Ed Deedigan | |
|---|---|
| Organization | Kandu Arts |
| Known for | Film and politics |
| Notable work |
|
| Political party | Independent Party |
Ed Deedigan is a film producer and independent politician based in Chippenham, United Kingdom. He is best known for producing the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA)-nominated film Everything (2004), directed by Richard Hawkins, and Bash Street (2011), produced by Kandu Arts and starring veteran actor Con O'Neill and EastEnders star Jan Graveson.
Random Gender were a British, Wiltshire-based progressive garage band, founded in 1982 by twin brothers Jon and Simon Cousins. During October 1982, Richard Pearson left Random Gender, with Eddie Deedigan coming in as his replacement as a guitarist. Eddie Deedigan introduced a folk influence to the band's music. Eddie took part in a sixth form production of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at Sheldon School, alongside other members of the band, like keyboard player Richard Hughes. [1]
Wiltshire based progressive folk group Ophiuchus were formed in 1986 from the remaining members of Random Gender. Deedigan would leave the band in 1983 to go to drama college.
Eddie Deedigan would later go on to form the band Circus with Tom Aitkenhead and Damon Albarn of Blur.
Ed was the former lead singer of the band The Shanakies, who were signed to an independent label in Paris. [2]
Following the end of his band work, Deedigan would move into the film industry, attending drama college and studying alongside Damon Albarn. [3] Following his graduation, he founded Chippenham’s Kandu Arts for Sustainable Development, which supports individuals from challenging and underprivileged environments in developing healthier and sustainable life opportunities. [4] As part of Kandu Arts, he produced the 2004 British film Everything, which would be nominated for a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) award. [5]
In 2011, Ed produced, along with writing/directing the 2011 film Bash Street (2011), which served as the second feature film by Kandu Arts. [6] The film starred veteran actors Con O'Neill, [7] and EastEnders star Jan Graveson. The film also stars over 100 locals and many up-and-coming stars from North Wiltshire Young People’s Theatre Group. Deedigan wrote the lyrics for the films musical score with aid from Che Deedigan. Melanie C sung the lyrics. [3] The film premiered at the Astoria Reel Cinemas Ltd, and continued playing for another week after. [3]
In 2015, Ed produced/wrote the third feature film by Kandu Arts, Postcard from Perranporth, which was directed by Conor Deedigan and starred veteran actors Ed Gaughan and Gordon Trafford. [8] In 2008, Eddie contributed to the production of Telstar: The Joe Meek Story. In 2020, he produced the Kandu Arts projects Vivid Blindless, Miss StayAtHome and Golden Delilah.
Ed appeared in the 2004 film The Baby Juice Express and all three of the Kandu Arts feature films (Everything,Bash Street and Postcard from Perranporth). [9]
Ed took part in several elections as an independent politician. His interest in politics came from his childhood, during which he was involved in anti-apartheid marches, though he has never been “politically aligned. [4] He was an independent candidate in the 2024 United Kingdom general election in Chippenham, garnering 540 votes. [10] He was a candidate again in the 2025 Wiltshire Council election, garnering 41 votes. Ed also founded the “Truth Vs Politics Podcast”.
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Everything (film) | Producer | |
| 2011 | Bash Street (2011 film) | Producer/Writer/Director | |
| 2015 | Postcard from Perranporth | Producer | |
| 2020 | Vivid Blindness | Executive Producer | Short |
| 2020 | Miss StayAtHome | Associate Producer | Short |
| 2020 | MissStayAtHome2020 2 | Executive Producer | TV Series |
| 2020 | Golden Delilah | Executive Producer | Short |
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Baby Juice Express | Tele Sales Presenter | |
| 2004 | Everything (film) | Ed-Naomi’s Pimp | |
| 2011 | Bash Street (2011 film) | Drunken Limerick Man | |
| 2015 | Postcard from Perranporth | Dickie’s Brother |