Edward Stephenson Gamble (born 10 March 1986) is an English comedian and television presenter. He is best known for co-presenting the '' Off Menu'' podcast with
James Acaster
James William Acaster (; born 9 January 1985) is an English comedian, presenter, podcaster and actor. As well as the stand-up specials ''James Acaster: Repertoire, Repertoire'' and ''Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999'', he is known for co-hosting ...
as well as his appearances on comedy panel shows including ''
Mock the Week
''Mock the Week'' is a topical satirical celebrity panel show, created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson. It was produced by Angst Productions for BBC Two, and was broadcast from 5 June 2005 to 4 November 2022. Presenter Dara Ó Briain and pan ...
'' and '' Taskmaster''. He studied at Hatfield College, Durham University, where he began his comedy career performing with the Durham Revue, and was a finalist in the 2007 Chortle Student Comedy Awards.
Early life and family
Gamble was brought up in
Wandsworth
Wandsworth Town () is a district of south London, within the London Borough of Wandsworth southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.
Toponymy
Wandsworth takes its name ...
and
Raynes Park
Raynes Park is a residential suburb, railway station and local centre near Wimbledon, London, and is within the London Borough of Merton. It is situated southwest of Wimbledon Common, to the northwest of Wimbledon Chase and to the east of Ne ...
, southwest London. His mother, a nurse and health visitor for the
NHS
The National Health Service (NHS) is the term for the publicly funded health care, publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom: the National Health Service (England), NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and Health and Social Care (Northern ...
, and father, a solicitor, separated when he was four; he was raised mainly by his mother. He has a younger half-sister and a younger half-brother on his father's side.
He attended Highfield School and Nursery in
Wandsworth
Wandsworth Town () is a district of south London, within the London Borough of Wandsworth southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.
Toponymy
Wandsworth takes its name ...
and later
King's College School
King's College School, also known as Wimbledon, KCS, King's and KCS Wimbledon, is a Private schools in the United Kingdom, private Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Wimbledon, London, Wimbledon, southwest London, England. The s ...
, a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...
day school for boys in
Wimbledon
Wimbledon most often refers to:
* Wimbledon, London, a district of southwest London
* Wimbledon Championships, the oldest tennis tournament in the world and one of the four Grand Slam championships
Wimbledon may also refer to:
Places London
* W ...
. At school, he "used humour as a defence mechanism". He said that "there's no way that people could make jokes about my weight if I was making them myself, faster and better. Aside from losing weight, this was the best way to ward off bullying, and there was no way I was going to lose weight. I loved food."
He attended
Durham University
Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament (UK), Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by r ...
, where he studied philosophy and met fellow comedians
Nish Kumar
Nishant Kumar (born 1985) is a British stand-up comedian, television presenter and podcaster. He became known as the host of ''The Mash Report'' on BBC Two and U&Dave, Dave. He has also presented ''Newsjack'' on BBC Radio 4 Extra, ''Joel Domme ...
,
Nick Mohammed
Nicholas George Mohammed is a British actor, comedian and writer. He has portrayed the character Mr. Swallow across both stage and television for over a decade. He is the creator of the Sky One comedy series ''Intelligence (British TV series), ...
, and Tom Neenan. He was a member of
Hatfield College
Hatfield College is one of the constituent colleges of Durham University in England. It occupies a city centre site above the River Wear on the World Heritage Site peninsula, lying adjacent to North Bailey and only a short distance from Durha ...
.
Before working full time as a comedian, Gamble worked jobs that included short stints of manual labouring,
data entry
Data entry is the process of digitizing data by entering it into a computer system for organization and management purposes. It is a person-based process and is "one of the important basic" tasks needed when no machine-readable version of the in ...
, and working at the Raynes Park Tavern (since refurbished), a pub that was "surprisingly dangerous for the area" and "on more than one occasion when I arrived for work there was an ambulance parked outside. (...) One night I arrived for work and literally had to step over a pool of blood outside the door."
Career
Gamble's early work was alongside
Ray Peacock
Richard Ian Boldsworth (27 June 1973, in Warrington, England), previously known by the stage name Ray Peacock, is an English comic performer, best known for '' The ParaPod'', ''The Peacock and Gamble Podcast'' and ''The Ray Peacock Podcast.'' ...
, with whom he presented two different series of ''
The Peacock and Gamble Podcast
''The Peacock and Gamble Podcast'' was a weekly podcast hosted by British comedians Ray Peacock and Ed Gamble. Hosted on Chortle.co.uk and accessible via iTunes and RSS, the show started in 2009 as a spiritual sequel to the ''Ray Peacock Podcas ...
