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Miles Jupp
British comedian and actor

Miles Hugh Barrett Jupp (born 8 September 1979) is an English actor and comedian. He began his career as a stand-up comedian before playing the role of the inventor Archie in the children's television series Balamory. He also played John Duggan in The Thick of It, Nigel in the sitcom Rev, and appeared on many comedy panel shows. Between 2015 and 2019, Jupp was the host of The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4, replacing Sandi Toksvig.

Early life

Jupp was born in 1979 in London and spent his early childhood in West Hampstead.5 He is the son of a minister in the United Reformed Church. For much of his life, Jupp believed he was of Belgian stock, descended from 16th-century Huguenot immigrants. However, while creating a programme for BBC Radio 4 in 2015, he discovered his roots are actually in Sussex.6

Jupp attended three independent schools: The Hall School in Hampstead, North London; St George's School in Windsor; and Oakham School in Rutland. He studied Divinity at the University of Edinburgh.789 While there, he performed with an improvised comedy troupe, the Improverts, and took part in pantomime productions with the Edinburgh University Theatre Company at Bedlam Theatre.10

Career

Jupp won So You Think You're Funny?, Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year in 2001 and was a Perrier Award Best Newcomer nominee in 2003 for his show Gentlemen Prefer Brogues. During his appearance on Celebrity Mastermind and Test Match Special in 2011, he claimed to have bluffed his way onto an England cricket tour to India as the cricket correspondent for both BBC Scotland and the Western Mail. He wrote Fibber in the Heat, a book about his adventures as a cricket journalist in India.11

Television and film

Jupp played Archie, the Inventor in CBeebies' Balamory.12 He also had a role in the BBC Scotland comedy programme, Live Floor Show, where he played an eccentric, foul-mouthed comedian. In 2007, Jupp appeared fleetingly in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as a television weatherman who complained about a hot drought.

Jupp appeared in Series 3 and 4 of the political comedy, The Thick of It, as John Duggan, an incompetent press officer with a habit of making inappropriate comments.13 He appeared in BBC Scotland's comedy Gary: Tank Commander as Captain Fanshaw. In 2009, he appeared briefly in the film Sherlock Holmes as a waiter. In the same year, he also appeared in Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle.

In 2010, Jupp appeared on Mock the Week and Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow. He performed as Nigel, a Church of England Lay Reader, in the BBC sitcom Rev. He also appeared as an under-secretary in the film Made in Dagenham (2010).

In January 2011, Jupp was a team member alongside Goldie and Phill Jupitus on the music quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks. In May 2011, November 2011, and April 2012, he was a panellist on Have I Got News for You and Would I Lie To You? (BBC). On 22 August 2011, he was a lunchtime guest on Test Match Special, where he revealed a love of cricket and that he had previously worked with the Test Match Special team, who had no idea who he was. This became the basis of the book Fibber in the Heat.14

In October 2011, he again appeared in Mock the Week. Jupp had a cameo role in Johnny English Reborn in 2011 as an employee of MI7. He appeared in Series 4, Episode 4 of the comedy panel game Argumental, which aired on 24 November 2011. In 2012, he appeared on Mock the Week.

In January 2012, he won on Celebrity Mastermind. In February 2012, he appeared on BBC Let's Dance for Sport Relief and danced to The Prodigy's "Firestarter". In March 2012, he appeared in an episode of the televised 45th Anniversary series of BBC Radio 4's Just a Minute quiz show, alongside Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth and Liza Tarbuck. In July 2013, he appeared in an episode of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue on BBC Radio 4. He was featured in the 2014 World War II film, The Monuments Men, as British officer Major Fielding. Jupp has also appeared eight times on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown15 between 2014 and 2021.

In 2014, Jupp narrated the BBC television documentary series, Building Dream Homes. In 2016, he appeared in Grimsby as a police officer. On 27 April 2016, it was announced that Jupp would voice Blackberry in the forthcoming adaptation of Watership Down. In 2015, Jupp appeared as a team captain on The Really Welsh Christmas Quiz, alongside comedians Chris Corcoran, Elis James, and Omar Hamdi.16

In October 2016, Jupp appeared as Giles, the chairman of the residents' committee, in the sitcom from BBC Three Josh.17 In 2017, he appeared as Hardy in the film, Journey's End.18 He played auction house appraiser Winford Collins in the episode "The Tanganyika Green" of Father Brown. In 2018, Jupp made guest appearances as Basil, an incompetent lawyer, in the television drama by ITV The Durrells.

