John-Luke Roberts (comedian)
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John-Luke Roberts is a British
stand-up comedian Stand-up comedy is a performance directed to a live audience, where the performer stands on a stage and delivers humorous and satirical monologues sometimes incorporating physical acts. These performances are typically composed of rehear ...
, writer, actor and performer. He was named as one of the 50 funniest comedians of the 21st century in ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
'' in August 2023.


Style

Roberts' comedy style is absurdist, and often uses props and physical movement, as taught by French clown
Philippe Gaulier Philippe Gaulier is a French master clown, pedagogue, and professor of theatre. He is the founder of École Philippe Gaulier, a French theatre school in Étampes, outside Paris. He studied under Jacques Lecoq in the mid-1960s and was an instr ...
with whom Roberts has trained. Roberts uses character comedy within his stand-up. Roberts has had jokes nominated in the best and worst lists at the Edinburgh festival.


Career


Early career

Roberts studied at the
University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
where he was a member of the comedy society. Roberts took part in ''
So You Think You're Funny So You Think You're Funny? (SYTYF?) is an annual stand-up comedy competition for new acts. The competition began in 1988 in the United Kingdom. The finals are held every August at The Gilded Balloon during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Past ...
'', and in 2005 was a finalist in the ''
BBC New Comedy Award The BBC New Comedy Award first took place in 1995, and it is considered to be one of the top UK comedy newcomer awards. It was axed in 2006, being replaced by a nationwide talent hunt that places its emphasis on sketch writing and filmed perfor ...
.'' Roberts founded '' The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society'' which he cohosted with
Thom Tuck Thomas Tuck (born 28 March 1982) is a British actor and comedian. He is known for being one third of comedy troupe The Penny Dreadfuls and as a stand-up comedian. He was nominated for the Best Newcomer award at the 2011 Edinburgh Festival Fringe ...
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 ...
, and which has had residencies at the
Soho Theatre Soho Theatre is a theatre and registered charity in the Soho district of the City of Westminster, and Soho Theatre Walthamstow in north-east London. It produces and presents new works of theatre, together with comedy and cabaret, across three pe ...
, The New Red Lion, and
The Bill Murray Angel Comedy is a comedy club, comedy night in London, based at pubs such as The Camden Head and the Bill Murray.https://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/angel-comedy-club References

Comedy clubs in the United Kingdom Free goods and servic ...
.


