Jack Whitehall | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Whitehall in 2015 | |
| Born | Jack Peter Benedict Whitehall (1988-07-07)7 July 1988 (age 36) London, England |
| Education | University of Manchester (dropped out) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1993–present |
| Partners |
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| Children | 1 |
| Father | Michael Whitehall |
| Website | jackwhitehall |
Jack Peter Benedict Whitehall (born 7 July 1988) is an English comedian, actor, writer and television personality. He is known for his roles as JP in theChannel 4 comedy-drama seriesFresh Meat (2011–2016) and as Alfie Wickers in theBBC Three sitcomBad Education (2012–2014, 2022–2024) also co-writing the latter and its film adaptation,The Bad Education Movie (2015).
From 2012 to 2018, Whitehall was a regular panelist on the comedy game showA League of Their Own. In 2017, he appeared alongside his father,Michael Whitehall, in theNetflix comedy documentary seriesJack Whitehall: Travels with My Father and starred in theBBC comedy-drama seriesDecline and Fall. From 2018 to 2021, and again in 2025, he hosted theBRIT Awards.
Whitehall performed his firststand-up comedy show at the 2009Edinburgh Festival Fringe, for which he was nominated for 'Best Newcomer' at theEdinburgh Comedy Awards.[1] He has written and performed five stand-up tours:Jack Whitehall Live (2010–2011),Gets Around (2014),At Large (2017),Stood Up (2019), andSettle Down (2023–2024).
Jack Peter Benedict Whitehall was born on 7 July 1988 atPortland Hospital inLondon'sWest End,[2][3] the son of actress Hilary Amanda Jane Whitehall (née Isbister;stage name Hilary Gish) and television producerMichael Whitehall. Whitehall Senior has frequently featured in his son's television programmes. Jack Whitehall has described his father, a staunchConservative, as "Tory with a capital T", noting that in the first electionhe was eligible to vote in, his fatherimpersonated him viapostal vote to ensure he would vote for the Conservative Party.[4] Whitehall also has a younger sister and brother.[5][6]
Whitehall is a descendant of Welsh lawyer Thomas Jones Phillips (not to be confused with Mayor Thomas Phillips[7]), who was a major opponent of theNewport Rising of 1839.[8][9] He had two godfathers: actorsNigel Havers andRichard Griffiths.[10] He attendedTower House School in London'sEast Sheen area, where he was a schoolmate of actorRobert Pattinson.[11] He has often joked that he resented Pattinson for taking all the best acting roles in the school plays.[12] Whitehall auditioned for thetitle character inHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), but the casting director was unimpressed with him because he had not readthe book.[13][14] His parents sent him to boarding school at the age of seven.[13] He was educated at theDragon School inOxford and thenMarlborough College. He took agap year in which he decided to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. He attended theUniversity of Manchester to study history of art, dropping out after two terms.[15][16]
In 1997 Whitehall (then aged nine) appeared in the seriesNoah's Ark. In June 2008, he presented the first week ofBig Brother's Big Mouth onE4, returning in August to present the twelfth week. In September 2008, Whitehall made his first appearance onChannel 4's8 Out of 10 Cats.[17]
In January 2009, Whitehall presentedCelebrity Big Brother's Big Mouth and appeared onThe Sunday Night Project. On 5 June, his third appearance on8 Out of 10 Cats was broadcast.[18] In June 2009 Whitehall co-presented topical-satire seriesThe TNT Show withHolly Walsh on Channel 4.[19] In August, he appeared onCharlie Brooker's Channel 4 panel showYou Have Been Watching,[20] followed in September by his first appearance onWould I Lie to You?.[21] He made his first of many appearances onBBC Two satirical panel showMock the Week,[22] and in October, he guest-presented an episode ofNever Mind the Buzzcocks.[23]
In January 2010, Whitehall made his fourth appearance in8 Out of 10 Cats,[24] followed in February by his second appearance onMock the Week,[25] and a first appearance inArgumental onDave.[26] In April, he featured onChannel 4's Comedy Gala, a benefit show held in aid ofGreat Ormond Street Children's Hospital, which had been filmed live atThe O2 Arena in London in March. In April, he appeared onJames Corden's sport showA League of Their Own,[27] and on 11 June made his fifth appearance on8 Out of 10 Cats,[24] followed in June by his third appearance onMock the Week.[28] In June and July 2010, Whitehall was a regular performer on the first series of Channel 4'sStand Up for the Week alongsideAndi Osho,Kevin Bridges,Rich Hall and presenterPatrick Kielty.[29] In September he made his sixth appearance on8 Out of 10 Cats,[30] and in September and October, his fourth and fifth appearances onMock the Week.[28] In October, he appeared on a second episode ofArgumental,[26] and he honouredBig Brother presenterDavina McCall on the Channel 4 showA Comedy Roast.[31] In October, he headlined the second episode ofDave's One Night Stand,[32] followed by his second appearance onA League of Their Own,[33] and on 1 November he appeared onAsk Rhod Gilbert.[34] In December, he appeared on theRoyal Variety Performance 2010, and in December he appeared on the sixth series ofLive at the Apollo,[35] which had been filmed on 27 September.
