English writer, comedian, and actor
Russell Kane
Kane in 2019
Born Russell David Anthony Grineau
(1975-08-19 ) 19 August 1975 (age 48) Occupation(s)
Writer ,
comedian ,
actor
[1] Years active 2004–present Spouses
Sadie Hasler
(
m. 2010;
div. 2011)
Lindsey Cole
(
m. 2014)
Website
russellkane.co.uk
Russell Kane (born Russell David Anthony Grineau ; 19 August 1975)
[2]
[3] is an English writer, comedian, and actor. He has four times been nominated at the
Edinburgh Comedy Awards , winning the Best Comedy Show award in 2010. Although known mainly for stand-up comedy, for television, he has presented
Big Brother's Big Mouth (2007), I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here - Now (2009-2011),
Freak Like Me (2010),
Geordie Shore: The Reunion and
Britain Unzipped (2012),
Live at the Electric (2013),
Stupid Man, Smart Phone (2016),
and hosted the BBC Radio 4 series Evil Genius in 2018.
Early life
Kane was born to David and Julie Grineau in
Enfield ,
North London and brought up in
Essex , where he still lives.
[2]
[4] He studied English at
Middlesex University and graduated with a degree in Media Writing.
[5]
Career
Kane's father had worked as an extra, and he himself took on a couple of youthful acting roles in the early 90s, under the name Russell Grineaux.
[6]
[7]
Turning to comedy, in 2004, Kane won the
Laughing Horse New Act of the Year ,
[1]
[8] and in the same year he was runner-up to
Nick Sun in
So You Think You're Funny .
[9] In 2005, he joined
Ray Peacock ,
Russell Howard and
Reginald D. Hunter on the national
Paramount Edinburgh and Beyond tour.
[10] He was a roving reporter alongside
Annie Mac , for the live music event Guerrilla Gig , which aired on
BBC Three in March 2006.
[11] In July 2006, he wrote and presented travelogues for the newly launched
Five US .
[12]
In August 2006, Kane performed his debut comedy show The Theory of Pretension at the
Edinburgh Fringe , where he was nominated for a best newcomer
Edinburgh Comedy Award .
[13] He presented
Big Brother's Big Mouth
[8] on
E4 and
Channel 4 in June 2007.
[14]
In 2008, Kane was the host of
BBC Radio 2 's Out to Lunch from series 4 onwards.
[14]
[15] He presented a Sunday afternoon show on the relaunched
Q Radio digital radio station.
[1] Later the same year, he took his stand-up show Gaping Flaws to Glasgow and the Edinburgh Festival, earning 2008 Best Comedy Show Nominee at the
Edinburgh Comedy Awards .
[16] He also wrote an hour-long play, The Lamentable Tragedie of Yates's Wine Lodge based on his own creation of Fakespeare.
[17] On 20 November 2008, Kane performed at the
Hammersmith Apollo for the BBC's
Live at the Apollo .
[16]
[18]
In 2009, Kane returned to Edinburgh with a stand-up show entitled Human Dressage , which was nominated for 2009 Best Comedy Show
Edinburgh Comedy Award for the second time.
[19]
[20] Kane appeared on the presenting team of the 2009 ITV2 spin-off show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here – Now , which he co-hosted with
Laura Whitmore and
Joe Swash .
[21] Two contestants that year were
Gino D'Acampo and
Katie Price .
[21] He returned to Australia for the show in 2010 and 2011.
[8]
In April 2010, while appearing on the Australian TV show
Good News Week , Kane made a joke centred on
autistic children, prompting an apology from the network and criticism from the
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities .
[22] Later that year, Kane appeared live in Cardiff, along with his impressionist and comedienne wife Sadie Hasler, who preceded his act.
[23] Kane was narrator and presenter
Freak Like Me on
BBC Three during the winter of 2010.
[24]
In August 2011, he appeared for the first time on the
BBC Radio Four comedy panel game
Just a Minute , which he won.
[25] In November 2011, he won a
Children in Need edition of
Celebrity Mastermind , with the specialist subject "The Life and Novels of
Evelyn Waugh ".
[26] On 5 July 2011 and 27 March 2012, he presented
Geordie Shore: The Reunion for
MTV .
[27]
His debut novel, The Humorist , was published by
Simon & Schuster in April 2012.
[28] In 2012, he co-presented
Britain Unzipped with
Greg James on
BBC Three , which was renamed Unzipped for series 2.
[29] He was the presenter of the BBC Three show
Live at the Electric , which ran for three series, and co-hosted the 2013 chat show Staying In with
Greg James .
[29]
In 2016, Kane presented the
BBC Three travel series
Stupid Man, Smart Phone .
[30]
In January 2018, Kane participated in
And They're Off! in aid of
Sport Relief .
