Wikipedia

Tom Binns

Christopher Thomas Binns (born 1970) is a British comedian best known for his character of Hospital Radio DJ Ivan Brackenbury.

Tom Binns
Binns as hospital radio DJ Ivan Brackenbury, Glastonbury Festival, 2019
Born
Christopher Thomas Binns

1970 (age 53–54)
Sheffield, United Kingdom
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • writer

Career

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He appears in the BBC MI5 drama Spooks (Episode 6 Series 6),[1] Series 3 of the IT Crowd on Channel 4,[2] in Knowing Me Knowing Yule with Alan Partridge, and, in character as Ivan Brackenbury, on The Jason Byrne Show. In 2017, he appeared in the comedy movie Eaten by Lions.

As Ian D Montfort he had a BBC Radio 2 series called Ian D Montfort is Unbelievable, broadcast in February 2013.[3]

Besides writing comedy for television and radio, Binns has appeared on other television shows, such as RI:SE, Bullrun, Oblivion and as a writer on Trigger Happy TV, for which he earned "best comedy moment" and "TV moment of 2001" awards. His first television appearances were Friday Night Armistice (BBC2) and Lee and Herring's Fist of Fun, and has gone on to further appear in the Channel 4-based late night sports talk show Under the Moon, with Danny Kelly where he regularly referenced his love of Sunderland AFC. He has also had stage appearances at the Bloomsbury Theatre and Garrick Theatre.

Binns has worked on Radio 1, Virgin, BRMB and GLR, Talksport UK, Hallam FM and Key 103, appearing either as himself or as hospital radio character Ivan Brackenbury.[4]

Binns is the co-writer of BBC 1's Hospital People, part of the BBC's Comedy Playhouse, in which he plays the five lead characters Ivan Brackenbury, Ian D Montfort, Susan Mitchell, Terry Boyle and Father Kenny.[5]

He has written the book How to Get Famous – A Cynical Guide.

Controversies

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In 1999, London-based radio station Xfm was fined £50,000 by the Radio Authority following complaints regarding the use of coarse sexual innuendo when discussing a bestial pornography video with a listener during the Tom Binns Breakfast Show.[6] Parent company Capital Radio decided not to sack Binns but in a meeting shortly after the fine was issued, the Radio Authority made it clear to Capital Radio that this would negatively affect the decision to renew the XFM licence.

In December 2009, Binns was fired from BRMB by its owners Orion Media after he cut short the Queen's Christmas Message.[7] The Message was played into his show in error instead of the expected two-minute news bulletin. Binns joked, "Two words: bore-ring". He then went on to joke that the British monarchy can't be as good for tourism as some people claim because "the French executed theirs and people still visit France" and played a George Michael record with the link "from one queen to another".[8][9]

Awards and accolades

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Binns has received several accolades:

References

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  1. ^ "BBC – Spooks – Series 6, Episode 6 Credits". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  2. ^ Tramps Like Us, retrieved 1 August 2019
  3. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - Ian D Montfort Is: Unbelievable". BBC. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Making a career out of a sick joke". The Daily Telegraph. 26 January 2008. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  5. ^ "BBC - Production has begun on new comedy series Hospital People, with guest stars including Russell Brand and Sally Phillips - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Record fines for radio stations". BBC News. 14 December 1999. Retrieved 1 February 2007. – Article describing the nature of complaints against Tom Binns on Xfm
  7. ^ Plunkett, John (29 December 2009). "Radio DJ sacked for interrupting Queen's Christmas speech". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Tom Binned over Queen's speech gag". Chortle. 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  9. ^ "Sacked BRMB DJ Tom Binns thanks public for support". Birmingham Mail. 1 January 2010.
  10. ^ "News: Midlands Comedy Awards Results Announced". Beyond The Joke. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Midlands Bankers". Chortle. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
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