Whitehall often worked with the lateactorArchie Lyndhurst, the only child ofNicholas Lyndhurst, an actor, who is best known for his role asRodney Trotter in theBBCsitcomOnly Fools and Horses. Lyndhurst played Young Jack in the second episode in the second series of theSky1Christmascomedy-drama,Little Crackers. The episode, "Jack Whitehall's Little Cracker: Daddy's Little Princess", was broadcast on 18 December 2011. Lyndhurst played Little Jack Whitehall in theITV television variety show,Tonight at the London Palladium, in the episode broadcast on 28 September 2014. Lyndhurst played Young Alfie Wickers in theBBC Threesitcom,Bad Education. The episode, "The Exam", was broadcast on 14 October 2014. Lyndhurst played Young Jack Whitehall in theshort film,Jack Whitehall Gets Around: Intro, which was released on 24 November 2014.[36]
In February 2011, Whitehall was featured onComedy Central Presents Jack Whitehall in the United States.[37] In March, he appeared on the BBC football programmeFinal Score, reporting onArsenal's 0–0 draw withSunderland at theEmirates Stadium. From March until May, Whitehall returned as a regular performer for the second series of Channel 4'sStand Up for the Week together with Andi Osho, Kevin Bridges and Rich Hall, joined for the new series byJon Richardson.[29] In March, Whitehall and Bridges presentedJack and Kevin's Comic Relief Lock-In, which took theComic Relief show through to the early hours of the morning with a selection of the best comedy clips of the last couple of years. In May 2011, he made his début appearance on a U.S. chatshow, interviewed byEllen DeGeneres, onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show. In June, Whitehall featured on the second annualChannel 4's Comedy Gala, which had been filmed in May. In June, he made a seventh appearance on8 Out of 10 Cats.[27]
In July 2011, Whitehall appeared alongsideLorraine Kelly on the Channel 4 showKing Of..., presented byClaudia Winkleman.[38] In July 2011, he made a sixth appearance onMock the Week,[39] and he appeared on the British version ofThe Marriage Ref withJack Dee andKatherine Kelly. He was a guest on the Channel 4 showChris Moyles' Quiz Night, presented byBBC Radio 1 DJChris Moyles,[40] and in September made his second appearance onWould I Lie to You?[41] Whitehall made his acting début in the Channel 4 comedy dramaFresh Meat, from the creators ofPeep Show. In the series, Whitehall plays the role of J.P., a public school boy who failed to get into a "proper" university.[42] The first series, in which he co-stars alongsideJoe Thomas, ran until November 2011 and received critical acclaim. A second, third and fourth series aired on Channel 4 in the UK.[43] In September, he and his father Michael appeared onThe Million Pound Drop Live, presented by Davina McCall.[44] On 30 November it was announced he would write and star in newBBC Three comedyBad Education.[45]
He landed a six-part entertainment series onChannel 4, calledHit The Road Jack, which started airing on 20 March 2012, following Whitehall on a comedy tour of the country.[46] He became a regular panellist for the fifth series ofA League of Their Own onSky1 in 2012.[47]
In 2012, Whitehall starred in a self-penned sitcomBad Education onBBC Three, which began on 14 August, in which he plays Alfie, a teacher who is "the worst teacher ever to grace the British education system and is a bigger kid than the kids he teaches". The series also starsMathew Horne as Fraser, the headmaster,Sarah Solemani as Miss Gulliver, the biology teacher, andMichelle Gomez as Miss Pickwell, the deputy head. Whithall co-wrote and starred in the 2015Bad Education Movie and returned for the 2022 reunion special.