Radio

Jupp was the narrator of the radio show The Penny Dreadfuls Present...The Brothers Faversham by the Penny Dreadfuls, which was broadcast at the beginning of 2008 on BBC Radio 7.

In 2009, Jupp became the host of BBC Radio 7 satirical comedy series Newsjack and the host of BBC Radio Scotland comedy quiz show Swots. In February 2011, he appeared as a panellist on BBC Radio 4's panel show It's Your Round. Starting in February 2012, Jupp hosted three series of a BBC Radio 4 panel show It's Not What You Know (based on his suggestion for a round on It's Your Round.19), before handing the job over to Joe Lycett.

In 2011, he starred in the self-penned BBC Radio 4 comedy, In and Out of the Kitchen, "the diary, written for publication, of a somewhat minor celebrity chef, Damien Trench".20 A second series followed in 2013, and continued with a third series in 2014. The show had a short-lived television version in 2015. A six-part fourth series aired on BBC Radio 4 in August and September 2015.21

He played the title character in BBC Radio 4 comedy Boswell's Lives (written by Jon Canter) which ran for four series, 2015–2018.

Jupp appeared as a contestant on BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz in April 2012 (Series 77; Episode 1). In June 2015 he became the new presenter of the show, replacing Sandi Toksvig.22 He chaired the show for 12 series, with his last appearance on 31 May 2019 (Series 99; Episode 8).23

Jupp appears as retired Prime Minister Henry Tobin in Party's Over from 2019 to 2022 (12 episodes). In 2022, his four-episode sketch show, Whatever Next? With Miles Jupp was broadcast on Radio 4.24

Live

In March 2008, Jupp performed his third solo show, Everyday Rage and Dinner Party Chit Chat, at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden. He presented Live at the Gilded Balloon podcast for The Guardian newspaper's coverage of the 2008 and 2009 Edinburgh Fringe.2526 In 2019, Jupp played the role of actor David Tomlinson in The Life I Live, a one-man show at the Salisbury Playhouse and other theatres.

Personal life

Jupp and his wife Rachel met while studying in Edinburgh.27 They have five children.28 The family moved from Peckham, South London, to Monmouthshire, Wales.29 In 2021, Jupp suffered a brain seizure, following which he had surgery to remove a brain tumour.30

Stand-up shows

YearTitleNotes
2003–04Gentlemen Prefer Brogues
2005Young Man in a Huff
2007Everyday Rage & Dinner Party Chit Chat
2008Drifting
2009Telling It Like It Might Be
2010–14Fibber in the Heat
2014Miles Jupp Is the Chap You're Thinking Of
2016–17Songs of Freedom
2024On I Bang

DVD releases

TitleRelease DateNotes
Fibber in the Heat23 September 2014Live at Milford Haven's Torch Theatre
Miles Jupp Is the Chap You're Thinking Of11 November 2015Live at Margate's Theatre Royal
Songs of Freedom1 December 2017

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
2007Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixTV Weatherman
Death Defying ActsVentriloquist
2008Is Anybody There?Vicar
2009Sherlock HolmesWaiter
2010Made in DagenhamUndersecretary 2
Timber!MilesShort film
2011Johnny English RebornTechnician
ConnectedShop ManagerShort film
2013The Look of LoveInterviewer
2014The Monuments MenMajor Fielding
RosewaterMaziar's Producer
The Riot ClubMale Banker
The Last Sparks of SundownGeoffrey Chicken
2015The Dark RoomThe Charity CollectorShort film
2016GrimsbyPoliceman
The Legend of TarzanThe Valet
ChickLitMarcus
WaterboysHoratio
2017Journey's EndHardy
The Man Who Invented ChristmasWilliam Makepeace Thackeray
2019GreedSelect Committee Chairman
2020MisbehaviourClive
2023NapoleonEmperor Francis II

