Jeremy James Hardy (17 July 1961 – 1 February 2019) was an English comedian. Born and raised in
Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...
, Hardy studied at the
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton (abbreviated as ''Soton'' in post-nominal letters) is a public university, public research university in Southampton, England. Southampton is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universit ...
and began his stand-up career in the 1980s, going on to win the
Perrier Comedy Award 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 1988. He is best known for his appearances on radio panel shows such as the ''
News Quiz'' and ''
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue''.
Early life
Hardy was born in
Farnborough, Hampshire
Farnborough is a town located in the Rushmoor district of Hampshire, England. It has a population of around 57,486 as of the 2011 census and is an important centre of aviation, engineering and technology. The town is probably best known for it ...
on 17 July 1961,
the fifth and youngest child of rocket scientist Donald D. Hardy (1925–2016) and Sheila Stagg (1924–2012).
He attended
Farnham College and studied
modern history
The modern era or the modern period is considered the current historical period of human history. It was originally applied to the history of Europe and Western history for events that came after the Middle Ages, often from around the year 1500, ...
and politics at the
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton (abbreviated as ''Soton'' in post-nominal letters) is a public university, public research university in Southampton, England. Southampton is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universit ...
.
He subsequently failed to obtain a place on a journalism course, and considered becoming an actor or poet.
[
]
Career
Hardy started scriptwriting before turning to stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a performance directed to a live audience, where the performer stands on a stage (theatre), stage and delivers humour, humorous and satire, satirical monologues sometimes incorporating physical comedy, physical acts. These ...
in London in the early 1980s,[ funded in part by the ]Enterprise Allowance Scheme
The Enterprise Allowance Scheme was an initiative set up by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative UK government which gave a guaranteed income of £40 per week to unemployed people who set up their own business. It was first announced on 13 November 1 ...
. He won the Perrier Comedy Award in 1988 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 ...
.
He made his television debut in the late 1980s, featuring regularly as Jeremy the boom operator in the Rory Bremner-led comedy show '' Now – Something Else'' on BBC Two
BBC Two is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matte ...
, along with guest appearances on programmes including the BBC One
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television b ...
talk show '' Wogan''. He went on to feature in various comedy shows including ''Blackadder Goes Forth
''Blackadder Goes Forth'' is the fourth series of the BBC sitcom ''Blackadder'', written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 28 September to 2 November 1989 on BBC One, BBC1. The series placed the recurring characters of Captain B ...
'' (1989), and presented a television documentary about the political background to the English Civil War
The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...
as well as an edition of ''Top of the Pops
''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British record chart television programme, made by the BBC and broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most of its histo ...
'' in 1996. He was one of the two team captains on the BBC Two game show '' If I Ruled the World'' that ran for two series in 1998–1999.[ Kit Hollerbach featured alongside him in the BBC radio sitcoms '' Unnatural Acts'' and '' At Home with the Hardys''.]
Hardy worked extensively on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
, particularly on '' The News Quiz'', '' I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'' and his long-running series of monologues '' Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation''. His excruciatingly off-key singing was a long-running joke on the radio panel show ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'' — on which he appeared regularly — as well as the spin-off radio series ''You'll Have Had Your Tea: The Doings of Hamish and Dougal''. He appeared in the Radio 4 sitcom '' Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting'', and he also appeared as a panellist on the first and second series of '' QI''. His experiences in Palestine during the Israeli army incursions of 2002 became the subject of a feature documentary '' Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army'' (2003), directed by Leila Sansour. A four-episode series entitled ''Jeremy Hardy Feels It'' was broadcast on Radio 4 in December 2017 to January 2018.
Hardy wrote a regular column for ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' until 2001. He then wrote a column in the ''London Evening Standard
The ''London Standard'', formerly the ''Evening Standard'' (1904–2024) and originally ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), is a long-established regional newspaper published weekly and distributed free of charge in London, England. It is print ...
''s magazine.[ His first book, ''When Did You Last See Your Father'', was published by Methuen in 1992. ''My Family and Other Strangers'', based on his research into his ]family history
Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...
, was published by Ebury Press on 4 March 2010.
An anthology of Hardy's writing, ''Jeremy Hardy Speaks Volumes'', was published in February 2020. It was edited by his wife Katie Barlow and his long-time radio producer David Tyler.
Political views
Hardy was a committed socialist, and a supporter of the Labour Party. He performed at Labour Party rallies and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Bernard Corbyn (; born 26 May 1949) is a British politician who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Islington North (UK Parliament constituency), Islington North since 1983. Now an Independent ...
considered him a "dear, lifelong friend". His comedy embodied his radical politics, including outspoken opposition to former Labour leader Tony Blair
Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. He was Leader ...
– he was conflicted during the Blair and Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. Previously, he was Chancellor of the Ex ...
leadership period, quoted as saying "To me, voting Labour is like wiping your bottom: I can't say I like doing it but you've got to – because you're in a worse mess if you don't." Hardy was banned from voting in Labour internal elections in 2015 because he had also raised funds for the Green Party
A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice.
Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...
. He strongly supported Corbyn in the leadership election of 2015. He was also an outspoken opponent of the Trident programme.