On 30 November 2012, Whitehall was guest host ofHave I Got News for You (season 44, broadcast 7). On 3 January 2013, he promoted his first DVD in an interview with Mark Lawson on BBC Radio 4'sFront Row. On 24 November 2013 he acted in the Old Vic's charity gala '24 Hour Plays', where a series of ten-minute plays are written, rehearsed and performed within 24 hours. Also in 2013, Whitehall lent his voice to the Disney animated filmFrozen as a troll priest named Gothi, but his lines were cut from the finished film.[48]
In February 2014, Whitehall guest starred onTop Gear, having only driven a car once before, and drove on theTop Gear Test Track. In December 2014, he made a guest appearance in the second series of thePeter Gabriel spoofThe Life of Rock with Brian Pern, broadcast onBBC Two. In 2015, he starred as posh backpacker Hugo in "La Couchette", the first episode of the second series of anthology seriesInside No. 9.
On 24 October 2014, Whitehall was the presenter of theFeeling Nuts Movement'sThe Feeling Nuts Comedy Night on Channel 4, raising awareness of testicular cancer.[49] In 2017 he presentedJack Whitehall: Travels with My Father, atravel documentary/road trip series in which he and his fatherMichael Whitehall spent five weeks inThailand,Cambodia, andVietnam. The show was released onNetflix.[50] On 8 December 2017, Whitehall was announced as the next host of theBRIT Awards, taking over from 2017's hostsDermot O'Leary andEmma Willis.
In May 2019, during the professional wrestling PPVAEW Double or Nothing, Whitehall introduced wrestling legend,Bret Hart, to the ring to unveil the newAEW World Championship.
Whitehall started performing stand-up comedy at theEdinburgh Festival Fringe at thePleasance Theatre's Comedy Reserve showcase. He had previously taken a sketch show to the Fringe calledComic Abuse. Whitehall won the Amused Moose Laugh Off 2007, and was runner-up in the Laughing Horse New Act of The Year competition, a finalist inSo You Think You're Funny?,[51] and winner of the Charlie Harthill Special Reserve in the same year. He was also nominated for 'Best Newcomer' in the 2008Chortle Awards, and was a finalist in theHackney Empire New Act of the Year.
In August 2009, Whitehall performed his first solo stand-up show,Nearly Rebellious, at theEdinburgh Festival Fringe. The same year, he was nominated for 'Best Newcomer' at theEdinburgh Comedy Awards.[52]In September 2009, Whitehall was accused of stealing one ofStewart Lee's stand-up routines for his critically acclaimedNearly Rebellious show.[53][54] Lee had performed the joke, which deals with the subject of life after walking in space, at theMontrealJust for Laughs comedy festival in the 1990s, and was filmed for TV by theComedy Network.[55] When Whitehall recited his version of the routine at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2009, he was described by an otherwise favourable review forMetro as "repeating" Lee's sketch "almost verbatim".[56]
On 20 October 2009,Robbie Williams was accused of stealing one of Whitehall's jokes in his much-publicised "comeback" performance as part of theBBC's electric proms at theCamden Roundhouse.[57] When Whitehall originally performed theone-liner, which plays on thephrasal verb "tolook down on someone", it was voted the fifth best joke of the year's Edinburgh Fringe in a poll conducted by TV channelDave.[57]
On 20 June 2010, a photograph of Whitehall appeared in theNews of the World, purportedly showing him in possession ofcocaine inManchester.[58][59][60] He quickly issued an apology for his behaviour, but did not confirm or deny the allegations.[58][59] Later that same week, Whitehall appeared on the debut episode ofStand Up for the Week[58] alongside fellow comedianPatrick Kielty,[59] who took the opportunity to mockingly refer to the article.[61]
On 30 March 2010, Whitehall took part inChannel 4's Comedy Gala, abenefit show held in aid ofGreat Ormond Street Children's Hospital, filmed live at The O2 Arena in London and broadcast on 5 April. Whitehall then appeared at theMontrealJust for Laughs comedy festival in July, and returned to the Edinburgh Fringe in August with his second solo show, entitledLearning Difficulties. On 27 September, Whitehall appeared at theApollo,Hammersmith in front of a full audience for a recording of the sixth series ofLive at the Apollo, which aired on 17 December. Also in 2010, he was picked out byVariety as one of their prestigious ten stars of the future.