Television

YearFilmRoleNotes
1992Songs of Praise: A Celebration of ChristmasHimself
2001RevolverShoe Salesman
2002–2005Live Floor ShowRupert Donaldson
BalamoryArchie74 episodes
2006Feel the ForceMr. BramwellEpisode: "Murder"
2007Wedding BellesMale HostTelevision film
2008She Stoops to ConquerTony LumpkinTelevision film
The Wrong DoorNinjaEpisode: "Bondo"
2009Stewart Lee's Comedy VehicleVarious4 episodes
2009–2012The Thick of ItJohn Duggan2 episodes
Gary: Tank CommanderCaptain Fanshaw10 episodes
2010Lip ServiceRory2 episodes
2010–2014Rev.Nigel McCall19 episodes
2011CampusArnoldEpisode: "Post-Coital"
Peeder Jigson's Video DiaryTrevor GertrudeEpisode: "What Everyone's Up to in the Break"
Comedy LabStu CarterEpisode: Rick and Peter"
2012SpyOwen9 episodes
A Young Doctor's NotebookPalchikov the ClerkEpisode: "Episode Four"
2013Man DownMan in PubEpisode: "Episode One"
Harrow: A Very British SchoolNarrator8-part documentary
2014Building Dream HomesNarrator
2014–present8 Out of 10 Cats Does CountdownHimself – Guest
2015In and Out of the KitchenDamian Trench3 episodes; also writer
The Million Pound Motors31as narrator
2016Do Not DisturbJohn
JoshGilesEpisode: "Sex & Politics"
Alan Partridge's Scissored IsleJames Havant BrownTelevision special
OutnumberedStuartEpisode: "Christmas Special 2016"
2017Father BrownWynford CollinsEpisode: "The Tanganyika Green"
QuacksGeorge CombeEpisode: "The Madman's Trial"
James and JuppHimself4 episodes
The CrownHumphreyEpisode: "Marionettes"
2017–2018Bad MoveMatt12 episodes
2017–2022Frankie Boyle's New World OrderPanellist24 episodes (+4 clip show episodes)
2018Watership DownBlackberry (voice)Miniseries
2018-2019The DurrellsBasilRecurring role
2019Tourist TrapDr. Phillip HobbsEpisode: "Culture"
Midsomer MurdersCornelius TetburyEpisode: "With Baited Breath"
2020The GreatMaxim the PainterEpisode: "War and Vomit"
2021Sex EducationObstetricianEpisode: season 3, episode 5
Grantchester (TV series)Marcus AsperEpisode: season 6, episode 2
A Very British ScandalDr. Ivor Griffiths3 Part mini-series: part 2, episode 2
2022Why Didn't They Ask Evans?Henry Bassington-ffrench3 Part miniseries
SAS: Rogue HeroesMajor Alfred Knox6 Part miniseries
Professor T. (British TV series)Sean HallettSeason 2, Episode 5
2024Belgravia: The Next ChapterThe Duke of Rochester

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005–06Jack and the BeanstalkSimple SimonHis Majesty's Theatre32
2007The Way of the WorldPetulantRoyal Theatre33
2011A Day in the Death of Joe EggBriCitizens Theatre34
2012–13PeopleBevanNational Theatre35
2014Neville's IslandAngusDuke of York's36
2015Rules for LivingMatthewNational Theatre37
2019The Life I LeadDavid TomlinsonUK tour
2022–23The Lavender Hill MobHenry HollandUK tour
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miles Jupp.

References

  1. Gray, Susan (2 October 2016). "Miles Jupp". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 7 September 2018. (Subscription required.) https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/our-first-son-was-born-in-the-sitting-room-of-our-london-flat-i-went-over-a-speed-bump-too-fast-thats-when-it-started-vqxsbflfk

  2. Merritt, Stephanie (11 October 2015). "Miles Jupp: 'I'd love to play a Bond villain'". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/oct/11/miles-jupp-love-to-play-bond-villain-radio-4-news-quiz-sandi-toksvig

  3. "BBC – Entertainment and Arts". BBC News. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33315631

  4. Smith, Julia Llewellyn (23 March 2018). "Miles Jupp interview: 'I was deported for being drunk on a plane'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 September 2018. (Subscription required.) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/comedians/miles-jupp-interview-deported-drunk-plane/

  5. "Miles Jupp". Global Player. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023. https://www.https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/episodes/7DrhUBy/

  6. Jupp, Miles (25 March 2015). "Miles Jupp Is Insufficiently Belgian". BBC. Retrieved 31 May 2015. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05mt5c8

  7. "Have you heard the one about the vicar's son, Miles Jupp?". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 7 September 2018. https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/comedy/have-you-heard-the-one-about-the-vicars-son-miles-jupp-6534030.html

  8. Logan, Brian (28 January 2011). "Miles Jupp – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/jan/28/miles-jupp-fibber-heat-review

  9. Gray, Susan (2 October 2016). "Miles Jupp". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 7 September 2018. (Subscription required.) https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/our-first-son-was-born-in-the-sitting-room-of-our-london-flat-i-went-over-a-speed-bump-too-fast-thats-when-it-started-vqxsbflfk

  10. "Miles Jupp". bedlamtheatre.co.uk. Bedlam Theatre. Retrieved 7 May 2022. http://www.bedlamtheatre.co.uk/users/492

  11. Jupp, Miles (2013). Fibber in the heat. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0091943134. 978-0091943134

