Russell Howard

Russell Joseph Howard (born 23 March 1980) is an English comedian, television presenter, radio presenter, and actor.

He has hosted his own television shows, Russell Howard's Good News and The Russell Howard Hour, and appeared on the topical panel TV show Mock the Week.

He has two younger siblings, twins Kerry and Daniel (born 1982).

Daniel has epilepsy, to which Howard sometimes refers during his act.

Howard attended Hanham High School, Perins School in New Alresford and Alton College.

He later studied economics at the University of the West of England, Bristol.

In 2004, he was commissioned by BBC Radio 1 to write, sing and perform on the comedy series The Milk Run.

Howard has also appeared on the shows Banter (hosted by Andrew Collins) and Political Animal for BBC Radio 4.

He was one of several comedians picked as the best comedy talent from the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe that recorded 10–15-minute spots for the "Edinburgh and Beyond" show which was aired on Paramount Comedy 1 in the autumn of 2006.

The show was filmed at the Bloomsbury Theatre.

He won "Best Compère" at the 2006 Chortle Awards and was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award for his 2006 Aberdeen Festival Fringe show.

Howard has cited comedians Lee Evans, Richard Pryor, and Frank Skinner as influences.

Howard was born and raised in Radstock, Bath to Dave and Ninette Howard.

From November 2006 to July 2008, Russell co-hosted The Russell Howard Show on BBC Radio 6 Music with fellow comedian Jon Richardson in a Sunday morning slot previously hosted by Russell Brand.

He has also appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Would I Lie to You?, Live at the Apollo, The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008, Law of the Playground and Never Mind the Buzzcocks (Series 18, Episode 2 and Series 20, Episode 4).

Howard frequently worked with other members of the Chocolate Milk Gang, a group of comedians who often collaborated and performed with one another, including Daniel Kitson, John Oliver, David O’Doherty, and Alun Cochrane.

Howard shares Oliver's adoration of Liverpool F.C.

From 2009, he took over as compère of this show from Al Murray.

The first episode aired on 22 October 2009 and the show ran for seven episodes as well as a "best of" show and a Christmas Special.

It went on to become BBC Three's highest ever rating entertainment series.

In the show, he gave his take on the week's major news stories, as well as giving attention to some of the more light-hearted stories of the week.

Until 2010, Howard was a regular panelist on Mock the Week.

The show continued to air, without Howard, until March 2010.

He has since explained that his main reason for leaving the show was that he finds radio "really restrictive" and "I gorge off the audience as a performer, but you can't gauge a reaction on the radio."

Russell was commissioned to make a comedy show called Russell Howard's Good News, aimed at under-25s, for BBC Three.

Two more series of the show were commissioned, with the second series starting on 25 March 2010.

Howard made his United States television debut on the 3 August 2011 episode of Conan.

A seventh series began on 27 September 2012 on BBC Three.

Series 8 began on 25 April 2013 on BBC Three, and series 9 started broadcast in its new home on BBC Two in October 2014.

Russell Howard's Good News was voted the Best Ever BBC Three show on 9 February 2013 as part of the channel's 10th birthday celebrations.

Howard guest-hosted the second episode of the 27th series of Never Mind the Buzzcocks on 30 September 2013.

In November 2013 Howard made a surprise appearance in the North East market town Barnard Castle to preview his latest tour show, Wonderbox.

From 2015 to 2016, Howard presented a show called Russell Howard's Stand Up Central which broadcasts on Comedy Central.

In 2015 he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where he performed some stand-up.

In December 2015, Howard made his acting debut in BBC Two's hour-long comedy-drama A Gert Lush Christmas, which he also co-wrote.

In the film, Howard played Dan Colman, who takes his girlfriend to meet his family in Bristol for Christmas.

The film also co-starred Howard's sister Kerry, who played Dan's sister Julie.

On 10 March 2016, Howard appeared on the BBC 1 panel show Room 101.

In March 2016 Howard attacked Conservative MP Philip Davies on his BBC show calling him an "arsehole", "windbag", "wanker" and a "toad-faced hypocrite", accusing the MP of filibustering (talking out a bill).

However, in 2017 due to tour commitments, Howard was unable to present the show's third series and was replaced by Chris Ramsey.