Thomas James Ridgewell (born 27 June 1990), known online as TomSka, is an English YouTuber, filmmaker, vlogger, comedian, actor, musician, and former animator. He is known for writing, directing, producing, and starring in his live-actionsketch comedyYouTube videos and animated web series such as Asdfmovie (/ˈæsdəfmuːvi/AS-dəf-moo-vee), Crash Zoom,[2] and Eddsworld where he both provided the voice and inspired the character of Tom and served as showrunner from 2012 to 2016. As of July2024[update], his YouTube channel has over 7.33 million subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 2 billion views.[3]
Thomas James Ridgewell was born on 27 June 1990 in Suffolk, England.[4][5] His would-be twin sister Amelia died prenatally after Ridgewell's mother was injured in a car accident.[6] He was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, in Essex until age 4 and later Cambridge. As a child, Ridgewell made short films using his parents' video camera.[7] Shortly after YouTube was established, Ridgewell created CakeBomb,[8] a website where he posted his projects, including his animated web series Asdfmovie and his late friend Edd Gould's Eddsworld. Ridgewell graduated from the University of Lincoln,[9] where he studied Media Production having previously studied at Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge,[10] and whilst studying created a series of unofficial advertisements for the university, which received millions of views and were also featured on the BBC.[11]
Career
As a professional YouTuber, Ridgewell earns money from revenue from his videos on the website.[12][13] Ridgewell engages in social commentary through his YouTube channel, covering topics such as mental health and personal relationships.[14] From April 2016 to February 2018, he uploaded weekly vlogs to his second channel, DarkSquidge, now known as TomSka & Friends, in a series named Last Week.[15]
In 2012, Ridgewell founded the media production company TurboPunch Ltd., located in London. He currently works there alongside co-writer Eddie Bowley.[16] Ridgewell also became the producer of Eddsworld after the show's creator, Edd Gould, died of leukemia.[17] He left the series in 2016, relinquishing the show to animator Matt Hargreaves.[17]
In February 2013, Ridgewell was featured on the cover of Wired UK as part of a feature titled "How YouTube Reinvented the Entertainment Business".[18] In May 2013, he was featured in YouTube's first and only Comedy Week[19] as a guest host for its Geek Week series in August.[20]
In 2016, Ridgewell filmed several sketches with the BBC for a potential sketch show on BBC Three.[21]
A book titled Sam Kills Christmas, written by Ridgewell and Eddie Bowley with illustrations by Dorina Herdewijn, was released on 8 November 2018.[22][23]
Asdfmovie
In 2008, Ridgewell released the first episode of Asdfmovie, an animated sketch comedy series featuring short clips of minimalist characters in surreal and occasionally darkly humorous situations.[24]
In October 2015, Ridgewell released his book based on the Asdfmovie series, Art is Dead: the asdf book, illustrated by Matt Ley and published by Little Brown 5.[24]
In 2017, His song "Beep Beep I'm a Sheep" by Canadian musician LilDeuceDeuce, with vocals by Ridgewell and Gabriel Brown,[25] was featured in the dance rhythm gameJust Dance 2018.[26]
In May 2018, Ridgewell uploaded "The Muffin Song", a spin-off song of his Asdfmovie series, in collaboration with Schmoyoho. As of December2024[update], the video has garnered over 263 million views.[27]
In 2019, Ridgewell developed a card game based on Asdfmovie in collaboration with Big Potato Games called Muffin Time: The Random Card Game.[28] He raised over £1,000,000 for the game on Kickstarter.[29] A second game, Don't Press That Mine Turtle, raised over £300,000 on Kickstarter.[30]
Personal life
He was raised a Jehovah's Witness but no longer practices this faith.[31] Despite this, he has expressed belief in a higher power.[32]
Ridgewell has been open about his struggles with grief, following the death of Edd Gould in 2012, and was diagnosed with depression in 2013.[33]
On 26 December 2023, Charlie Belle, his long-term partner, announced via Instagram that they had become engaged.[38][39] Ridgewell later revealed he had proposed on Christmas.[39]
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