a cameo in the ''Little Britain'' Christmas special as a pilot taking Lou and Andy to Disneyland. In 2007, Coogan played a psychiatrist on HBO's ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'', and in 2008, starred in the BBC1 drama ''Sunshine''.

In 2010, he reunited with actor Rob Brydon and director Michael Winterbottom (both of whom he had worked with on the 2006 film ''A Cock and Bull Story'' (see Film Roles below)), for the partially improvised BBC2 sitcom ''The Trip'', in which he and Brydon do a tour of northern restaurants, which he is writing up for the Observer. ''The Trip'' was nominated for a 2011 Television BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy, and Coogan won Best Male Performance in a Comedy Role.

He provided the voices of Philip Masterson-Bowie (a horse) and Mark Andrews (a sparrow) for animated comedy series ''I Am Not an Animal''. He was also the voice of Satan on ''Neighbors from Hell''.

In December 2011, Coogan voiced Roger Mellie and Tracey Tunstall of the Fat Slags in three Viz ''Comedy Blaps'' for Channel 4. He voiced a cruise-ship director in a April 2012 episode of ''The Simpsons''.

Film roles

Notable film roles include Factory Records boss Tony Wilson in the film ''24 Hour Party People'', Mole in Terry Jones' ''The Wind in the Willows'', Phileas Fogg in a comical version of Jules Verne's ''Around the World in 80 Days'' from Disney, with Jackie Chan, Ambassador Mercy in ''Marie Antoinette'', Bruce Tick in ''Sweet Revenge'', and Octavius in ''Night at the Museum''. He has also played himself three times on screen. First, in one of the vignettes of Jim Jarmusch's 2003 film ''Coffee and Cigarettes'', alongside Alfred Molina. Second, in 2006 Coogan starred with Rob Brydon in Michael Winterbottom's ''A Cock and Bull Story'', a self-referential film of the "unfilmable" self-referential novel ''Tristram Shandy'' by Laurence Sterne. In the film, Coogan plays a fictional, womanizing version of himself. Thirdly he played himself in the 2010 film ''The Trip''. He worked again with director Winterbottom in ''King of Soho'', about '50s porn-king Paul Raymond.

The first film, which he co-wrote with Henry Normal, was ''The Parole Officer''. He also acted in this alongside Ben Miller and Lena Headey. Coogan has an uncredited cameo in ''Hot Fuzz'', scripted by ''Shaun of the Dead'' writers Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright. He stars as a failed actor turned high school drama teacher in the 2008 film ''Hamlet 2'' and had a role in ''Tropic Thunder'', playing the inexperienced director. In 2009, he also starred as a lying reporter in'' What Goes Up'' with Olivia Thirlby, Molly Shannon and Hilary Duff. Also recently, he appeared in ''Finding Amanda'' alongside Brittany Snow and Matthew Broderick, returned as Octavius in ''Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian'', and played Hades in ''Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief''.

Achievements

Coogan's show ''Steve Coogan in character with John Thomson'' was winner of the Perrier Award for best show at the 1992 Edinburgh Fringe. He has won numerous awards for his work in TV including British Comedy Awards, BAFTAs and The South Bank Show award for comedy. In 2003, he was listed in ''The Observer'' as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. In 2005, a poll to find the ''Comedians' Comedian'' saw him being voted amongst the top 20 greatest comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.

Stand-up comedy comeback tour

In March 2008, it was confirmed that Coogan would return to doing stand-up comedy as part of his first stand-up tour in ten years. The tour, named "Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge and other less successful characters", saw the return of some of his old characters including Paul Calf and Alan Partridge. Reviews of the opening night were mixed. and such reviews continued as the tour progressed. Much of the criticism focused on the apparent unrehearsed quality and nervous stage presence of Coogan's performance. Chortle comedy guide wrote "Steve Coogan’s stage comeback after ten years is most definitely a show of two halves: the superlative Alan Partridge plus a collection of characters that are not only less successful, but woefully less funny."

Production work

Coogan, along with writing partner Henry Normal, founded Baby Cow Productions in 1999. Together they are the executive producers for such shows as ''The Mighty Boosh'', starring Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt, ''Nighty Night'', starring Julia Davis, ''Marion and Geoff'', starring Rob Brydon, "Gavin and Stacey" starring Ruth Jones, James Corden, Joanna Page, Mathew Horne and Rob Brydon, and ''Human Remains'', starring Davis and Brydon. Baby Cow Productions' latest venture is ''Where Are the Joneses'', an online sitcom which uses wiki technology to allow the audience to upload scripts and storyline ideas.

