John Finnemore (writer)

This article is about the comedy writer and actor. For the author, see John Finnemore (author).
John Finnemore
Born John David Finnemore
(1977-09-28) 28 September 1977
Reading, England
Nationality British
Alma mater Peterhouse, Cambridge
Occupation Comedian, writer
Years active 2000 – present

John David Finnemore (born 28 September 1977) is a British comedy writer and actor, best known for his radio sitcom Cabin Pressure and his radio sketch show John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, as well as for frequent appearances on other BBC Radio 4 comedy shows such as The Now Show. Finnemore is noted for winning more Comedy.co.uk Awards than any other writer.[1]

Early life and education

John Finnemore was born in Reading to parents David and Patricia and has a younger sister, Anna. He attended Dolphin School in Berkshire,[2] High Lea in Dorset and Poole Grammar School.

He then studied English at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he wrote his dissertation on Thomas Hardy ('Icons, Frames and Freedom in Jude the Obscure'[3]) and graduated in 2000.[4] He was a member of the Cambridge Footlights, becoming vice-president in his final year.[5] After graduating, he performed in Sensible Haircut with the Footlights team at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2000.[6]

Career

Finnemore wrote the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Cabin Pressure and played the part of the idiotic but endearingly cheerful Arthur. The sitcom first aired in 2008. A fourth series was broadcast in January 2013[7] and the show concluded with a two-part finale at Christmas 2014.[8] He also writes a radio sketch show, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme,[9] which he performs with Simon Kane, Carrie Quinlan, Lawry Lewin and Margaret Cabourn-Smith. The first series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011 and a second followed in 2012, along with a special edition recorded at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A third series was released in 2013.[10] The fourth series was recorded in the summer of 2014[11] and started airing on BBC Radio 4 in October 2014. The fifth series was broadcast starting on 7 January 2016 on Radio 4.

Both Cabin Pressure and John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme have been released on CD.

Finnemore has written extensively for other comedy shows, both on radio and TV, including That Mitchell and Webb Sound (2003–2009), That Mitchell and Webb Look (2006–2010), Dead Ringers (2003–2007), Safety Catch, John Finnemore, Apparently,[12] The Now Show and The Unbelievable Truth (2011).[13] Since 2009, he has co-written the podcast David Mitchell's Soap Box with Mitchell, however this unofficially ended in 2012.[14] He is also a programme associate for 10 O'Clock Live.

Finnemore has appeared on various BBC Radio 4 shows, including The Now Show, The Unbelievable Truth, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, Just a Minute, and The News Quiz. He also appeared as a minor character, Chris, in Miranda Hart's television sitcom Miranda, in the episodes 'Teacher' (2009), 'Before I Die' (2010), 'The Dinner Party' (2013) and 'I Do, But to Who?' (2014).

Finnemore did voice-over for 24 Hours to Go Broke on Dave.[15]

In September 2011, Finnemore wrote a pilot episode for BBC One: George and Bernard Shaw, a sitcom starring Robert Lindsay and Richard Griffiths as an elderly gay couple. The show was not picked up for a full series.[16][17]

John Finnemore's Double Acts, an anthology series of six unconnected two-handers, aired on Radio 4 from October 2015. It will be released on CD in 2016.[18]

Awards

Cabin Pressure won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain 2011 award for Best Radio Comedy, and In 2014, it was awarded Silver for Best Comedy at the Radio Academy Awards.[19]

Finnemore has also won more Comedy.co.uk Awards than any other writer. When adding together shows for which Finnemore is the main writer and an additional writer, Finnemore work has resulted in him winning 13 awards. Cabin Pressure was voted "Best British Radio Sitcom" in 2011,[20] 2013,[21] and 2014.[22] Cabin Pressure was also voted "Comedy of the Year" in 2014 across TV and radio, making it the first radio show to be given the honour.[22] John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme was voted "Best British Radio Sketch Show" in 2011,[20] 2012,[23] and 2014.[22] Finnemore has also written for other shows that have won Comedy.co.uk Awards such as That Mitchell and Webb Sound which was voted "Best British Radio Sketch Show" in 2009,[24] 2010,[25] and 2013;[21] That Mitchell and Webb Look which was voted "Best British TV Sketch Show" in 2006 and 2009;[24][26] and The Unbelievable Truth which was voted "Best British Radio Panel Show" in 2011.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2014 results announced". British Comedy Guide. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Old Delphinians: John Finnemore".
  3. ↑ "Twitter post". 3 November 2011.
  4. ↑ "Congregations of the Regent House on 29 June, 30 June, and 1 July 2000". Cambridge University Reporter.
  5. ↑ "Cambridge Footlights Alumni 1990–1999".
  6. ↑ "Cambridge Footlights at Edinburgh Fringe Festival". 2000.
  7. ↑ "Cabin Pressure Update".
  8. ↑ "BBC - Good Omens and last ever Cabin Pressure confirmed in Radio 4 Schedule - Media centre".
  9. ↑ "John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme".
  10. ↑ BBC Radio 4 - John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme
  11. ↑ Finnemore, John. "Souvenir Hunting". Forget What Did.
  12. ↑ "John Finnemore, Apparently". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Interview with John Finnemore". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  14. ↑ "Ten Questions for: John Finnemore". Varsity. 16 November 2011.
  15. ↑ Richard Herring (25 November 2015). "John Finnemore". RHLSTP (Podcast) (88 ed.). British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  16. ↑ Tom Bryant (8 August 2011). "My Family replacement stars Robert Lindsay in show about two gay men". The Mirror.
  17. ↑ Seale, Jack (9 January 2013). "Cabin Pressure writer John Finnemore on the joy of radio, crafting comedy - and Benedict Cumberbatch". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "John Finnemore's Double Acts". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 Oct 2015.
  19. ↑ Radio Academy Awards | Winners | 2014 | Production Awards | Best Comedy
  20. 1 2 3 "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2011". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  21. 1 2 "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2013". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  22. 1 2 3 "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2014". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  23. ↑ "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2012". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  24. 1 2 "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2009". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2010". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2006". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
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