Justin Lee Collins

Justin Lee Collins

Collins signing autobiography Goodtimes
Born (1974-07-28) 28 July 1974
Southmead, Bristol, England
Medium Radio, Television, Stand up, Books
Nationality British
Years active 1997–present
Genres Observational comedy, Surreal humour, Slapstick
Subject(s) Celebrities, Everyday life
Spouse Karen Collins (2003[1]–2010, separated)[2]
Children 2
Notable works and roles FAQ U
The Convention Crasher
The Friday Night Project
Bring Back...
The Justin Lee Collins Show
Heads or Tails
Good Times
Turning Japanese

Justin Lee Collins (born 28 July 1974) is an English radio host, television presenter and actor.[3]

Justin Lee Collins started out as a stand up comedian in his late teens, having been influenced by the stand up of American comedians such as Eddie Murphy, Anthony George and Steve Martin He then moved on to be a presenter on a number of TV shows. From 2003 – 2005 he hosted his own radio show on XFM, and was one half of the famous duo presenting The Sunday Night Project (previously named The Friday Night Project) alongside Alan Carr for Channel 4. He also hosted numerous specials on Channel 4 entitled 'Bring Back...' reuniting the cast and crew from famous shows or films such as Dallas, Star Wars and Fame. He then took on challenges to become a Mexican Wrestler, a Surfer, a Ballroom Dancer, a Ten Pin Bowler, a High Diver and a West End Star. He later became a West End Star in Rock of Ages.[4]

In 2012 he was convicted of harassing an ex-girlfriend.[5] Since his conviction, Collins has sought professional help and now hosts a weekly radio show on Fubar Radio, the UK's only uncensored station.

In 2014 Collins starred in the comedy/horror feature film The Hatching alongside Thomas Turgoose and Andrew Lee Potts and in 2015 played a small role in the time travel comedy Time Slips (2015).

Early life

Collins was born on 28 July 1974 in Southmead, Bristol, to Anita and Danny Collins, a self-employed electrician.[6][7] Collins is an only child. In 1990, Collins left education at Speedwell Technology College at the age of 15 with no qualifications and started working at Marks & Spencer as a warehouse operative.[7][8]

Career

Comedy and theatre

Collins began his career in entertainment as a stand-up comic whilst still working part-time as a double-glazing window demonstrator. He won the best New Comedy Act award at the Glastonbury Festival in 1997 and reached the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival the same year.[9] Collins gave up stand-up comedy in 2002 to concentrate on TV and radio presenting, stating that he never intends to return to the profession.[8]

In 2007 and 2010, Collins won "Funniest Man" at Loaded's LAFTA awards.[10]

In 2008 Collins appeared as Amos Hart in the hit show Chicago, for which he rehearsed for at the Cambridge Theatre. Collins said of the role, "I'm over the moon to be playing the sexiest part in the best show on the West End stage. I've already gone through a dozen pairs of tights."[11]

From August 2011 to September 2012 Collins played Dennis Dupree in the West End production of Rock of Ages.

In 2013, Collins made a low-key return to stand-up comedy when he participated in “What’s the fuss?” an event organised by Helen Lederer.[12]

Radio

Collins began hosting a radio show on XFM in 2003, initially on Sundays at 1 to 3 am, later progressing to Saturday afternoons from 3 to 6 pm. He left in December 2005 and returned to host the Saturday 2 to 6pm slot during April 2011. On 17 September that year, Collins sat in for Dermot O'Leary's Saturday show on BBC Radio 2. Collins was heard performing a Tom Jones impersonation on BBC Radio 1's Chris Moyles Show in January 2008.[13]

In 2014, Collins returned to radio with his own weekly show on Fubar Radio, an uncensored station featuring Andy Parsons and Mark Dolan. Collins' show currently runs Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 8.00pm - 10.00pm with co-host Sam Hutt. The show is also available via iTunes in podcast form.

Television and film

Collins in 2007

In 2002, Collins made shows for Bravo and MTV and became the host of the companion show for the first series of Strictly Come Dancing. He was replaced by Claudia Winkleman the following year and the show moved from BBC Three to BBC Two.

In 2005 and 2006, Collins presented The Games: Live At Trackside on E4 alongside Caroline Flack. The series was the companion show to Channel 4's sports-based reality programme The Games.

He was one of the presenters of Channel 4 and Paramount's Flipside TV.

