Dominic Holland

Last updated

Dominic Holland
Born
Dominic Anthony Holland

(1967-05-06) 6 May 1967 (age 56)
London, England [1]
Alma mater Leeds University
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • author
  • actor
  • broadcaster
Years active1991–present
SpouseNicola Frost
Children4, including Tom
Website dominichollandbooks.com

Dominic Anthony Holland (born 6 May 1967) is an English comedian, author, actor and broadcaster. He won the 1993 Perrier Best Newcomer Award in Edinburgh. His BBC Radio 4 series, The Small World of Dominic Holland (a reference to his 5'6" height), won a Comic Heritage Award. [2]

Contents

Early life and family

Holland was born in Brent, London, the son of Teresa (née Quigley) and John Holland. His father was from the Isle of Man and his mother was Irish. [3] [4] [5] Raised Catholic, he attended the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School. He later studied textile management at Leeds University, [6] where he met his future wife, photographer Nicola Frost. He has four sons, including actor Tom Holland.

He is a fan of Brentford F.C., stating on his official website: "When I was a kid, I didn't miss a Brentford home game for five years or so." [7]

Career

Stand-up comedy

Holland started performing stand-up comedy in 1991, making his debut at The Comedy Café, Rivington Street, London. In 1993, he was briefly managed by Eddie Izzard. In Holland's first year at the Edinburgh Fringe his one-man show won the Perrier Best Newcomer award and good notices. Later in the autumn of 1993, Holland supported Izzard on her national tour. In 1994, Holland returned to Edinburgh. In 1996, his show at the Edinburgh festival was nominated for the Perrier Award. Holland returned to the Edinburgh festival in 2006. [8] In October 2012 Holland recorded his first stand up DVD at the Court Theatre in Tring. [9]

The Sunday Times described Holland as "The UK's master of observational comedy" and The Daily Telegraph commented that "he is a top notch stand up who everyone should see". Bob Monkhouse called him "Britain's funniest not yet famous comedian". [2]

Television

Holland made his TV debut appearance in 1993 on Central Television's Lafter Hours with Harry Hill. He was a team captain for two series of Bring Me the Head of Light Entertainment for Channel Five – with Graham Norton hosting in 1998. In 1999 and 2000, Holland appeared twice as a guest on Have I Got News for You (as well as being its regular warm-up act), They Think It's All Over , and in 2000 The Royal Variety Performance. [10] He has appeared on Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive . He has been a regular panellist on the daytime debate show The Wright Stuff . [11]

Holland has made numerous guest appearances on numerous television shows, including The Clive James Show, The Brian Conley Show , Des O'Connor Tonight , and Never Mind the Buzzcocks . He has written for the animated British sitcom, Warren United, originally titled The Wild World of Warren, produced for ITV by Baby Cow Productions. Six episodes were made, two of which co-written by Holland. [12] [13]

Radio

Holland's first foray into radio was on hospital radio when he joined North Middlesex Hospital's radio station, Radio North Mid in 1990.

The Small World of Dominic Holland was a radio programme written and presented by Holland, featuring his stand-up work, but including sketches. One series of the show was commissioned in 2000. This was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 [14] and won a Comic Heritage Award. It has been repeated on BBC 7. [12] [15]

His second radio series on Radio 4, Holland's Shorts. was a series of comic monologues written and performed by Holland. [16] In 2011 he appeared on Radio 4's The News Quiz , hosted by Sandi Toksvig. Holland was co-writer of Hal, a 2017 sitcom commissioned by BBC Radio 4, that starred Hal Cruttenden, in which Holland also appeared. [17] He also made regular appearances in the early seasons of BBC Radio 5 Live's comedy sports panel show, Fighting Talk . [12]

Film

Holland debuted in 1982 in a small role as a schoolboy in the Channel 4 film P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang . [18] In 1998 he played "Bob" in The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star . [19] In 1999 he appeared as "Cello Player" in Tube Tales . [18] Holland has written four screenplays, three of which have been sold to producers, but as yet, have not been made into films.

