Chris Addison

Chris Addison

Date of birth: 30-11-1971

Chris Addison started his comedy career by winning Manchester’s City Life Comedian of the Year Award in 1995.

Three years later, he performed his first solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe, which earned him a nomination for Perrier best newcomer. He was shortlisted for the main award twice more: for 2004's Civilisation – which also won him a Barry Award nomination at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and was later made into a Radio 4 series – and 2005's Atomicity.

He won the Chortle Award for best compere in 2003 and was nominated for best headliner in 2005.

In 2000 , he co-hosted Channel 4's short-lived Dotcomedy with Gail Porter, featuring gags taken from the internet. He is now best known for starring in BBC Two's political comedy The Thick Of It, and its 2009 movie spin-off In The Loop, playing an out-of-his-depth spin doctor. And he alsoo starred in his own BBC Two sitcom Lab Rats, a surreal, gaggy venture which received a lukewarm critical reception.

Addison also co-wrote and co-starred in Radio 4's political satire The Department, along with John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman, which ran for 14 episodes between 2004 aand 2006.

He has alwo written two novels: Cautionary Tales For Grown-Ups in 2006 and It Wasn't Me: Why Everybody Is To Blame And You're Not in 2008.

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Chris Addison helps adapt Caimh McDonnell's comedy crime stories for the BBC

With acclaimed Irish writer Stuart Carolan

The BBC has ordered a ‘darkly comedic’ crime drama based on the novels of former comic Caimh McDonnell and co-created by ex stand-up Chris Addison.

Addison, now a director and writer whose credits include  Veep and Breeders, concocted Tall Tales & Murder with Stuart Carolan, the writer and creator of acclaimed Irish crime drama Love/Hate . 

Two series of six episodes each have been ordered, based on McDonnell’s inaccurately named Dublin Trilogy,  which runs to eight books and revolves round a detective agency. 

Addison, who also directs the series, said: ‘I’m frankly giddy with delight to get to team up with the twisted and highly original mind of Stuart Carolan to create this show. We’ve taken Caimh’s wonderful novel as a jumping off point and ended up with what I like to think of as a dark and delicious screwball drama.’

Carolan added: ‘I’ve been a fan of the brilliant Chris Addison since The Thick of It - it’s been incredible fun working with him to bring this insane story to life.’

Tall Tales & Murder stars Ella Lily Hyland, Aidan Gilles, Philippa Dunne and Packy Lee. 

It has been commissioned by BBC Northern Ireland and Irish broadcaster RTÉ from production company Avalon and Ireland-based Metropolitan Pictures.

Eddie Doyle, head of content commissioning at BBC Northern Ireland, said: ‘Tall Tales & Murder is storytelling at its darkest, funniest and most surreal. We’re looking forward to bringing audiences with us on this wild and thrilling ride from Stuart Carolan and Chris Addison, masters of their craft.’

And David Crean, head of drama at RTÉ said: ‘It’s so exciting to be in production with this amazing Irish drama from Stuart Carolan and Chris Addison after a great development process. The scripts are fantastic, as is the cast.’

The first series is due to air next year.

Pictured clockwise from top left are: Ella Lily Highland, Aidan Gillen, Philippa Dunne, Chris Addison, Stuart Carolan, Packy Lee

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Published: 5 Jun 2025

Stranded!

Chris Addison has had to cancel his gig in Lichfield…
12/07/2013

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