In the media

Coogan said he "liked to keep himself private", adding; "I have never wanted to be famous, as such - fame is a by-product," He has been a popular target of the British tabloid press since 1996, who he stated have subjected him to entrapment and blackmail, printed obvious falsehoods about him, also targeting his family and friends in attempts to extract stories from them. Coogan in some cases gave a strong denial to allegations, but in others did not contest them because he wanted to shield vulnerable friends from adverse publicity. The tabloids also published intrusive information about his relationships and the schooling of his child. Coogan has also been critical of the broadsheet press, saying they have colluded with the tabloids in the interests of selling newspapers. In 2005 he said "''The Guardian'' tends to have its cake and eat it. It waits for the tabloids to dish the dirt and then it talks about the tabloids dishing the dirt while enjoying it themselves." However Coogan later gave credit to the same newspaper for its investigation of the phone hacking scandal. Coogan said that because of the persistent intrusion into his private life, the press had effectively made him "immune" to further attack, as his "closet is empty of skeletons".

Phone hacking

Coogan became a prominent figure in the News International phone hacking scandal as one of the celebrities who took action against the British tabloids in light of these events. He was made aware by his phone service provider of "possible anomalies" on his phone around the time in 2005 and 2006 In 2010 Coogan's legal firm obtained a partially redacted version of Glenn Mulcaire's hacking notebook by a court order which showed Coogan had been targeted and his personal information was in the possession of Mulcaire. Mulcaire was forced by the High Court of Justice to disclose to Coogan's legal team who amongst the staff at the News of the World ordered him to hack phones. This information was obtained by Coogan's lawyers on the 26th August 2011. Interviewed on ''Newsnight'' on 8 July 2011, Coogan said he was "delighted" by the closure of the News of the World and said it was a "fantastic day for journalism". He said the idea of press freedom was used by the tabloids as a "smokescreen for selling papers with tittle-tattle" and said the argument against press regulation was "morally bankrupt" Coogan provided an 8-page witness statement to the Leveson Inquiry and appeared at the inquiry on 22 November 2011 to discuss the evidence. He said he was there reluctantly representing a lot of celebrities who felt they could not speak out for fear of reprisals from the tabloid press.

Personal life

One of Coogan's brothers, Brendan, is a former ''Top Gear'' presenter, and another, Martin, was the lead singer of the early 1990s band The Mock Turtles. All the brothers attended the Cardinal Langley RC High School.

Coogan married Caroline Hickman in 2002, the couple divorced in 2005. He lives in Brighton to be close to Clare, his daughter from a previous relationship.

Coogan reportedly has a wealth of £5 million and supports the Labour Party.

A well noted car enthusiast, he has had a succession of Ferraris, but stopped buying them after realising that the depreciation and running costs were greater than hiring a private plane. He helped Jeremy Clarkson test a Ferrari 575M against an Aston Martin Vanquish S on the fifth series of ''Top Gear''. Coogan drives one of the final air-cooled Porsche 911 Carrera 4s.

In 2011, Coogan purchased the 8 bedroom manor Ovingdean Grange for a reported £2.45 million. He lives with partner Anna Cole and his daughter

Filmography

Feature Films

Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes
	1989	''Resurrected (film)	Resurrected''	Youth 2
	1995	''The Indian in the Cupboard (film)	The Indian in the Cupboard''	Tommy Atkins
	1996	''The Wind in the Willows (1996 film)	The Wind in the Willows''	Mole
	1998	''Sweet Revenge (1998 film)	Sweet Revenge''	Bruce Tick
	2001	''The Parole Officer''	Simon Garden	Also WriterNominated – BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer
	2002	''24 Hour Party People''	Tony Wilson
	2003	''Coffee and Cigarettes''	Steve	Segment: Cousins?
		Heston the snake	Voice Only
	Phileas Fogg
		Charley
''A Cock and Bull Story''	Tristram Shandy/ Walter Shandy/ Steve Coogan
	''The Alibi''	Ray Elliot
''Night at the Museum''	Octavius
		Graham
''Hot Fuzz''	Metropolitan Police Inspector	Uncredited
	''Finding Amanda''	Michael Henry
''Tales of the Riverbank''	Roderick	Voice Only
''Tropic Thunder''	Damien Cockburn
''Hamlet 2''	Dana Marschz
	''What Goes Up''	Campbell Babbitt	Also Producer
	Paul Michaelson	Chlotrudis Award for Best Cast
''Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian''	Octavius
	''Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief''	Hades
''The Other Guys''	David Ershon
	Raisin	Voice Only
		Steve Coogan
''Our Idiot Brother''	Dylan
	''King of Soho''
	''Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters''	Hades
Untitled Alan Partridge movie	Alan Partridge