[8]
In March 2018, Kane started hosting the BBC Radio 4 series Evil Genius . This programme is an exploration of famous people in contemporary history.
[31]
Awards
Personal life
Kane married fellow comedian Sadie Hasler in 2010. They met while studying at
Middlesex University .
[35] They divorced nine months later.
[36] He married hair and makeup artist and model, Lindsey Cole in 2014.
[37]
[38] They had met when Cole had attended one of his shows and later connected through social media.
[39] They have one daughter.
[38] Kane mentions he is often mistaken for Nick Grimshaw.
[40]
[41]
In 2015 it was revealed that Kane had been lying about his age, claiming to be five years younger than his true vintage.
[42]
[43]
[44]
[45]
Kane has been an ambassador for
The Prince's Trust , a charity.
[46]
Bibliography
The Humorist , 2012 (novel)
[47]
Son of a Silverback , 2019 (memoir)
[48]
[49]
Stand-up DVDs
Smokescreens & Castles Live (7 November 2011)
Live (30 November 2015)
References
^
a
b
c Barnett, Laura (7 June 2010).
"Portrait of the Artist: Russell Kane, comedian" . The Guardian .
^
a
b Logan, Brian (18 September 2011).
"Russell Kane: 'What am I going to do when I'm not the next big thing?' " .
The Guardian .
^ Dessau, Bruce (26 March 2016).
"News: The Truth About Russell Kane's Youth" . Beyond the Joke .
^
"My Secret Life: Russell Kane" .
The Independent . London. 11 December 2010.
^
"Comedian to tie the knot in Southchurch Hall ceremony" .
Basildon Canvey Southend Echo . 6 January 2010.
^
"Screen Two – O Mary this London (1994) Dir. Suri Krishnamma" .
YouTube .
^
"The Bill Series 7 Episode 54 (S07E54) Targets" .
YouTube .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f Reddin, Lorelei (14 October 2021).
"Russell Kane to play intimate warm up gig at St Mary's" . Daily Echo .
^
"So You Think You're Funny, Finalists & Runners up 1988 – 2022" . soyouthinkyourefunny.co.uk . Retrieved 4 December 2022 .
^
"Peocock & Gamble" . peacockandgamble.com . Retrieved 4 December 2022 .
^
"Guerilla shakes up music television" . bbc.co.uk . 10 March 2006.
^ Wilkes, Neil (29 August 2006).
"Russell Kane named "face" of Five US" .
Digital Spy .
^
"Russell Kane's Theory Of Pretension" . comedy.co.uk . 2006.
^
a
b
"Dave's One Night Stand Russell Kane Interview" . comedy.co.uk . 2 November 2010.
^
"Out To Lunch – Production Details" . comedy.co.uk . Retrieved 12 September 2010 .
^
a
b
"Russell Kane 2008 Best Comedy Show Nominee – Gaping Flaws" . comedyawards.co.uk . Retrieved 5 December 2022 .
^
"Russell Kane Presents Fakespeare: The Lamentable Tragedie Of Yates's Wine" . chortle.co.uk . Retrieved 5 December 2022 .
^
"Live at the Apollo series 4, episode 2" . bbc.co.uk . 19 May 2012.
^
"Russell Kane 2009 Best Comedy Show Nominee – Human Dressage" . comedyawards.co.uk . Retrieved 6 December 2022 .
^ Logan, Brian (28 August 2009).
"Russell Kane: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh" .
The Guardian .
^
a
b
"Russell Kane in I'm a Celebrity" . echo-news.co.uk . Retrieved 6 December 2022 .
^ Dunkerley, Susanna (21 April 2010).
"Channel 10 apologises for Good News Week autism joke" .
news.com.au .
^
"Comedy festival: Russell Kane and Sadie Hasler" . walesonline.co.uk . 21 July 2010.
^
"Freak Like Me" . bbc.co.uk . Retrieved 23 October 2020 .
^
"Radio 4 Russell Kane on Just A Minute" . bbc.co.uk . Retrieved 6 December 2022 .
^
"Comedian specializing in Evelyn Waugh wins BBC Mastermind quiz" . evelynwaughsociety.org . Retrieved 13 November 2011 .
^
"Geordie Shore Reunion preview" . metro.co.uk . 27 March 2012.
^ Page, Benedicte (11 November 2011).
"S&S buys debut from comedian Kane" .
The Bookseller .
^
a
b
"BBC Three – Britain Unzipped" . BBC iPlayer . Retrieved 2 August 2019 .
^
"BBC Three – Stupid Man, Smart Phone Episode Guide" . BBC iPlayer . Retrieved 6 December 2022 .
^
"Radio 4 Evil Genius with Russell Kane" . BBC iPlayer . Retrieved 6 December 2022 .
^
"Edinburgh comedy awards shortlist announced" . The Guardian . 23 August 2006.
