Julian Barratt

Julian Barratt Pettifer (born 4 May 1968) is an English comedian, actor and musician.

As a comedian and comic actor, he is known for his use of surreal humour and black comedy.

Barratt was born Julian Barratt Pettifer on 4 May 1968 in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

He adopted his middle name as his surname to distinguish himself from reporter Julian Pettifer.

He attended the University of Reading.

Barratt stars as the character Howard Moon opposite Noel Fielding's Vince Noir in the comedy series The Mighty Boosh.

Howard labels himself a "jazz maverick" and claims to be a multitalented intellectual, calling himself a "man of action", but he is actually unsuccessful in his literary and romantic ventures.

He is unpopular with many of the characters, including Mrs. Gideon (who always forgets his name), Bob Fossil (who often uses Howard as a puppet for his bizarre schemes), and Bollo (who often says his name wrongly or ignores him completely).

Barratt composed all of the music for the series, which includes a variety of genres such as rap, heavy metal, and psychedelic rock.

Barratt has had parts in other dramas, often alongside his Mighty Boosh partner Noel Fielding.

He starred as Dan Ashcroft, a frustrated magazine writer, in the Channel 4 media satire Nathan Barley, and appeared in the surrealistic black comedy series Asylum alongside Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson (who wrote and starred in Spaced).

The character of Brian Topp in Spaced was written for Barratt, but eventually went to Mark Heap.

Barratt played Jackson, a musician, in How Not to Live Your Life.

He starred in the "Freelance Scientist" commercial for Metz alcopop.

He appeared as The Padre in the spoof horror series Garth Marenghi's Darkplace.

He also starred in (and was a writer for) the 1998 sketch show Unnatural Acts, alongside Fielding.

Before this, Barratt was one half of an experimental comedy duo called "The Pod" with friend Tim Hope, in which they billed themselves as a "Cyberdance Collective".

During the 2000s he was part of The Mighty Boosh comedy troupe alongside comedy partner Noel Fielding.

Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Barratt was educated at the University of Reading.

With Fielding, he established the Mighty Boosh.

Together, they produced a 2001 radio series, The Boosh, for BBC Radio London.

During this time he also appeared in the 2001 film Lucky Break.

Barratt made his directing début for Warp Films with theatre director Dan Jemmett.

Curtains is set in a Norfolk seaside town.

It is a dark comedy about a Punch and Judy man.

This was followed by a television series, The Mighty Boosh, comprising three series for BBC Three from 2004 to 2007.

The show generated a cult fan following and won a variety of awards.

Alongside Fielding, he has starred in Unnatural Acts, Nathan Barley and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace.

In 2010, Barratt took part in Sky Comedy's Little Crackers.

He wrote and directed a 15-minute film based on his teen band, Satan's Hoof.

On 12 March 2011, he made a brief appearance as Heathcliff in Noel Fielding's "Wuthering Heights" dance on the Let's Dance for Comic Relief finale.

He also narrated the 2011 documentary Seven Dwarves.

In 2012, Barratt directed his first music video, for the song "All of Me" by Tanlines.

He can be heard as the voiceover on many adverts, such as More Th>n Car, House and Pet insurance, and the Directgov advert.

He appeared in the music video for Mint Royale's "Blue Song", alongside Noel Fielding, Nick Frost, and Michael Smiley.

In 2012, Barratt appeared in the miniseries Treasure Island on Sky1, as well as narrating the BBC Two documentary The Tube.

He also had a part as an art teacher in the BBC drama White Heat.

In 2013, he appeared in the fifth series of Being Human, playing a werewolf named Larry Chrysler.

Barratt also co-wrote and starred in the 2017 film Mindhorn.

He starred in the Channel 4 black comedy-drama sitcom Flowers.