Writing

Holland has written material for Bob Monkhouse, Lenny Henry, Harry Enfield, Des O'Connor, Clive Anderson and many others. Holland has published two comic novels, Only in America [20] and The Ripple Effect. [21] His third novel, A Man's Life, was published in 2013. [22] For two years Holland wrote the Funny Money column for The Guardian . [23] In January 2013 Holland published How Tom Holland Eclipsed His Dad. [24] [25] He published The Fruit Bowl on July 13, 2020. [26] Published on November 22, 2020, Takes on Life Vol. 1 contains thirty-one autobiographical essays or "Takes" on the life of Dominic Holland. [27] [28]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham Norton</span> Irish comedian, actor and television host

Graham William Walker, better known by his stage name Graham Norton, is an Irish comedian, actor, author and television host known for his work in the UK. He is a five-time BAFTA TV Award winner for his comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show (2007–present) and an eight-time award-winner overall. He has received the British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance three times for So Graham Norton. Originally shown on BBC Two before moving to other slots on BBC One, his chat show succeeded Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in BBC One's late-Friday-evening slot in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexei Sayle</span> English stand-up comedian (born 1952)

Alexei David Sayle is an English actor, author, stand-up comedian, television presenter and former recording artist. He was a leading figure in the British alternative comedy movement in the 1980s. He was voted the 18th greatest stand-up comic of all time on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups in 2007. In an updated 2010 poll he came 72nd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Smith (comedian)</span> English comedian

Linda Helen Smith was an English comedian and comedy writer. She appeared regularly on Radio 4 panel games, and was voted "Wittiest Living Person" by listeners in 2002. From 2004 to 2006 she was head of the British Humanist Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Smith (comedian)</span> English comedian and writer

Brian Arthur John Smith is an English alternative comedian, presenter and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Munnery</span> British comedian

Simon Munnery is an English comedian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hegley</span> British writer, musician and comedian

John Richard Hegley is an English performance poet, comedian, musician and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boothby Graffoe (comedian)</span> British musician and comedian

Boothby Graffoe is an English comedian, singer, songwriter and playwright. He is particularly known for his surreal sense of humour and work with Canadian band Barenaked Ladies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malcolm Hardee</span> English comedian (1950–2005)

Malcolm Hardee was an English comedian and comedy club proprietor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenny Eclair</span> English comedian, novelist, and actress

Jenny Eclair is an English comedian, novelist, and actress, best known for her roles in Grumpy Old Women between 2004 and 2007 and in Loose Women in 2011 and 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Tavaré</span> English actor and comedian

Jim Tavaré is a British stand-up comedian, actor, and musician. He is best known for his work on The Sketch Show on ITV, which won a BAFTA award. He played the role of Tom in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and has appeared in several music videos, including Roots Manuva's "Too Cold", McFly's "It's All About You", Phoenix Foundation's "Thames Soup", and Letlive's "Banshee".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Byrne (comedian)</span> Irish comedian

Edward Cathal Byrne is an Irish actor and comedian. He has presented the British television shows Just for Laughs and Uncut! Best Unseen Ads, has been a guest on numerous television panel games and has appeared on a number of television cooking shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Key</span> English comedian and poet

Tim Key is an English poet, comedian, actor and screenwriter. He has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, both as a solo act and as part of the comedy group Cowards, and plays Alan Partridge's sidekick Simon in film and television. In 2009, he won the Edinburgh Comedy Award and was nominated for the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality.

John Dowie is a British comedian, musician and writer, often viewed as a pioneer of alternative comedy. He began performing stand-up comedy in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans Teeuwen</span> Dutch comedian and actor

Hans Eduard Marie Teeuwen is a Dutch comedian, musician, actor and occasional filmmaker. His work has been described as absurdist, apolitical and confrontational.