^
a
b
c Thorpe, Vanessa (28 August 2010).
"Russell Kane wins Edinburgh Comedy Award" . The Guardian .
^
"Russell Kane to perform Isles of Scilly show" . BBC News. 6 September 2014.
^
"Comedian to tie the knot in Southchurch Hall ceremony" . Echo News . 6 January 2010.
^ Sperling, Daniel (29 December 2011).
"Russell Kane uncomfortable with sex: 'I'd rather watch Dog Whisperer' " . Digital Spy.
^
"Lindsey Cole" . model mayhem . Retrieved 19 May 2023 .
^
a
b
"Russell Kane says he would have postponed his wedding for a big gig" . The Irish News . 22 May 2017.
^
"Russell Kane: 'I had a year of partying and it was soulless. The sex wasn't even good' " . London Evening Standard . 12 June 2013.
^
"X Factor reignites Russell Kane and Grimmy confusion" . BBC News. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2023 .
^
"EXCLUSIVE: Russell Kane: 1 in 2 People Think I'm Nick Grimshaw" . Yahoo Finance . 27 November 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2023 .
^
"Russell Kane has been lying about his age – but WHY?!" . Heat . Retrieved 15 October 2022 .
^ Strang, Fay (21 April 2015).
"Russell Kane is older than he claims - any ideas of his age?" . mirror . Retrieved 15 October 2022 .
^
"INTERVIEW: Russell Kane on being 'in denial' about his age, why stand-up is still his passion and being a 'lord' " . Warrington Guardian . Retrieved 15 October 2022 .
^ Strang, Fay; Updated (21 April 2015).
"Russell Kane is older than he claims - any ideas of his age?" . Irish Mirror . Retrieved 15 October 2022 .
^ Cherrington-Cook, Jayne (18 May 2020).
"Russell Kane: The Prince's Trust has put me in the most ridiculous situations" . Yahoo Entertainment . Archived from
the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023 .
^ Kane, Russell (21 October 2012). The Humorist .
Simon & Schuster .
ISBN
978-0857209252 .
^ Kane, Russell (31 October 2019). Son of Silverback .
Penguin .
ISBN
9781473554160 .
^
Son of a Silverback . Retrieved 5 September 2021 .
External links
Best Comedy Show
1981:
Cambridge Footlights (
Stephen Fry ,
Hugh Laurie ,
Tony Slattery ,
Emma Thompson ,
Penny Dwyer and Paul Shearer)
1982:
Writer's Inc (Gary Adams,
Steve Brown ,
Vicki Pile , Trevor McCallum, Helen Murry,
Jamie Rix , and
Nick Wilton , with additional material by
Kim Fuller )
1983:
Los Trios Ringbarkus
1984:
The Brass Band
1985:
Theatre de Complicité
1986:
Ben Keaton
1987: Brown Blues... (
Arnold Brown with
Barb Jungr and Michael Parker)
1988:
Jeremy Hardy
1989:
Simon Fanshawe
1990:
Sean Hughes – A One Night Stand
1991:
Frank Skinner
1992:
Steve Coogan – In Character with
John Thomson
1993:
Lee Evans
1994:
Lano and Woodley
1995:
Jenny Eclair – Prozac & Tantrums
1996:
Dylan Moran – Dylan Moran Is Indisposed
1997:
The League of Gentlemen
1998:
Tommy Tiernan – Undivine Comedy
1999:
Al Murray as The Pub Landlord – And a Glass of White Wine for the Lady
2000:
Rich Hall – Otis Lee Crenshaw
2001:
Garth Marenghi's Netherhead (
Matthew Holness ,
Richard Ayoade and
Alice Lowe )
2002:
Daniel Kitson – Something
2003:
Demetri Martin – If I...
2004:
Will Adamsdale – Jackson's Way
2005:
Laura Solon – Kopfraper's Syndrome
2006:
Phil Nichol – The Naked Racist
2007:
Brendon Burns – So I Suppose THIS Is Offensive Now
2008:
David O'Doherty – Let's Comedy
2009:
Tim Key – The Slutcracker
2010:
Russell Kane – Smokescreens and Castles
2011:
Adam Riches – Bring Me the Head of Adam Riches
2012:
Doctor Brown – Befrdfgth
2013:
Bridget Christie – A Bic for Her
2014:
John Kearns – Shtick
2015:
Sam Simmons – Spaghetti for Breakfast
2016:
Richard Gadd – Monkey See Monkey Do
2017:
Hannah Gadsby –
Nanette &
John Robins – The Darkness of Robins
2018:
Rose Matafeo – Horndog
2019:
Jordan Brookes – I've Got Nothing
2022:
Sam Campbell – Comedy Show
2023:
Ahir Shah – Ends
International National Artists