Comic Relief Does Fame Academy 2005
Celebrity line-up announced
Celebrities' biographies
Edith Bowman
Edith made her first TV appearance on MTV in 1996 reading the news.
She went on to become one of the main faces of MTV, later becoming
one of the anchors for Channel 4's RI:SE.
Along with co-presenter Colin Murray, Edith hosts The Colin And Edith
Show, weekdays on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 1.
Edith was born in Fife and goes back every Christmas to help serve
dinner at her parents' hotel.
Christopher Colquhoun
Actor Chris was most recently seen tragically dying on screen as Dr
Simon Kaminski in Casualty and went on to appear in the Olivier Award
nominated play Simply Heavenly at Trafalgar Studios.
Chris has an eclectic taste in music and particularly enjoys rock,
jazz, R&B and hip hop.
He loves playing guitar at home to relax and claims there's a frustrated
rock star on the inside trying to get out.
His other major passion in life is photography and he hopes to have
an exhibition of his current work in near the future.
Jon Culshaw
Born in Lancashire, Jon realised his talent for impersonations as a
child - mimicking the teachers at school!
He did more than 40 different voices on Spitting Image and he currently
stars in Dead Ringers, a series which transferred from radio to TV and
won six major comedy awards.
He made international headlines on Steve Penk's radio show when his
William Hague impression got him through to Tony Blair live on air.
Jenny Éclair
A stand-up comedienne and writer, Jenny is currently appearing in
her one-woman show The Andy Warhol Syndrome.
The show explores the 15 minutes of fame bestowed on the participants
of reality television.
She has also released her second novel - Having a Lovely Time - this
year, as well as regularly writing for Celebrity Ö÷²¥´óÐãs magazine.
In 1995 Jenny won the Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Festival
and to date is the only woman to have done so.
Adrian Edmondson
Adrian first found fame with The Comic Strip alongside fellow comedians
such as Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Rik Mayall, Keith Allen and
Alexei Sayle.
He went on to become the iconic punk Vyvyan in The Young Ones, written
by Ben Elton and Rik Mayall.
He also starred in the hit comedy series Bottom, with his comedy partner
Rik Mayall, which was later adapted as a theatre tour.
He has been married to Jennifer Saunders since 1985 and has three daughters.
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Comic Relief Does Fame Academy
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Nick Knowles
Known for his hands-on approach to presenting, Nick has hosted many
programmes including DIY SOS, City Hospital, UK's Worst …, Death By
DIY and Land Fit To Live In.
Nick grew up in West London with three sisters and one brother.
He's a self-proclaimed music fanatic and has played in various bands
including one he formed with his brother after school which toured bars
and clubs in London and the Midlands.
Nick recently went to Zambia with Liza Tarbuck to film Comic Relief's
Great Big Celebrity Red Nose Job which went out earlier this month.
Kim Medcalf
Kim originally hails from Bromley, Kent and broke into British television
in 2002 as Sam Mitchell, replacing Daniella Westbrook, as the daughter
of Peggy (Barbara Windsor) in EastEnders.
Kim studied Law at Bristol University before putting herself through
the Central School of Speech and Drama.
Kim has featured in the last two EastEnders Christmas Specials, singing
alongside her EastEnders co-stars.
Al Murray
After many nominations, Al finally won The Perrier Award in 1999.
Most famous for his Pub Landlord he also appeared in Gordon Ramsey's
Hell's Kitchen last year.
He starred in Time Gentlemen Please, a comedy series on Sky One which
was based around Murray's Pub Landlord character.
Al read Modern History at St Edmund Hall, Oxford University, and that's
where he began performing comedy.
He has played drums since he was nine.
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Comic Relief Does Fame Academy
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Dawn Steele
Dawn is most famous for playing feisty housekeeper Lexie in Monarch
Of The Glen but has recently been seen in Sea Of Souls as new girl Justine.
Glasgow-born Dawn found the perfect role in Lexie and played her for
five series.
The actress' CV isn't limited to the Scottish Highlands as she has
appeared in independent movies like Tabloid TV and Club Le Monde too.
She was also roundly applauded by the critics for her turn in the gritty
Ö÷²¥´óÐã drama The Key.
Debra Stephenson
Coronation Street's Debra was born and grew up in Hull.
She knew from a young age that she wanted to perform. She won Opportunity
Knocks at the age of 15.
As a result Debra appeared at The Edinburgh Festival, Manchester's
The Green Room and London's The Comedy Store performing stand-up.
She then went on to drama school in Manchester.
Debra went on to appear in Bad Girls for which she was twice nominated
for the National Television Awards Most Popular Actress, as well as
winning the TV Quick Award for Best Actress.
Other television roles include Reckless, Mad About Alice and Playing
The Field.
Debra currently plays Frankie Baldwin in Coronation Street and has
been part of the cast since 2004.
Gina Yashere
Gina's TV break came on The Big, Big Talent Show hosted by Jonathan
Ross, followed by appearances on The Stand Up Show, The Comedy Store
and Gas.
Gina won Best Female stand-up at the Black International Comedy Awards
in 2002.
As well as being a sought-after comedienne here in the UK, Gina has
fan bases in Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, Thailand, Spain, Holland and
Nigeria.
Her TV credits include The Lenny Henry Show, The Crouches and The Stand
Up Show.
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Comic Relief Does Fame Academy
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Reggie Yates
Reggie began his television career at the age of eight and began presenting
at 10.
He is currently the face of Top of the Pops along with Fearne Cotton.
He has appeared in Grange Hill, The Bill, Family Affairs and Desmonds
to name a few and has presented The Disney Club, Diggit, Blue Peter
Jubilee Special and Smile.
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