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Christopher Douglas

Christopher Douglas writes and performs Radio 4’s longest running narrative comedy, Ed Reardon’s Week, soon to go into its sixteenth series. The show won the Broadcasting Press Guild’s ‘Radio Programme of the Year’ award in 2005 and 2010.

 

In 2021 Christopher won the Tinniswood Award for his radio play Tristram Shandy: In Development. The play can be accessed on BBC Sounds here.

 

His other radio credits include two-part adaptations of George Gissing’s The Odd Women and New Grub Street, several one-off plays, three series of Beauty of Britain (starring Jocelyn Jee Esien) and two series of Mastering The Universe (starring Dawn French). Christopher was the voice and co-creator of the world’s most disappointing cricketer Dave Podmore for over 30 episodes on Radio 4. He has also presented Pick of the Week and Comedy Club on Radio 4 Extra.

 

Christopher was responsible (with Nigel Planer) for the overlong career of uber-thesp Nicholas Craig, whose autobiography I, An Actor first appeared in 1988; the 4th edition was published by Methuen in 2017. Christopher scripted and directed two series of The Nicholas Craig Masterclass for BBC2 along with several further one-offs and five hour-long Nicholas Craig programmes for BBC4.

 

Other books include Spartan Cricketer (a biography of Douglas Jardine), The Word of Pod (collected columns from The Guardian), Pod Almighty! and Ed Reardon’s Week.

 

Christopher’s stage work includes Scout’s Honour (The Standard awards Best Comedy nomination), Theatrical Digs, An Evening with Nicholas Craig and Ed Reardon: A Writer’s Burden. Christopher has taught comedy for the Arvon Foundation and at New York University

CV

Radio:

Fourteenth series of Ed Reardon’s Week, co-written with Andrew Nickolds (2004-21)

Tristram Shandy: In Development (2020)

Dave Podmore, co-written with Nick Newman and Andrew Nickolds (1997-2020)

New Grub Street Saturday Drama two-part adaptation (2016)

The Meow Show (2016)

Beauty of Britain, co-written with Nicola Sanderson (2009-12)

Mastering the Universe, with Nick Newman (2005 & 2009)

Dolly (Afternoon Play, 2009)

Love, Death and Sex with Mike and Sue (1999)

I, An Actor… (series 1989)

The Englishman Abroad (Saturday Night Theatre, 1980).

 

Theatre:  

Ed Reardon: A Writer’s Burden Pleasance, Edinburgh and tour (2011)

An Evening with Nicholas Craig, starring Nigel Planer, Hampstead Theatre, National Theatre and touring (1988-2002)

Scout’s Honour Lyric Hammersmith (1987)

Theatrical Digs Edinburgh Festival and New End (1981).

TV:

How to be Old with Nigel Planer as Nicholas Craig (BBC4 2009)

How to be Edwardian (BBC4 2007)

Mark Lawson Interviews Nicholas Craig (BBC4 2008)

The Rock and Roll Years (BBC1 pilot 2006)

How to be Sci-Fi (BBC4 2006)

How to be Eighteenth-Century (BBC4 and BBC2 2006)

Film 2004; Nicholas Craig’s Villainy Masterclass

The Age Thing (BBC pilot starring Patricia Hodge and Hugh Bonneville 1998)

It’s Not Cricket with Rory Bremner (BBC 2 1998)

The Nicholas Craig Masterclass (BBC 2 series 1992)

TV Hell – Nicholas Craig on Medieval Acting (BBC2 1992)

The Naked Actor (BBC 2 series 1991)

Tygo Road (BBC 2 series 1990)

 

Shorts:

200 Years of The Cumberland Market (2016)

The London Residences of George Gissing (2016)

Dave Podmore’s Top Cricket Tips (2015)

Dave Podmore in the Fast Lane and Dave Podmore in the Pressure Cooker (Hat Trick 2004).

 

Books:

I, An Actor… the autobiography of Nicholas Craig (Pavilion Books 1988, Pan Books 1989 and Methuen 2001, 2008 and 2017)

Ed Reardon’s Week (Simon & Schuster 2005 and 2006)

The Word of Pod, (Collected columns from The Guardian, Methuen 2002)

Pod Almighty! (Simon and Schuster 1996)

Spartan Cricketer, a biography of D.R.Jardine (George Allen & Unwin 1984. Reissued by Methuen in 2002 and 2003).

Journalism:  Guardian columnist (as Dave Podmore) 1996-2006. Pieces for The Guardian, Times, Independent, Telegraph, Mail on Sunday, Wisden and The Wisden Cricketer.

Teaching:

Arvon Foundation 2012. New York University 2003-07.