'', totalling over 100 episodes. He also appeared on television, performing a 15-minute set on the extended version of ''
Russell Howard's Good News
''Russell Howard's Good News'' is a British comedy and topical news television show which was broadcast on BBC Three between 2009 and 2014, and on BBC Two between 2014 and 2015. Hosted by comedian Russell Howard, it offered his commentary on th ...
'' on
BBC Three
BBC Three is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was first launched on 9 February 2003 with programmes for a 16 to 34-year-old target aud ...
in late 2010. He performed with Peacock at the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as the Edinburgh Fringe, the Fringe or the Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest performance arts festival, which in 2024 spanned 25 days, sold more than 2.6 million tickets and featur ...
in 2011, 2012 and 2013, as well as supporting Greg Davies on his successful ''Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog'' Tour in 2011. Gamble also recorded a series of radio shows with Peacock on FUBAR Radio.
In 2014, Gamble debuted solo at Edinburgh Fringe with the show ''Gambletron 5000'', returning in 2015 with ''Lawman'' and in 2016 with ''Stampede''. His stand-up performances contain much observational comedy, often aimed at himself, including discussion of his
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D), formerly known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system destroys pancreatic cells (beta cells). In healthy persons, beta cells produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone require ...
, which he was diagnosed with at 13; he chose that as the central topic of his 2018 Edinburgh Fringe show ''Blizzard'' and his
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video, known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming television service owned by Amazon. The service primarily distributes films and television series produced or co-produced by ...
special ''Blood Sugar''.
Gamble was a regular panellist on the BBC panel show ''
Mock the Week
''Mock the Week'' is a topical satirical celebrity panel show, created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson. It was produced by Angst Productions for BBC Two, and was broadcast from 5 June 2005 to 4 November 2022. Presenter Dara Ó Briain and pan ...
'' from July 2015. In the same year, he appeared with Amy Hoggart in '' Almost Royal'', a faux-reality show on
BBC America
BBC America is an American basic cable network that is owned by AMC Networks. The channel primarily airs sci-fi and action series and films, as well as selected programs from the BBC (such as its nature documentary series).
Unlike the BBC's ...
, in which the two portrayed aristocratic siblings Georgie and Poppy Carlton. The first series aired on E4 in the UK and was followed by a second series in 2016. He guest-hosted the '' Elis James and John Robins Show'' on Radio X in 2017 and 2018. Since 2018, Gamble has presented the podcast '' Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster'' with fellow comedian
James Acaster
James William Acaster (; born 9 January 1985) is an English comedian, presenter, podcaster and actor. As well as the stand-up specials ''James Acaster: Repertoire, Repertoire'' and ''Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999'', he is known for co-hosting ...
as well as a weekly Radio X show with Matthew Crosby since 2019.
Gamble won the ninth series of '' Taskmaster'' in 2019. In 2022, Gamble featured in the second "Champions of Champions" special with fellow winners from series six to ten:
Liza Tarbuck
Liza Tarbuck ( ; born 21 November 1964) is an English actress, comedian, and television and radio presenter.
Early life
Liza Tarbuck was born in Liverpool and grew up near Kingston upon Thames. She is the daughter of comedian Jimmy Tarbuck an ...
,
Kerry Godliman
Kerry Anna Godliman (born 17 November 1973) is an English actress and comedian. She has appeared in TV roles in ''Derek (TV series), Derek'', ''Bad Move'', and ''After Life (TV series), After Life''.
Early life
Godliman was born born 17 Novem ...
Richard Herring
Richard Keith Herring (born 12 July 1967) is an English stand-up comedian and writer whose early work includes the comedy double act Lee and Herring (alongside Stewart Lee). He is described by ''The British Theatre Guide'' as "one of the leadin ...
. He finished in last place. In October 2020, Gamble began presenting ''Taskmaster The Podcast'', the official
podcast
A podcast is a Radio program, program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. Typically, a podcast is an Episode, episodic series of digital audio Computer file, files that users can download to a personal device or str ...
companion to the TV show, following the series' move to
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
from
Dave
Dave may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Dave'' (film), a 1993 film starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver
* ''Dave'' (musical), a 2018 stage musical adaptation of the 1993 film
* ''Dave'' (TV series), a 2020 American comedy series
* ...
. In 2023, Gamble hosted a non-broadcast pilot of ''Foodmaster'', a food-themed spin-off of ''Taskmaster''.
In 2020, Gamble narrated adverts for second hand car website
Cazoo
Cazoo is a British automotive online marketplace and classified advertising business based in Richmond, London, Richmond, London. Cazoo is currently owned by MOTORS, following its acquisition from Cazoo Holdings Limited by O3 Industries and Novum ...
.
In 2020, Gamble was a guest judge on ''
Great British Menu
''Great British Menu'' is a BBC television series in which top British chefs compete for the chance to cook one course of a four-course banquet.