Collins presented The Friday Night Project (later known as The Sunday Night Project) for Channel 4 alongside Alan Carr for three years from 2006 to 2009. He has also hosted a number of Bring Back... shows in which he aims to reunite groups, normally who are associated with TV or music. He also made a series for Channel 4 entitled The Convention Crasher, aired in late 2007 and early 2008, in which he learned skills such as clowning and ventriloquism in an attempt to win prizes at professional conventions.

On 7 May 2007, he became the latest "celebrity friend" of Paul O'Grady to fill the comic's shoes as guest presenter on The New Paul O'Grady Show on Channel 4 when O'Grady took a break. Collins appeared on Top Gear with Alan Carr on 22 June 2008, for the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment.[14] His appeared onBring Back Star Trek and featured him trying to bring back the cast of the popular 1960s television series.

In June 2008, a show was aired on Sky One entitled Justin Lee Collins: 180, which followed his quest to be a professional darts player. In the show, he practised with Keith Deller and played in the BDO International Open on 15 June 2008. He lost in the first round 3-0 in legs to county player Stuart Bousfield, who was in the top 100 in the BDO rankings at the time.[15]

He signed a £3 million deal with ITV for a show which focused on topical issues, but with a comedic twist, titled The Justin Lee Collins Show on ITV2 which ran from March to May 2009.[16] That year he became the host of the Sky1 show Oops tv, which shows home videos of people doing stupid things and things going badly wrong. That August he appeared on JLC Is, a six-part series on Sky1 HD depicting the comedian taking on challenges to become a Mexican Wrestler, a surfer, a ballroom dancer, a ten pin bowler, a high diver and a West End Star.[17] The following month on 11 September, whilst being interviewed on BBC Radio 1's Chris Moyles Show it was announced that Collins had signed an exclusive deal with Channel 5, and Collins confirmed that he would therefore not be making another series of The Justin Lee Collins Show for ITV2. On joining Five he hosted the game show Heads Or Tails, where players can win up to £1m by correctly calling coin flips and a chat show called Good Times which has since been cancelled due to poor viewing figures.[18]

In Justin Lee Collins: The Wrestler, Collins trains for 10 days in Mexico with a Mexican transvestite Luchador (Mexican wrestler) who fights under the name Cassandro, as an exotico. Justin adopts a rudo (bad guy) Luchador persona, El Glorioso, or the Glorious One, with his own wrestling mask. His persona is given the blessing of El Hijo del Santo (The Son of Saint). Returning to London, Justin fights Cassandro in a Lucha libre event in the Roundhouse, ultimately losing and being unmasked.[19]

In 2014, Collins was cast in British feature film The Hatching as 'Stan'. Directed by Michael Anderson. Collins stars alongside Andrew Lee Potts and Thomas Turgoose. The following year he had a bit-part in time travel comedy Time Slips, directed by Stephen Hyams.

In August 2016, Collins made his return to TV, 2 years after his conviction, by becoming a regular presenter on FanTV, each Tuesday and Thursday on Showcasetv. The shows debut was considered to be a failure with just 412 people watching it live through its Facebook stream.

Music

After failing to be chosen to represent the United Kingdom in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, on 22 January 2010 Collins announced on RTÉ's The Late Late Show his intention to seek the nomination to represent Ireland. His proposed song was written by Boyzone star Ronan Keating.[20] RTÉ confirmed on 9 February 2010 that the song had not been short listed for the Irish final.[21]

In 2007, Collins signed a three album deal with Universal. However, due to other commitments, the first album was never released and subsequently the deal was called off. Collins revealed in an interview with Reveal Magazine (2012) that it's something he would like to re-visit in the future.[22]

Writing

In September 2009 Collins' autobiography Good Times! was published by Ebury Press. An audiobook followed.

Conventions

In 2015, Wales Comic Con announced that Justin Lee Collins would be appearing as a convention guest for the first time in his career.[23]

Personal life

Collins' wife Karen[24] gave birth to their first child, a boy called Archie, on 16 May 2005.[25] During his appearance on UK daytime television show This Morning on 17 January 2008, Collins announced that his wife had recently given birth to their second son, Harvey.[26] Collins separated from his wife in late 2010.[2]

Harassment conviction

In November 2010, Collins began a relationship with Anna Larke.[27] They lived together in Kew from January to July 2011.[28] In December 2011, Collins was charged with Section 4 harassment (causing fear of violence), in relation to an alleged harassment.[29] Collins was subsequently tried at St Albans Crown Court, where, on 9 October 2012, he was convicted of harassment causing fear of violence by a 10–1 majority verdict (one juror having been discharged), and sentenced to 140 hours of community service and to pay £3,500 prosecution costs.[28] He did not appeal against his conviction.[30] Following the trial he sought help from a psychotherapist.[12] In March 2014, Collins said he was in a new relationship and described his personal life as "good".[12] Collins now hosts two radio shows on XS Manchester.

