Craig Hill (comedian)

For the Welsh rugby union player, see Craig Hill (rugby player).

Craig Hill is a Scottish comedian, TV presenter and actor known for his cheeky, irreverent and camp act. His act comprises stand-up, comic characterisations and improvisation styles with musical diva impersonations,^[1] notably a parody of Shirley Bassey singing the football chant ‘Who Ate All the Pies?‘.^[2]

Biography

Hill's first public success came at age ten when he won a local talent contest in his native East Kilbride, impersonating Cleo Laine.^[3] In 1991, he moved to Edinburgh in order to study Drama at Queen Margaret College, graduating in 1994.^{[citation needed]} Hill's comedy characters as well as his ability to improvise and write material led him into stand-up. He was still an actor, working in Theatre In Education and pantomimes when a friend secretly booked him in for an ‘open spot’ in 1998. So terrified that he had to be shoved on stage, it was his first ever stand-up comedy performance.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997 and 1998, Hill performed a lead role (Jeremy Weller) in the critically acclaimed Grassmarket Project’s theatre production "Mad" at the Edinburgh Fringe.^{[citation needed]}

Since 2002, Craig has extensively toured with his solo comedy shows throughout Scotland, the UK and internationally to Australia, Spain, Germany, Holland, Ireland, New York.

Selected works

Edinburgh Festival Fringe seasons and touring shows

• 1999 fringe debut as part of Scottish triple bill Three Weird Beards (Gilded Balloon)
• 2000 his first solo show, Craig Hill's Alive With The Sound Of Music included a parody of Julie Andrews performing Gangsta's Paradise in her inimitable style. (Gilded Balloon)
• 2001 Craig Hill's Wiz To Oz (Gilded Balloon)
• 2002 Craig Hill - The People's Friend (Assembly Rooms, Supper Room)
• 2003 Craig Hill – Live (Assembly Rooms, Supper Room)
• 2004 Craig Hill - One Man & His Kilt! (Pod Deco Theatre)
• 2005 Craig Hill's Got the Ballroom (Assembly Rooms, Ballroom)
• 2006 Craig Hill - