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Jack Whitehall

Date of birth: 07-07-1988

The son of actress Hilary and agent Michael, Jack Whitehall was a child actor in various television dramas before beginning his comedy career while studying at the University of Manchester, first performing stand-up at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2009. He gained early television exposure as a panellist on shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats and A League of Their Own.

His breakthrough came with the Channel 4 sitcom Fresh Meat (2011-2016), where he played JP. He subsequently starred in and co-wrote Bad Education (2012-2014), a BBC Three comedy set in a fictional school, which was followed by a film adaptation in 2015. Whitehall has hosted several television programmes, including Backchat (2013-2015) alongside his father, and A League of Their Own from 2020. He presented the BRIT Awards multiple times between 2018 and 2021.

His film work includes The Bad Education Movie (2015), Mother's Day (2016), Disney's Jungle Cruise (2021), and Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021). He has also released several Netflix stand-up specials and travel documentaries.

In 2026 he starred in the Peackock comedy series The Burbs, a remake of the 1989 Tom Hanks film, three months after taking the lead on the Amazon Prime Video thriller Malice alongside David Duchovny.

Jack Whitehall to produce a live action Mr Benn

From the man who bought you I Swear

Jack Whitehall is producing a live-action version of classic kids’ TV series Mr Benn.

The comic’s company, Jackpot Productions, is one of the firms behind the project.

Jack Whitehall

Casting is not due to start until later this year, but Kirk Jones will write and direct – a major departure from his last movie, I Swear, about Tourette's sufferer John Davidson.

The animated series was created by David McKee and first aired on the BBC in 1971. Only 13 episodes were ever made.

It revolves around a man who regularly leaves his house at 52 Festive Road to head to the local fancy-dress shop, tended by a moustachioed, fez-wearing owner. There he dons his chosen outfit and walks through a magical door to have adventures that match his costume.

Jones said: ‘I adored Mr Benn as a child and immediately saw the importance of introducing him to a new generation, in a live action adventure.

‘Mr Benn finds a unique way to travel through time and space, visiting historical and futuristic worlds to solve apparently monumental problems, with kindness, compassion and common sense.

‘Following on from I Swear, I am keen to work on a project that is humorous and entertaining, whilst at the same time, in a world full of distractions, help focus on what is important. If all goes to plan, Mr Benn might even save the world.’

The other producers are Branwen Prestwood Smith and Mike Prestwood Smith for 48 Films, David Barron for BeaglePug Ltd and Nanny McPhee director Jones for One Story High.

Production is expected to take place next year.

In a statement, the McKee family added: 'The Mr Benn film project has been close to our hearts for many years, it was something our father would often talk about, he was keen to see it happen.

‘It has picked up momentum over time and the pieces have gradually come together. We’re absolutely thrilled to now have Kirk Jones on board to help guide it in the right direction and we are really excited about going back to Festive Road, where we grew up.’

The notion of a film was first mooted as long ago as 1999 – when Whitehall was just 11 – with John Hannah as Mr Benn and Ben Kingsley as the shopkeeper. But nothing came of it.

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Published: 24 Mar 2026