  12. Kettle, James (4 June 2010). "This week's new comedy". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2010/jun/05/this-weeks-new-comedy

  13. Heritage, Stuart (29 September 2012). "The Thick of It – Lines of the Week". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/sep/29/thick-of-it-episode-four

  14. Blincoe, Nicholas (26 June 2012). "Fibber in the Heat by Miles Jupp: review". The Daily Telegraph. London. (Subscription required.) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/9347256/Fibber-in-the-Heat-by-Miles-Jupp-review.html

  15. Merritt, Stephanie (11 October 2015). "Miles Jupp: 'I'd love to play a Bond villain'". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/oct/11/miles-jupp-love-to-play-bond-villain-radio-4-news-quiz-sandi-toksvig

  16. "Christmas, The Really Welsh Quiz – BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2017. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06tm80y

  17. "BBC Three – Josh, Series 2, Sex & Politics". BBC. Retrieved 7 February 2019. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p049tvpb

  18. Gray, Susan (2 October 2016). "Miles Jupp". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 7 September 2018. (Subscription required.) https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/our-first-son-was-born-in-the-sitting-room-of-our-london-flat-i-went-over-a-speed-bump-too-fast-thats-when-it-started-vqxsbflfk

  19. "BBC Radio 4 – It's Not What You Know". BBC. Retrieved 7 February 2019. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036wvkd

  20. "In And Out of the Kitchen". comedy.co.uk. http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/radio/in_and_out_of_the_kitchen/press/

  21. "In and Out of the Kitchen Series 4". BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b065z39r

  22. "BBC – Comedy – Media Centre". BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/r4seasonlaunch/comedy#heading-miles-jupp-announced-as-host-of-the-news-quiz

  23. "BBC Media Centre – Miles Jupp signs off from The News Quiz". BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/miles-jupp-news-quiz

  24. "'Whatever Next?' with Miles Jupp - Radio 4 Sketch Show". British Comedy Guide. https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/whatever-next-with-miles-jupp/

  25. "Miles Jupp". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/profile/milesjupp

  26. "My Edinburgh: Miles Jupp, comedian". The Independent. 24 August 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2019. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/my-edinburgmiles-jupp-comedian-1776599.html

  27. Corcoran, Rachel (16 August 2015). "Miles ahead: Interview with actor, comedian and panellist Miles Jupp". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2019. https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/598344/Miles-Jupp-actor-comedian-panellist-radio-4-quiz-host-interview

  28. Wallop, Harry (7 January 2016). "Miles Jupp: Radio 4 comedy needs the odd 'kidney punch'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 7 February 2019. (Subscription required.) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/12086753/Miles-Jupp-Radio-4-comedy-needs-the-odd-kidney-punch.html

  29. Jones, Alice (20 December 2016). "Miles Jupp: I'm a white, middle-class man and I'm not going to pretend that I'm not". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2019. (Subscription required.) https://inews.co.uk/essentials/miles-jupp-im-white-middle-class-man-im-not-going-pretend-im-not/

  30. Maxwell, Dominic (31 January 2024). "Miles Jupp review – joyful show about near-death is his best yet". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 31 January 2024. (Subscription required.) https://www.thetimes.com/article/miles-jupp-rcomedy-eview-joyful-show-about-near-death-is-his-best-yet-3b878w27l

  31. "Supercars: the Million Pound Motors (2015)". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160214133302/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/551b1c621135b

  32. "Jack and the Beanstalk". UK Theatre Web. Retrieved 6 April 2018. https://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/Aberdeen/His-Majestys-Theatre/Panto/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk/L1777392556/

  33. Morris, Caroline (2 May 2007). "The Way of the World review at Royal Theatre Northampton". The Stage. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) https://web.archive.org/web/20180406225943/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2007/the-way-of-the-world-review-at-royal-theatre-northampton/

  34. "Interview: Miles Jupp, comedian and actor". The Scotsman. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2018. https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/theatre/interview-miles-jupp-comedian-and-actor-1-1917504/amp

  35. Hitchings, Henry (8 November 2012). "People, Lyttelton, National Theatre – review". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 6 April 2018. https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/theatre/people-lyttelton-national-theatre-review-8296944.html

  36. Billington, Michael (21 October 2014). "Neville's Island review – descent into savagery stretches credulity". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 April 2018. /wiki/Michael_Billington_(critic)

  37. Billington, Michael (25 March 2015). "Rules for Living review – Stephen Mangan and Miles Jupp are a joy". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 April 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/mar/25/rules-for-living-national-theatre-stephen-mangan-miles-jupp-review