Jack Whitehall
Biography
Life Story
Jack Whitehall was a child actor in various television dramas, but decided to pursue stand-up comedy after leaving school. He was a finalist in the So You Think You're Funny talent hunt at last year's Edinburgh Fringe, and was nominated for best newcomer at this year's Chortle Awards. In December 2012 he was awarded the title King of Comedy by the British Comedy Awards, perhaps his most prestigious award yet.
Family
No info available
Trivia
Placed second in the Laughing Horse new act competition 2007 and finalist in the So You Think You're Funny? new act competition the same year. Nominated for best newcomer in the 2008 Chortle awards.
His father is the agent and producer Michael Whitehall and his mother the actress Hilary Gish.
As a teenager, Jack was commissioned to paint a picture of Gyles Brandreth's cat.
Former classmate of Robert Pattinson. He has publicly described his experience of this with his appearances on Live at the Apollo (2004) and The Graham Norton Show (2007).
Auditioned for the title character of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001).
Since 2012 has been a regular panelist on the game show A League of Their Own.
Has 2 siblings - Barnaby William Whitehall (born in 1992) and Molly Louisa Whitehall (born in 1989).
His comedy hero is Jack Dee, having briefly met him as a teenager.
Attended the University of Manchester for two terms only, to study History of Art.
Partner of actress Gemma Chan since 2011.
Born in the Portland Hospital in the City of Westminster in central London.
Has two godfathers - the late Richard Griffiths and Nigel Havers.
Attend the Dragon School in Oxford and then Marlborough College, a public school in Wiltshire.
Hosts Backchat with his father, Michael Whitehall, who was an agent for Judi Dench, Colin Firth and Richard Griffiths, and wrote the memoir Shark-Infested Waters.
Attended Tower House School in East Sheen, west London.
Nominated for best newcomer in the 2008 Chortle awards.
Personal Quotes
I don't like comedians who don't have conviction, and with stand-up, it is always best to have an angle.
I wish I was a bit shorter, as I think shorter people have better walks. Freddie Fox, the actor, is shorter than me and has an amazing gait; and Tom Cruise has a brilliant run. I'm just gangly.
I hope people think of me as a bit older. I do have a beard. That makes me look very old.
I think people respect honesty rather than hiding it.
If I'm in an uncomfortable situation, I think I can say something funny to defuse it. Sometimes you can't.
I've definitely become smuttier. When I first started out, I had these aspirations: 'I'm not going to do jokes about anything crude because I'm bigger and better than that.' But then, I don't know... It makes me laugh, so I started doing it.
My mother giving birth to me was just like Lady Sybil giving birth, except that there wasn't such a tragic ending.
Live stand-up is my thing. I love being on stage and just messing around.
I like to think I'm a bit smarter than I sometimes let on.
I'm very conscious of other people's opinions and of people not liking me.
Society is so divided in its perception of public school people. Most people who went to public school behave in the right way, but every now and then there will be someone who comes along and ruins it.
Once you start doing a lot, you don't ever want to stop working. It feels weird if you're not doing something.
I vote for whoever will annoy my dad.
My dad doesn't hug me enough!
I'd like to scale back the television. I'm constantly told that I'm over-exposed, and I don't want to end up like Carol Vorderman.
I eat healthily, as it keeps my energy up.
I want to write a film. I need to think of the right idea and focus on that; I love writing.
When I was younger, I was insecure for about 10 years: I wore glasses, had a cow's lick, buck teeth and braces. I looked ridiculous.
If I could look like anyone, it would be Jamie Redknapp - even up close, he's amazing.
I'm not actually posh; I'm really rough and from the wrong side of the tracks. I grew up in Putney, which is pretty rough.
For the first six months of my stand-up career, I was talking like Danny Dyer. I was doing a lot of 'alright guvnors?' It wasn't true to who I was.
Part of doing stand-up is to get things off your chest. It's a bit like being in a psychiatrist's chair - but more enjoyable.
I acted at school but got very bad parts - things that they'd made up in Shakespeare plays like 'Guard 17' - so I wrote plays and gave myself parts, then I wrote sketches, then I did stand-up. Even in the school nativity I was the emu in the manger.