Hardy supported Irish nationalist Róisín McAliskey, the then-pregnant daughter of Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, when the former was accused of involvement in an IRA mortar attack in Germany, and put up part of the bail money to free her. He also supported the campaign to free Danny McNamee, whose conviction for involvement in the Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Provisional IRA), officially known as the Irish Republican Army (IRA; ) and informally known as the Provos, was an Irish republican paramilitary force that sought to end British rule in Northern Ireland ...
's (IRA) Hyde Park bombing Hyde or Hydes may refer to:
People
*Hyde (surname)
* Hyde (musician), Japanese musician from the bands L'Arc-en-Ciel and VAMPS
American statutes
* Hyde Amendment, an amendment that places well-defined limitations on Medicare spending on abor ...
on 20 July 1982 was quashed in 1999, after several years of prison.
In an edition of ''Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation'' on BBC Radio 4 "How to be Afraid", broadcast in September 2004, Hardy said during one of his comedy routines that "if you just took everyone in the BNP and everyone who votes for them and shot them in the back of the head, there would be a brighter future for us all." This sparked complaints and caused Burnley Borough Council to cancel a show in the town over fears that it could be "disruptive" in an area with a recent history of racial tension.
In September 2016 Hardy performed at the Keep Corbyn rally in Brighton
Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London.
Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...
in support of Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Bernard Corbyn (; born 26 May 1949) is a British politician who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Islington North (UK Parliament constituency), Islington North since 1983. Now an Independent ...
's campaign in the Labour Party leadership election. On Hardy's death, Corbyn said "He always gave his all for everyone else and the campaigns for social justice."
Personal life and death
In 1986 Hardy married the actress and comedian Kit Hollerbach and in 1990 they adopted a daughter. He later married the photographer and filmmaker Katie Barlow.
Hardy was a close friend of the comedian Linda Smith; when she died of ovarian cancer on 27 February 2006 he wrote about her in many media outlets and wrote her obituary in ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
''.
Hardy died at St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, London
Sydenham () is a district of south-east London, England, which is shared between the London boroughs of London Borough of Lewisham, Lewisham, London Borough of Bromley, Bromley and London Borough of Southwark, Southwark. Prior to the creation of ...
of cancer on 1 February 2019, at the age of 57. Julia McKenzie, the head of Radio team at BBC Studios, said of Hardy "I will remember him as someone who could convulse an audience with laughter at a comic image whilst at the same time making a point of substance that reverberated on a much deeper level and spoke to his principles and unflinching concern for the less fortunate." Miles Jupp, then-host of '' The News Quiz'' and a longtime friend, wrote his obituary in ''The Guardian''.
Collections
The University of Kent holds a collection of Hardy's work as part of the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive. The archive is composed of audio-visual material from Hardy's career, including recordings of live performances.
Appearances
Television
*'' Helping Henry'' (1988) – the voice of Henry
*''Blackadder Goes Forth
''Blackadder Goes Forth'' is the fourth series of the BBC sitcom ''Blackadder'', written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 28 September to 2 November 1989 on BBC One, BBC1. The series placed the recurring characters of Captain B ...
'' (1989) ("Corporal Punishment
A corporal punishment or a physical punishment is a punishment which is intended to cause physical pain to a person. When it is inflicted on Minor (law), minors, especially in home and school settings, its methods may include spanking or Padd ...
") – Corporal Perkins
*'' Jack and Jeremy's Real Lives'' (1996) (with Jack Dee)
*'' If I Ruled the World'' (1998)
*'' QI'' (2003)
*'' Grumpy Old Men'' (2004)
*'' Mock the Week'' (2005)
*'' Countdown'' (2007) (Dictionary Corner)
*''The Voice'' (2008)
Radio
*'' The News Quiz''
*'' I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue''
*''Just a Minute
''Just a Minute'' is a BBC Radio 4 radio comedy panel game. For more than 50 years, with a few exceptions, it was hosted by Nicholas Parsons. Following Parsons' death in 2020, Sue Perkins became the permanent host, starting with the 87th ser ...
''
*'' Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation''
*'' Unnatural Acts''
*'' At Home with the Hardys''
*'' You'll Have Had Your Tea: The Doings of Hamish and Dougal''
*''Chain Reaction
A chain reaction is a sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place. In a chain reaction, positive feedback leads to a self-amplifying chain of events.
Chain reactions are one way that sys ...
''
*''Comic to Comic''
*'' The Unbelievable Truth''
* ''Jeremy Hardy Feels It'' (2018)
Film
*''Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...
'' (2001)
*'' Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army'' (2003)
*'' How to Be'' (2008)
References
External links
*
Jeremy Hardy
at the British Film Institute
The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...
*
Jeremy Hardy Collection
at University of Kent
The University of Kent (formerly the University of Kent at Canterbury, abbreviated as UKC) is a Collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom. The university was granted its roya ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardy, Jeremy
1961 births
2019 deaths
Comedians from Hampshire
English male comedians
English socialists
Mass media people from Aldershot
Alumni of the University of Southampton
20th-century English comedians
21st-century English comedians
Deaths from cancer in England