Television credits

References

  1. ↑ McGrath, Nick (23 December 2008). "Justin Lee Collins's heaven and hell". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  2. 1 2 Sara Nathan (2 February 2011). "Justin Lee Collins holidays with new girlfriend as it's revealed he's split from wife after seven years of marriage". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  3. ↑ Bristol – People – Profile: Justin Lee Collins. BBC (29 April 2008). Retrieved on 6 June 2012.
  4. ↑ http://fubarradio.com/shows/the-afternoon-breakfast-show/
  5. ↑ Loulla-Mae Eleftheriou-Smith (20 August 2014). "Justin Lee Collins apologises for 'irrational' treatment of". The Independent.
  6. ↑ Justin Lee Collins. Justin Lee Collins. Retrieved on 6 June 2012.
  7. 1 2 Life's one big good hair day – Justin Lee Collins interview – News – Scotsman.com. Scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com (2 May 2008). Retrieved on 6 June 2012.
  8. 1 2 Scrumpy & Western website. Made In Somerset from cider! Justin Lee Collins profile page. Somersetmade.co.uk (28 July 1974). Retrieved on 6 June 2012.
  9. ↑ Justin Lee Collins – Biography. Talktalk.co.uk. Retrieved on 6 June 2012.
  10. ↑ Justin Lee Collins wins Funniest Man award at Laftas – Showbiz – Evening Standard. Thisislondon.co.uk (27 January 2010). Retrieved on 6 June 2012.
  11. ↑ 'CHICAGO' Celebrates 11th B-Day With Justin Lee Collins 12/4 2008/11/26. Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved on 5 February 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 Eleftheriou-Smith, Loulla-Mae (2 March 2014). "Justin Lee Collins apologises for 'irrational' treatment of ex-girflriend Anna Larke". The Independent. London.
  13. ↑ "Chris Moyles guests 2008". Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  14. ↑ "Top Gear". On The Box. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  15. ↑ "BDO International Open Brean 2008 – Singles 15/06/08" (PDF). BDO Darts. 16 June 2008.
  16. ↑ "Justin Lee Collins". Entertainers. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "JLC Is..." Trailer. Sky1.sky.com (14 August 2009). Retrieved on 6 June 2012.
  18. ↑ Digital Spy 21 July 2010. Digitalspy.co.uk (21 July 2010). Retrieved on 6 June 2012.
  19. ↑ Teeman, Tim (14 August 2009). "Dolce Vito; Justin Lee Collins: Wrestler; How Clean Is Your House? – Last Night's TV". The Times Home Arts & Entertainment TV & Radio. London. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  20. ↑ "RTÉ Player: The Late Late Show – beginning 1:32:00". RTÉ News. 22 January 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  21. ↑ RTÉ announces 2010 Eurosong finalists – RTÉ Ten. Rte.ie (10 February 2010). Retrieved on 5 February 2011.
  22. ↑ Justin Lee Collins Exclusive Interview Reveal 2012. 9 April 2012 – via YouTube.
  23. ↑ "Wales Comic Con - Photos from Wales Comic Con's post - Facebook".
  24. ↑ Justin Lee Collins's heaven and hell. Telegraph (23 December 2008). Retrieved on 5 February 2011.
  25. ↑ Morris, Sophie (11 December 2006). "Justin Lee Collins: My Life in Media". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  26. ↑ This Morning TV show (17 January 2008)
  27. ↑ "Justin Lee Collins should have been jailed, says ex". BBC News.
  28. 1 2 "Justin Lee Collins found guilty of harassing Anna Larke". BBC Online. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  29. ↑ "Justin Lee Collins accused of harassing ex-girlfriend". BBC News. 14 December 2011.
  30. ↑ Justin Lee Collins 'will never accept he is violent', BBC News. Retrieved on 29 November 2012.
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