In January 2011, Whitehall was nominated by theBritish Comedy Awards for 'Best Comedy Breakthrough'.[62] On 12 March, he set a newGuinness World Records title together withDara Ó Briain andJon Richardson, for hosting the 'Highest stand-up comedy gig in the world', on aBritish Airways flight in support ofComic Relief.[63] On 24 May, Whitehall took part in the second annualChannel 4's Comedy Gala, which aired on 10 June.
In August 2011, Whitehall performed two shows at theEdinburgh Festival Fringe. His third solo stand-up show in succession,Let's Not Speak of This Again. He also performed a series of four stand-up shows with his father Michael Whitehall, calledBackchat,[64] which was also completely sold out. Both received very favourable reviews.
He appeared in the first series of Dave's One Night Stand for the comedy network Dave. Recording a stand up performance at London'sHaymarket Theatre. The show featured special guests as support.
In November 2011, Whitehall performed two sell out solo shows at theHammersmith Apollo. These shows completed his debut national tourLet's Not Speak of This Again. Both shows again received highly favourable reviews.[65]
On 30 December 2012, Whitehall appeared onThe Big Fat Quiz of the Year, during which he made a joke aboutQueen Elizabeth II. On the next day, complaints were submitted about the joke toOfcom.[66] Ensuing media speculation led to the National Television Awards stating publicly that Whitehall would not be forced to resign from presenting the awards a short time later.[67]
Whitehall took part in "A Show for Gareth Richards" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023, which was staged by fellow comediansMark Simmons and Danny Ward to honour Richards' life after he died in a car-crash in April 2023. The show won the first Victoria Wood award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2023[68] and the raised almost £20,000 for Gareth's family.[citation needed]
Whitehall met actressGemma Chan in 2011, when she guest starred on his seriesFresh Meat. They dated until December 2017.[69] Since 2020 he has been in a relationship with model Roxy Horner,[70][71] and in September 2023 they announced the birth of their first child. They live inNotting Hill.[72][73] On 21 December 2024, Roxy shared the news on her Instagram that she and Whitehall are now engaged.[74][75]
Whitehall is an avid supporter ofArsenal F.C.[76] He is friends with sports promoterTony Khan[77] and has attendedJacksonville Jaguars games.[78]
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Let's Not Speak of This Again | |
| 2014 | Gets Around | |
| 2017 | At Large | |
| 2019–20 | Stood Up | |
| 2023–24 | Settle Down |
| Title | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Live | 19 November 2012 | at London'sHammersmith Apollo |
| Gets Around: Live from Wembley Arena | 24 November 2014 | Live at London'sWembley Arena |
| At Large | 24 October 2017 | Netflix special Live at London's Hammersmith Apollo |
| I'm Only Joking | 21 July 2020 | Netflix special Live at London's Wembley Arena |
| Settle Down | 30 January 2024 | Netflix special Live at London'sO2 Arena |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Good Guys | Guy McFadyean Jr. | Episode: "Old School Ties" |
| 1997 | Noah's Ark | Ben Wiston | Episode: "Paying the Price" |
| 2002 | Bertie and Elizabeth | Little boy | Television film; uncredited |
| Goodbye, Mr. Chips | Student | Television film; uncredited | |
| 2005 | Have I Been Here Before? | James Porter | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Ruddy Hell! It's Harry and Paul | Office worker | |
| Jesus Boy and the Goatherd | Jack | Television film; also writer | |
| Beehive | Various characters | 3 episodes | |
| 2009 | The TNT Show | Himself | Presenter; 2 episodes |
| 2009–2011 | Mock the Week | Guest panellist; 7 episodes | |
