Ian Boldsworth
Ian Boldsworth in 2017
Born
Richard Ian Boldsworth

(1973-06-27) 27 June 1973 (age 50)
Warrington, Lancashire, England
Occupation(s)Comedian, actor, podcast host, writer
Years active2002–present
Websiteianboldsworth.co.uk

Richard Ian Boldsworth (27 June 1973, in Warrington, England),[1] previously known by the stage name Ray Peacock, is an English comic performer, best known for The ParaPod, The Peacock and Gamble Podcast and The Ray Peacock Podcast.[2] He came to prominence in the Big and Daft comedy trio.[3]

Career

Boldsworth made his debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002, originally as a brash Yorkshireman character named Ray Peacock who soon became a regular act. In his 2006 show at the Edinburgh Festival, the character was dropped in all but name for a confessional stand-up show called "Out of Character."[4]

In 2007 Boldsworth began presenting the Chortle-hosted Ray Peacock Podcast alongside fellow comedian Ed Gamble and former EastEnders actor Raji James. It was succeeded by The Peacock and Gamble Podcast.[3] Launched on 8 June 2009 and released on Mondays, the show was a comedic insight in the lives and experiences of Peacock and Gamble. Kings Place in London hosted a live version of the show in December 2009 featuring Nick Mohammed in supporting roles. The shows were also notable for their live Twitter take-overs, where Ray and Ed would hack into an audience member's account during the interval.[citation needed] A limited Edinburgh run took place every Sunday of the 2011 Fringe.[citation needed] The Peacock and Gamble Podcast ended with a live episode at Kings Place on 8 December 2011.[citation needed] It returned for daily episodes at the 2012 and 2013 Edinburgh Festivals with a different special guest each day.[citation needed]

Peacock and Gamble also fronted the Emergency Broadcast show at the Fringe in 2011.[5] This show had the concept that a "real" show has been halted so Ray and Ed must fill time.[citation needed] Early examples featured a seance, a guide to world culture, a re-creation of the Stanford prison experiment, a tribute to Sister Act and live Guitar Hero.[citation needed] In 2013, the BBC commissioned a pilot of Emergency Broadcast for BBC Radio 4.[6]

Between 2015 and 2018, Boldsworth made a three-season podcast called The ParaPod with comedian Barry Dodds. Boldsworth and Dodds would explore and debunk conspiracy theories and reports of paranormal activity.[7] He also presented a mental health-themed podcast, The Mental Podcast, for which he won the 2017 Digital Champion award from Mind.[8]

In April 2018 Boldsworth announced the upcoming release of The Parapod Movie in which he and Dodds would travel the UK in a hearse with Dodds attempting to convince Boldsworth of the existence of ghosts. It was the first ever podcast to become a movie.[7][9]

In September 2013, Boldsworth hosted a three-hour radio show on BBC Radio 4 Extra dedicated to comedy icon Les Dawson.[10]

As an actor he has appeared on Doctor Who, Red Dwarf and Skins.[11]

Boldsworth retired from live comedy in 2017[12][13][14] and much of his work now takes place on Patreon.[15]

Awards

References

  1. ^ "Ian Boldsworth – Biography". ianboldsworth.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  2. ^ Walters, Sarah (14 June 2013). "Ray Peacock: My double vision". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Ray Peacock". Comedy CV.
  4. ^ "Ray Peacock Review, "Out of Character"". Chortle. 2006.
  5. ^ https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/peacock_gamble_emergency_broadcast/
  6. ^ Dipper, Andrew (21 February 2013). "Radio 4 order Peacock & Gamble pilot". Giggle Beats.
  7. ^ a b "The podcast that became a film". Chortle. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Ian Boldsworth wins Mind award". Chortle. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  9. ^ Guide, British Comedy (5 October 2021). "How we turned the ParaPod podcast into a film - BCG Pro". British Comedy Guide.
  10. ^ Dipper, Andrew (9 September 2013). "Ray Peacock's tribute to Les Dawson". Giggle Beats. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  11. ^ "Ian Boldsworth | Actor, Director". IMDb.
  12. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "RHLSTP 98 - Ray Peacock - RHLSTP with Richard Herring". British Comedy Guide.
  13. ^ "Stand Up | Ian Boldsworth". 16 April 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019.
  14. ^ "It's a Shit Business | New Escapologist".
  15. ^ "Patreon". www.patreon.com.
  16. ^ "Chortle Awards 2017 nominees announced". British Comedy Guide. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Midlands Comedy Awards 2016 winners". British Comedy Guide. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  18. ^ "2017's Ockham Awards for Excellence in Skeptical Activism". The Skeptic. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Looking back at the Mind Media Awards". Mind. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

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