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29 October 2014
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Comic Relief Does Fame Acadmey
Edith Bowman

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 91Èȱ¬ 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 91Èȱ¬s 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.

Comic Relief Does Fame Academy Nick Knowles

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.

Comic Relief Does Fame Academy Dawn Steele

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 91Èȱ¬ 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.

Comic Relief Does Fame Academy Reggie Yates

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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