| 2010–2017, 2019 | A League of Their Own | Regular Panelist, Guest Presenter (1 episode) | |
| 2011 | Little Crackers | Robin | Episode: "Jack Whitehall's Little Cracker: Daddy's Little Princess"; also writer |
| 2011–2016 | Fresh Meat | J.P. | Main role; 30 episodes |
| 2012–2014, 2022–2023 | Bad Education | Alfie Wickers | Main role; 19 episodes; also creator, writer (17 episodes), Associate Producer (4 episodes) |
| 2013–2014 | Psychobitches | Maria Von Trapp Sleeping Beauty's Prince Diana Spencer | 3 episodes |
| 2013–2015 | Backchat | Himself | Presenter; 12 episodes |
| 2014 | Top Gear | "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" | |
| The Life of Rock with Brian Pern | Young Tony Pebble | Episode: "Jukebox Musical" | |
| An American Education | Alfie Wickers | Television movie pilot; also Executive Producer | |
| 2015 | Inside No. 9 | Hugo | Episode: "La Couchette" |
| Cockroaches | Oscar | 4 episodes | |
| The Royal Variety Performance | Himself | Presenter | |
| 2015–2016 | Thunderbirds Are Go | Francois Lemaire (voice) | 3 episodes[79] |
| 2016 | Drunk History | Sir Walter Raleigh | Episode: "Sir Walter Raleigh / Robin Hood & Maid Marian" |
| Walliams & Friend | Various | Episode: "Jack Whitehall" | |
| 2017 | Decline and Fall | Paul Pennyfeather | TV mini-series; 3 episodes |
| Jack Whitehall: At Large | Himself | Stand-up Special | |
| 2017–2019 | Bounty Hunters | Barnaby Walker | Main role; 7 episodes |
| 2017–2021 | Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father | Himself | Presenter; also Executive Producer; 5 series |
| 2018 | 2018 Brit Awards | Presenter | |
| Jack Whitehall: Training Days | |||
| Urban Myths | Mark Feld | Episode: "David Bowie and Marc Bolan" | |
| Horizon | Himself | Narrator, episode: "Teenagers vs Cancer: A User's Guide" | |
| The Sidemen Show | Episode: "The Great Sidemen Race" | ||
| 2019 | 2019 Brit Awards | Presenter | |
| The Graham Norton Show | Guest presenter | ||
| Good Omens | Newton Pulsifer, Thou-Shalt-Not-Commit-Adultery Pulsifer | TV mini-series; 5 episodes | |
| Who Do You Think You Are? | Himself | Alongside his father Michael, explores his ancestry | |
| Jack Whitehall: Christmas with My Father | Presenter | ||
| 2020 | Jack Whitehall: I'm Only Joking[80] | Netflix Comedy Tour Special | |
| 2020 Brit Awards | Presenter | ||
| Jack Whitehall's Father's Day | |||
| Jack Whitehall's Sporting Nation[81] | |||
| 2021 | 2021 Brit Awards | ||
| A League of Their Own Roadtrip: Loch Ness to London | Game show | ||
| The KSI Show | Bearus (voice) | ||
| 2022 | Got, Got, Need | Himself | [82] |
| 2023 | Live Italian | WithMaya Jama andLawrence Dallaglio[83] | |
| The Afterparty | Sebastian | Main role; | |
| 2024 | Jack Whitehall: Fatherhood with My Father | Himself | Presenter[84] |
| 2024 | Jack In Time For Christmas | Himself | Presenter[85] |
| TBA | Malice | Adam Healey | Post-production[86] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Houdini Girl | — | Short |
| Frozen | Gothi – Troll Priest (voice) | Uncredited | |
| 2015 | The Bad Education Movie | Alfie Wickers | Also writer |
| 2016 | Mother's Day | Zack Zimm | |
| Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods | Asterix (voice) | English dub | |
| 2018 | KSI: Can't Lose | Himself | Documentary |
| The Nutcracker and the Four Realms | Harlequin | ||
| 2019 | The Queen's Corgi | Rex (voice) | |
| Luger | Tom | Short | |
| 2021 | Jungle Cruise | McGregor Houghton | |
| Clifford the Big Red Dog | Uncle Casey | ||
| 2023 | Robots | Charles Cameron / C2 | |
| TBA | Silent Retreat | Post-production |
Khan, bizarrely, is close friends with Jack Whitehall and he's gradually moulding the Arsenal supporter into a Fulham fan.
Media from Commons
Quotations from Wikiquote
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