Television

Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes
	1987	''Spitting Image''	Various Characters	Voice Only3 Episodes
	''The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer''	Lead Singer of Go West	1 Episode
	Stebbings	2 Episodes
''Saturday Zoo''	Paul Calf
	1994	''The Day Today''	Various Characters	7 EpisodesAlso Writer
	1995	''Coogan's Run''	Various Characters	6 EpisodesAlso Writer
	1994-1995	''Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (TV series)	Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge''	Alan Partridge	7 EpisodesAlso Writer
	1996	''Tales from the Crypt (TV series)	Tales from the Crypt''	Danny Skeggs	1 Episode
		Alan Partridge	1 Episode
	Mike Gabbett
	1997-2002	''I'm Alan Partridge''	Alan Partridge	12 EpisodesAlso Writer
	1998	''Bob and Margaret''	Various Characters	1 Episode
	''Hooves of Fire''	Blitzen	Voice Only
''Mrs Merton and Malcolm''	Various Characters	4 Episodes
	''Combat Sheep''	Cmdr. Harris	Voice OnlyAlso Executive Producer
''A Small Summer Party''	Geoff	Also Executive Producer
''Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible''	Various Characters	6 EpisodesAlso Writer/Executive Producer
	2002	''Cruise of the Gods''	Nick Lee	Also Executive Producer
	2003	''The Private Life of Samuel Pepys''	Samuel Pepys	Also Executive Producer
	2004	''I Am Not An Animal''	Various Characters	Voice Only6 EpisodesAlso Executive Producer
	2005	''Monkey Trousers''	Various Characters	5 EpisodesAlso Executive Producer
	2006	''Little Britain''	Pilot	1 Episode
	2006-2007	''Saxondale''	Tommy Saxondale	13 EpisodesAlso Writer/Executive Producer
	2007	''Curb Your Enthusiasm''	Dr. Bright	1 Episode
	2008	''Sunshine (UK TV series)	Sunshine''	Bing Cosby	3 Episodes
		Steve	6 Episodes
''Neighbors from Hell''	Satan	6 Episodes
	2010-2011	''Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge''	Alan Partridge	12 EpisodesAlso Writer
	2012	''The Simpsons''	Rowan Priddis	1 Episode"A Totally Fun Thing That Bart Will Never Do Again"

Awards and nominations

Edinburgh Comedy Awards ''Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (TV series) ''Pauline Calf's Wedding Video'' ''Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge'' ''I'm Alan Partridge'' ''I'm Alan Partridge'' ''I'm Alan Partridge'' ''The Parole Officer'' ''Cruise of the Gods'' ''I'm Alan Partridge'' ''I'm Alan Partridge'' ''24 Hour Party People'' ''24 Hour Party People'' ''Happy Endings (film) ''In the Loop (film) ''The Trip (2010 TV series)

Year !! Nominated For !! Award !! Category !! Result
1992	''In Character With John Thompson''	Perrier Comedy Award ||	Best Comedy Show
1994	Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge'' ||	British Comedy Awards	Best Male TV Performer
1995	|	BAFTAs	Best Comedy Performance
1995	|	BAFTAs	Best Light Entertainment Performance
1998	|	British Comedy Awards	Best TV Comedy Actor
1998	|	BAFTAs	Best Comedy Performance
1998	|	BAFTAs	Best Comedy (Programme or Series)
2002	|	BAFTAs	BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer
2003	|	British Comedy Awards	Best TV Comedy Actor
2003	|	BAFTAs	Best Comedy Performance
2003	|	Royal Television Society	Best Comedy Performance
2003	|	Empire Awards	Best British Actor
2003	|	Online Film Critics Society	Best Breakthrough Performance
2005	Happy Endings'' ||	Satellite Award	Best Supporting Actor
2010	In the Loop'' ||	Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film>Chlotrudis Award	Chlotrudis Award for Best Cast>Best Cast
2011	The Trip ||	BAFTAs	Best Male Comedy Performance

Awards and Nominations sourced from IMDb http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0176869/awards 2/12/2010

Stand-up VHS and DVDs

''Live 'N' Lewd'' (7 November 1994)

''Live – The Man Who Thinks He's It'' (9 November 1998)

''As Alan Partridge And Other Less Successful Characters – Live'' (30 November 2009)

References

External links

Coming to a cinema near you... Alan Partridge as Our Man in Tashkent

Steve Coogan: From a Partridge to 'Cock and Bull Fresh Air interview by Terry Gross

Steve Coogan on BBC Radio Desert Island Discs

Evidence to the Leveson Inquiry

Profile on Chortle

Category:1965 births Category:Alumni of Manchester Metropolitan University Category:English male comedians Category:English actors Category:English comedians Category:English film actors Category:English impressionists (entertainers) Category:English people of Irish descent Category:English socialists Category:English television actors Category:English voice actors Category:Living people Category:People from Middleton, Greater Manchester

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