Format
Series one and two were presented by Jennie Bond, the former BBC Royal correspondent, where ...
'' and, in February 2022, he became one of the judges for Series 17, 18 and 19.
In May 2022, Gamble was announced as one of six rotating co-hosts joining
Alexander Armstrong
Alexander Henry Fenwick Armstrong (born 2 March 1970) is an English actor, comedian, radio personality, television presenter, singer and farmer. He is the host of the BBC One game show ''Pointless'', and is a weekday morning-show presenter on C ...
on ''
Pointless
''Pointless'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British television quiz show produced by Banijay Entertainment subsidiary Remarkable Entertainment for the BBC and hosted by Alexander Armstrong. In each episode, four teams of two contestan ...
'' to replace
Richard Osman
Richard Osman (born 28 November 1970) is an English television presenter, producer, and novelist. He is the creator and former co-presenter of the BBC One television quiz show ''Pointless''. He has presented the BBC Two quiz shows ''Two Tribes ( ...
, alongside
Sally Lindsay
Sally Jane Lindsay (born 8 July 1973) is an English actress and television presenter. She rose to fame playing Shelley Unwin in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' (2001–2006). Her other roles include Lisa Johnson in the Sky ...
,
Konnie Huq
Konnie Huq (born Kanak Asha Huq ; on 17 July 1975) is a British television and radio presenter, screenwriter and children's author. She became the longest-serving female presenter of the British children's television programme '' Blue Peter'', ...
,
Lauren Laverne
Lauren Cecilia Fisher (née Gofton; born 28 April 1978), known professionally as Lauren Laverne, is an English radio DJ, model, television presenter, author and singer. She was the lead singer and guitarist in the alternative rock band Kenicki ...
,
Alex Brooker
Alexander James Brooker (born 15 May 1984) is an English journalist and presenter best known for his television work with Channel 4.
Since 2012, Brooker has co-hosted ''The Last Leg'', a Channel 4 panel show with Adam Hills and Josh Widdicombe ...
and
Stephen Mangan
Stephen James Mangan (born 16 May 1968) is a British actor, comedian, presenter and writer. He has played Guy Secretan in '' Green Wing'', Dan Moody in '' I'm Alan Partridge'', Seán Lincoln in ''Episodes'', Bigwig in ''Watership Down'', Postma ...
.
Gamble appeared with Acaster on the fifth series of '' Celebrity Hunted'' (2023), which tasked participants with evading "Hunters" around the UK for a fortnight. During their appearance they ate in a
Michelin star
The ''Michelin Guides'' ( ; ) are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The ''Guide'' awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few restaurants in certain geographic ...
red restaurant, called into Gamble's Radio X programme, and released a video mocking the Hunters. Acaster also gave Gamble a tattoo. Gamble escaped after Acaster goaded the Hunters to the ''Taskmaster'' house and squirted them with a water gun. Gamble met with his wife and hid in a brewery and a climbing centre, but was caught soon after.
In 2022, Gamble toured the UK with his stand-up show ''Electric''. In 2024, a poster advertising Gamble's ''Hot Diggity Dog'' tour fell foul of
Transport for London
Transport for London (TfL) is a local government body responsible for most of the transport network in London, United Kingdom.
TfL is the successor organization of the London Passenger Transport Board, which was established in 1933, and His ...
hot dog
A hot dog is a grilled, steamed, or boiled sausage served in the slit of a partially sliced bun. The term ''hot dog'' can also refer to the sausage itself. The sausage used is a wiener ( Vienna sausage) or a frankfurter ( Frankfurter Würs ...
was replaced with a
cucumber
The cucumber (''Cucumis sativus'') is a widely-cultivated creeping vine plant in the family Cucurbitaceae that bears cylindrical to spherical fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables.
In January 2024, he hosted ''The Traitors: Uncloaked'', which was a visual podcast that accompanied the second series of ''The Traitors''. It returned with Gamble as host for the
third series
Third or 3rd may refer to:
Numbers
* 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3
* , a fraction of one third
* 1⁄60 of a ''second'', i.e., the third in a series of fractional parts in a sexagesimal number system
Places
* 3rd Street (dis ...
in January 2025. His most recent tour, ''Hot Diggity Dog'', included an Autumn tour extension with 85 UK dates and an Australia and New Zealand leg of the tour starting on 15April 2024.
Personal life
Gamble has
type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D), formerly known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system destroys pancreatic cells (beta cells). In healthy persons, beta cells produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone require ...
, which he has addressed as part of his performances.
Gamble married TV producer and Supermilk member Charlie Jamison on 9 September 2021, after postponing three times due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. The couple have been together since 2011 and live in London.