Steven Jonathan Furst (born 3 September 1967) is a British comedian, actor and writer.^[1] He appeared in theOrange mobile phone cinema adverts in the UK (withBrennan Brown), playing the role of Eliot, a spoof studio executive, and has appeared regularly in theBBC comedytelevision programmeLittle Britain as well as cabaret characterLenny Beige.

Furst first worked in comedy writing forChris Evans'sPower Up show onBSB'sPower Station music channel in 1990. He then set up Britain's first comedy magazine,The Heckler. In 1992, he worked as a stand-up comedian and promoter, founding comedy nights such asThe Double Six Club,The Youth Club, andThe Regency Rooms.

Furst also works under the nameLenny Beige,^[2] promoted comedy nights (started on theRegency Rooms) and fought the1997 general election inPutney under that name, and had 2 series onBBC Choice with guests includingTerry Wogan,Davina McCall,Claudia Winkleman,Chas & Dave,Tony Hadley and many more.

Furst often performed (as Lenny Beige) at the Regency Rooms in London's West End which ran for a total of 10 seasons.Guy Chambers was Lenny's musical director when he also became co-writer and producer ofRobbie Williams who himself made many appearances at the club. Beige also regularly appeared atClub Montepulciano; the bandHooverphonic sing about this in their song of the same name (Lenny Beige is performing spinning wheel/Club Montepulciano is what you need). After the Regency Rooms was closed in 2000, Lenny was retired. In 2006 he returned to host a series of cabaret nights atThe Pigalle Club in Picadilly. His tribute show toAnthony Newley was premiered at The Pigalle Club and received 5 star reviews.

In 2012, Lenny was asked to host a residency at Mayfair'sPlayboy Casino, which he did for over 12 months.Lenny Beige SingsNeil Diamond is Lenny's newest show, which first premiered at Cafe Zédel.

Since 2012, Furst has also held a role on the judging panel for the Norwich Film Festival.^[3]He has hosted a regular show onSoho Radio as himself,Lenny Beige and alsoThe Mayor of Kentish Town.

Furst made his professional television debut as a stand up in LWT'sAfter Midnight. He has appeared onTheJohnny Vaughan Tonight show on BBC Choice andBBC One,The Late Edition withMarcus Brigstocke and as the host on theBritish Hit Singles & Albums No.1 Music QuizDVD. He has also appeared 3 series of CBBC sitcom calledThe Legend of Dick and Dom in which he starred alongsideDominic Wood,Richard McCourt and Chloe Bale. He is in 'Combat Kids', another CBBC show andThe Dumping Ground. In 2018 he starred in the new CITV showSpy Kids as the villainGoldfist.

Furst starred in theCatterick series withVic Reeves andBob Mortimer as an assistant Police Officer called Sergeant Mingemungington. He has appeared in nearly 30 commercials in the cinema forOrange as the sidekick of the main male character played byBrennan Brown. He has also appeared in numerous other programmes;Bodies,Born and Bred, all three series ofLittle Britain,The Bill,Dick and Dom's Funny Business,Father Brown,Doc Martin,Friday Night Dinner andTracey Breaks the News. He appears as DI Gary Cunningham inITV's three part dramaManhunt.

He appeared occasionally as a contributor toThe Wright Stuff onFive. In 2018 he took a starring role as Popsy Wilson Jr in the20th Century Fox movieWalk Like A Panther.

In 2003, Furst appeared as Juror No.1 in12 Angry Men at theAssembly Rooms at theEdinburgh Fringe.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009/10, Furst starred alongsideMichael Brandon in Oliver Cotton's playWet Weather Cover at theKing's Head Theatre before transferring to London's West End. He played Hymie in the 2011 production ofChicken Soup With Barley byArnold Wesker at theRoyal Court Theatre, directed by artistic director Dominic Cook.On 27 March 2012, it was announced Furst would play the role of Mr Wormwood inMatilda the Musical, which had been playing the Cambridge Theatre in London'sWest End since October 2011.^[4] He replacedPaul Kaye beginning performances 17 April 2012.^{[citation needed]}

Furst was scheduled to be part of the world premiere cast ofMade in Dagenham from October 2014, at theAdelphi Theatre in the West End.^[5]

In 2019, he starred in the titular role of Mr Gum, inMr Gum & The Dancing Bear at theNational Theatre.

In the autumn of 2022, he appeared at theRoyal Court Theatre in the production ofJews In Their Own Words. In 2023, he starred asFagin in aLeeds Playhouse production ofOliver!^[6] In August 2024, he played Shylock in a West End concert ofSomething Rotten! atTheatre Royal, Drury Lane.^[7] Over Christmas 2024, he performed as Alfred P Doolittle inMy Fair Lady at theCurve Theatre, Leicester.^[8]

On 14 October 2019, Furst was conferred an Honorary Fellowship of theUniversity of Winchester.^[9]

• Radio Comedy 1938–68:A Guide to 30 Years of Wonderful Wireless,Virgin Books, 1996

• Steve Furst atIMDb
• Official website