Thomas William Basden is an English actor, writer and comedian. He is best known for co-creating and starring in Plebs, which won the Royal Television Society award for Best Scripted Comedy in 2014. He was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2007 Edinburgh Comedy Awards and is a member of the sketch group Cowards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Whitehall</span> English comedian, actor, presenter and writer

Jack Peter Benedict Whitehall is an English comedian, actor, writer, and television personality. He is known for his roles as JP in the comedy-drama series Fresh Meat (2011–2016) and as Alfie Wickers in the sitcom Bad Education also co-writing the latter and its film adaptation, The Bad Education Movie (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Widdicombe</span> English comedian and presenter

Josh Widdicombe is an English comedian, presenter and actor. He is best known for his appearances on The Last Leg (2012–present), Fighting Talk (2014–2016), Insert Name Here (2016–2019), Mock the Week (2012–2016) and his BBC Three sitcom Josh (2015–2017). He also won the first series of Taskmaster in 2015 and the show's first Champion of Champions special in 2017. Widdicombe also hosted Hypothetical with fellow comedian James Acaster (2019–2022). During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, Widdicombe started the Parenting Hell podcast with fellow comedian Rob Beckett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Robins (comedian)</span> English stand-up comedian and presenter

John Michael David Robins is an English stand-up comedian and radio presenter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominic Frisby</span> British author, comedian and voice over artist

Dominic Frisby is a British author, comedian and voice over artist. He is best known as co-host of television programme Money Pit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nish Kumar</span> British stand-up comedian and presenter

Nishant Kumar is a British stand-up comedian, television presenter, political commentator, and podcast host. He became known as the host of satirical comedy The Mash Report, now known as Late Night Mash. He has also presented BBC Radio 4 Extra's topical comedy show Newsjack, the Comedy Central series Joel & Nish vs The World, the BBC Radio 4 programme The News Quiz and Hello America on Quibi. Since May 2023, he has been the co-host of the political podcast Pod Save the UK.

References

  1. ↑ "FamilySearch". FamilySearch .
  2. 1 2 "Dominic Holland". Knight Hall Agency. Archived from the original on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  3. ↑ Lonergan, Aidan (29 June 2017). "'It's an absolutely amazing place' – New Spider-Man Tom Holland very proud of his Irish roots". The Irish Post . Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "New Spiderman Tom Holland says Ireland is "absolutely amazing"". IrishCentral.com. 7 July 2017. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "SpiderManx?! - Afternoon Extras". Manx Radio. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  6. ↑ Greenstreet, Rosanna (10 August 2002). "Q&A: Stand-up comic Dominic Holland". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Dom (11 January 2014). "Come on you Bees..." Dominic Holland. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  8. ↑ Fielder, Miles (8 August 2006). "Dominic Holland (review)". Edinburgh Festival List. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Dominic Holland is aLIVE in Tring". DominicHolland.co.uk. 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Royal Variety Performance". Royal Variety Performance official website, London Dominion. 5 December 2000. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "Dominic Holland". Personally Speaking Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 Dominic Holland at IMDb
  13. ↑ "The Wild World of Warren". Comedy.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "The Small World of Dominic Holland". epguides.com. 19 March 2008. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012.
  15. ↑ "The Small World of Dominic Holland Episode Guide". BBC Radio 4 Extra. 14 April 2008. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Holland's Shorts". BBC Radio 4. 26 September 2006. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  17. ↑ "I've Got a Radio Four Series". Hal Cruttenden's Official Site. 26 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013.
  18. 1 2 "Dominic Holland". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Dominic Holland". TV.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  20. ↑ "Only in America". Goodreads. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "The Ripple Effect". Goodreads. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "A Man's Life". Smashwords. 26 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  23. ↑ "Funny Money". The Guardian.
  24. ↑ "How Tom Holland Eclipsed His Dad". Dominic Holland's official site. 15 January 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  25. ↑ Holland, Dominic (16 January 2013). "How does it feel when your child eclipses your achievements before he's reached adulthood?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  26. ↑ "The Fruit Bowl by Dominic Holland". Goodreads. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  27. ↑ "Takes on Life Vol. 1". Dominic Holland. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  28. ↑ Takes on Life: Amazon.co.uk. ASIN   1999765656.
  29. ↑ Holland, Dominic (22 November 2020). Takes on Life Vol. 1. Dom Holland Books. ISBN   978-1999765651.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.