Film, television, radio and podcasts

Roberts wrote the 2006 BBC 7 radio show '' Spats''. Roberts has written for ''
Have I Got News For You ''Have I Got News for You'' (''HIGNFY'') is a British television panel show, produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC, which premiered on 28 September 1990. The programme focuses on two teams, one usually captained by Ian Hislop and one ...
'', ''
Newzoids ''Newzoids'' is a British topical satirical sketch show, which was co-produced by Citrus Television and Factory for ITV and broadcast for two series between 15 April 2015 and 8 October 2016. The programme operated in a similar format to '' Spitt ...
'' and ''
Never Mind the Buzzcocks ''Never Mind the Buzzcocks'' is a British comedy panel game show with a pop music theme. It has aired on Sky Max since September 2021, having originally aired between November 1996 and January 2015 on BBC Two. The original series was first host ...
'' for the
BBC TV BBC Television is a service of the BBC. The corporation has operated a public broadcast television service in the United Kingdom, under the terms of a royal charter, since 1 January 1927. It produced television programmes from its own studios ...
as well as ''
The News Quiz ''The News Quiz'' is a British topical panel game broadcast on BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in 1977. The show, created by John Lloyd from an idea by Nicholas Parsons, has seen several hosts, including Barry Norman, Barry Took, Simon Hogg ...
'', ''Dilemma'' and ''
Newsjack ''Newsjack'' was a British satirical sketch show which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra between 2009 and 2021. It was hosted by Miles Jupp (2009-Mar 2011), Justin Edwards (Sep 2011-2013), Romesh Ranganathan (2014), Nish Kumar (2015–2016), ...
'' for
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 ...
. Roberts voiced the computer in ''
Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully ''Welcome To Our Village, Please Invade Carefully'' is a sitcom on BBC Radio 4 (pilot and first series aired on BBC Radio 2), written by Eddie Robson and produced by Ed Morrish. It concerns the invasion of the small Buckinghamshire village of Cr ...
''. In 2015 Roberts' sitcom ''
Bull A bull is an intact (i.e., not Castration, castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e. cows proper), bulls have long been an important symbol cattle in r ...
'', co-written with
Gareth Gwynn Gareth Gwynn is a comedy writer, performer and radio presenter. He is the co-writer of the television sitcoms ''Bull'' and ''Tourist Trap'' and the radio sitcoms '' Ankle Tag'', '' Passing On'' and '' Social Club FM.'' Career Writing Gwynn began ...
, aired on
UKTV Gold U&Gold is a British pay television, premium television channel from the UKTV network that was launched in late 1992 as UK Gold before it was rebranded UKTV Gold in 2004. In 2008, it was split into current flagship channel Gold and miscellaneous ...
, starring Robert Lindsay and
Maureen Lipman Dame Maureen Diane Lipman (born 10 May 1946) is an English actress, columnist and comedian. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and her stage work has included appearances with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakesp ...
. In 2017, Roberts hosted ''The Tony Law Tapes'' podcast with
Tony Law Tony Law (born 20 September 1969) is a Canadian stand-up comedian. Originally from Lacombe, Alberta, he has been based in London, United Kingdom since the age of 19. He is known for his surreal material and delivery. Many of his stand-up routin ...
. Roberts co-wrote ''
The Goodies The Goodies were a trio of British comedians: Tim Brooke-Taylor (17 July 1940 – 12 April 2020), Graeme Garden (b. 18 February 1943) and Bill Oddie (b. 7 July 1941). The trio created, wrote for and performed in their The Goodies (TV series), ...
'' revival episode with Gareth Gwynn,
Graeme Garden David Graeme Garden (born 18 February 1943) is a Scottish comedian, actor, author, artist and television presenter. He is best known as a member of The Goodies and a regular panellist on '' I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue''. Early life and educati ...
,
Bill Oddie William Edgar Oddie (born 7 July 1941) is an English actor, artist, birder, comedian, conservationist, musician, songwriter, television presenter and writer. He was a member of comedy trio The Goodies. A birder since his childhood in Quinton ...
and Barnaby Eaton-Jones, which was available through ''
Audible Audible may refer to: * Audible (service), an online audiobook store * Audible (American football), a tactic used by quarterbacks * ''Audible'' (film), a short documentary film featuring a deaf high school football player * Audible finish or ru ...
'' in 2019. Roberts wrote and appeared in the short film ''Asparagus Tips'' which included appearances by
Cariad Lloyd Katie Cariad Lloyd (born 21 August 1982) is a British comedian, actress, writer, and podcaster. She is a member of the improvisational comedy group Austentatious, the host and creator of '' Griefcast'', and an improv teacher. Lloyd was nominate ...
and
Margaret Cabourn-Smith Margaret Alice Cabourn-Smith (born 1975) is an English comedy actress and podcaster with appearances on '' Catastrophe'', ''The IT Crowd'', '' Psychoville'', ''Peep Show'', ''Fresh Meat'', ''Motherland'', ''Daddy Issues'' and '' Cheaters''. H ...
and won Best Horror film at the 2019 Munich indie film festival. That year, he could also be seen as Klaus the German clown in the
Emma Thompson Dame Emma Thompson (born 15 April 1959) is a British actress and screenwriter. Emma Thompson on screen and stage, Her work spans over four decades of screen and stage, and List of awards and nominations received by Emma Thompson, her accola ...
and
Paul Feig Paul Feig (; born September 17, 1962) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. He is best known for directing films such as '' Bridesmaids'' (2011), '' The Heat'' (2013), '' Spy'' (2015), ''Ghostbusters'' (2016), '' A Si ...
Christmas film ''
Last Christmas "Last Christmas" is a song by British pop duo Wham!. Written and produced by George Michael, it was released on 3 December 1984 via CBS Records internationally and as a double A-side via Epic Records with " Everything She Wants" in several Eur ...
''. He presented a documentary on the 1996 novel ''
Infinite Jest ''Infinite Jest'' is a 1996 novel by American writer David Foster Wallace. Categorized as an encyclopedic novel, ''Infinite Jest'' is featured in ''Time'' magazine's list of the 100 best English-language novels published between 1923 and 2005. ...
'' by
David Foster Wallace David Foster Wallace (February 21, 1962 – September 12, 2008) was an American writer and professor who published novels, short stories, and essays. He is best known for his 1996 novel ''Infinite Jest'', which ''Time (magazine), Time'' magazine ...
for ''BBC Radio 4'', as part of the second series of the ''Exploding Library'' series, which first aired in December 2022. He is the host of the podcast ''Sound Heap'', which he co-created with producer Ed Morrish, it won the BBC Audio Drama Award for Best Sketch Comedy in 2022. The podcast is semi-improvised and semi-written, by John-Luke and a long list of guests including
Tom Allen Thomas Allen may refer to: Clergy * Thomas Allen (nonconformist) (1608–1673), Anglican/nonconformist priest in England and New England *Thomas Allen (dean of Chester) (died 1732) *Thomas Allen (scholar) (1681–1755), Anglican priest in England ...
,
Isy Suttie Isobel Jane Suttie (; born 11 August 1978) is a British musical comedian, actress and writer. She played Dobby in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Peep Show'', and in 2013 won the gold Sony Radio Academy Award for her radio show ''Pearl And Dave''. Ear ...
and
Deborah Frances-White Deborah Frances-White (born 10 December 1967) is a London-based comedian, author and screenwriter. She has both British and Australian citizenship. She hosts the podcasts ''Global Pillage'' and '' The Guilty Feminist''. She wrote the 2018 comed ...
. Roberts has been a guest on ''
The Comedian's Comedian with Stuart Goldsmith ''The Comedian's Comedian with Stuart Goldsmith'' is an interview podcast, in which Stuart Goldsmith interviews comedians about the craft of writing and performing standup comedy. Guests on the show have included Russell Brand, Stewart Lee, and ...
''. and has appeared as a guest on comedy podcast ''
Do the Right Thing ''Do the Right Thing'' is a 1989 American comedy-drama film produced, written and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Turturro and Samuel L. Jackson an ...
''. He has also guested on the
Josie Long Josie Isabel Long (born 17 April 1982) is an English comedian. She started performing as a stand-up at the age of 14 and won the BBC New Comedy Awards at 17. In 2006, Long won the If.comeddies Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Festival Frin ...
presented Radio 4 series ''Short Cuts'', and
Benjamin Partridge Benjamin Partridge (born June 1986) is a Welsh comedy writer, performer, actor and producer. Partridge's professional writing career began when he was awarded a BBC Radio Comedy Writers Bursary in 2011. Since then, he has written consistently fo ...
comedy series '' Beef And Dairy Network Podcast''.


