John Thomson (comedian)

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John Thomson (comedian) bigraphy, stories - British comedian

John Thomson (comedian) : biography

2 April 1969 –

John Patrick Thomson (born Patrick Francis McAleer on 2 April 1969) is an English comedian and actor, known for his roles in The Fast Show and Cold Feet.

Early life

Thomson was born in 1969 in Salford, Lancashire to Mary McAleer, who gave him up for adoption six weeks later. He was adopted from the Catholic Children’s Rescue Society. by Andrew and Marita Thomson, a businessman and a bookseller from Didsbury.BBC Northern Ireland (2004) . Retrieved on 2007-02-17Hockney, Karen (2002) , The Sun. Retrieved on 2007-02-17 He has one younger brother, Ben (born to his adoptive parents).Cooke, Rachel (2003-05-11) , The Observer. Retrieved on 2007-02-17 He attended All Hallows Catholic High School near Preston, leaving with three O-levels. He then attended Runshaw College between 1985 and 1987, studying for four A-levels, including theatre studies. He was described as "clearly [having] a talent for comedy".Shimmon, Katie (2006-06-06) , Guardian Unlimted. Retrieved on 2007-02-17

Following this, he turned down a scholarship in America to study drama at Manchester Polytechnic.

Career

Comedy and television

While at university, Thomson met Steve Coogan, who secured him a job on Spitting Image. They would continue to collaborate on such programmes as The Dead Good Show, a 1993 Granada TV pilot also starring Caroline Aherne, Coogan’s Run, the Paul and Pauline Calf video diaries (where he played ‘Fat Bob’) and Knowing Me, Knowing You… with Alan Partridge, which he also contributed to writing. He also appeared in Coogan’s live shows as compère Bernard Righton and the two would be reunited in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People. The two won the Perrier Comedy Award in 1992 for their act at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Thomson also played supporting roles in the first series of the Stewart Lee and Richard Herring vehicle, Fist of Fun.

In 1994 Thomson appeared in the BBC sketch series The Fast Show, remaining with it until it ended in 2001. Thomson played memorable characters such as Chip Cobb, the deaf stuntman, and Roger the Nouveau football fan, but it is as "Jazz Club" host Louis Balfour that he is most remembered, with the catchphrase, "Nice!"Rampton, James (1999-01-02) , The Independent. Retrieved on 2013-01-31 He also appeared in The Fast Show Live and the spin-off Ted & Ralph.

In 1996 he appeared opposite Maureen Lipman as Bob Acres in The Rivals at the Royal Exchange, Manchester.Wainwright, Jeffrey (1996-02-17) , The Independent. Retrieved on 2007-02-17Bourke, Kevin (2003-04-25) , Manchester Evening News. Retrieved on 2007-02-17

He made guest appearances on various series such as Soldier Soldier and Men Behaving Badly in the 1990s before being cast as Pete Gifford in the ITV comedy drama Cold Feet. Thomson was known to the producers, who had previously cast him in a one-off drama called The Perfect Match. A series was commissioned that ran until 2003 and earned him a nomination for Best TV Comedy Actor at the British Comedy Awards 2001. Granada Television filmed a comedy drama called Stan the Man in 2002 in which Thomson starred as Stanley Tully a would-be entrepreneur. Some of the filming was done in south Manchester suburbs.South Manchester Reporter; 22 March 2002, p. 9

After Cold Feet wrapped, Thomson appeared in the Royal Exchange’s production of Hobson’s Choice (helped by his acclaimed performance in The Rivals). The Independent described his performance as Willie as "an extremely well-judged performance. With the slightest physical gesture and merest facial expression he conveys disbelief, reluctance, panic and finally acceptance of his fate at the hands of manipulative Maggie".Walker, Lynne (2003-05-27) , The Independent. Retrieved on 2007-02-17 His performance led to a Manchester Evening News Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.Anonymous (2003-11-11) , The British Theatre Guide. Retrieved on 2007-02-17