Live performances

Roberts has performed numerous one man shows. His 2014
Edinburgh Fringe Festival 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 ...
show was entitled ‘Stnad-up’ and addressed his break-up with fellow comedian Nadia Kamil, and his 2015 Edinburgh show ‘Stdad-up’ addressed the death of his father. His 2018 show was ''All I Wanna do is X: GUNSHOTSwith a X: GUN RELOADINGand a X: CASH REGISTERand Perform Some Comedy!'' He followed that up with ''After Me Comes the Flood (But in French)''. In 2022 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival he performed ''A World Just Like Our Own, But...'' and toured it internationally in 2023. Roberts international performances have included
Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...
, and
Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
. Roberts has created absurdist plays ''Terrible Wonderful Adaptations'' with fellow comedians such as
Mark Watson Mark Andrew Watson (born 13 February 1980) is an English comedian, novelist and producer. Early life Watson was born in Bristol to a Welsh people, Welsh mother and English father. He has younger twin sisters and a brother, Paul Watson (footba ...
and
Kieran Hodgson Kieran Hodgson (born ) is a British character comedian, actor, and writer. He is best known for his role as Gordon in the BBC sitcom '' Two Doors Down''. Early life and education Hodgson was born, around 1988, in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, whe ...
, performed at the Edinburgh Festival. He has written and performed plays and sketches with Nadia Kamil under the name ‘''The Behemoth''’. Robert's debut stand-up comedy album, ''It Is Better'', was released in 2021 on Monkey Barrel Records. Roberts has also directed live comedy, including Josh Glanc’s ''Vroom Vroom'' which ran in London and the
Melbourne Comedy Festival The Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is the largest stand-alone comedy festival and the largest international comedy festival in the world. First held in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks, typically starti ...
in 2022, and the 2023 ''Be Well '' tour show of Myra DuBois. He performed as Al (short for Alisthair) in
physical theatre Physical theatre is a genre of theatrical performance that encompasses storytelling primarily through physical movement. Although several performance theatre disciplines are often described as "physical theatre", the genre's characteristic aspe ...
company
Spymonkey Spymonkey is an international comedy and physical theatre company, based in Brighton. Its members are Toby Park and Petra Massey, both British, Aitor Basauri, a Spaniard, and Stephan Kreiss (1962-2021), a German. According to the theatre director ...
's production ''Hairy''. Directed by founding members Toby Park and Aitor Basauri, it was the first children’s show presented by Spymonkey, and the first Spymonkey production not to feature the original cast. He created the show ''Clownts'', a competitive clown show, with Viggo Venn, Julia Masli and Sami Abu Wardeh. He created the show ''Cabaret Impedimenta'' with Harry Haddon and Kasia Fudakowski of ''The Art of the Palliative Turn'' in which cabaret acts have to try and perform their numbers, while a growing number of impediments try to make it impossible for them to do so.


References


External links

* * https://m.imdb.com/name/nm3163392 {{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, John-Luke Living people British comedians English clowns Year of birth missing (living people)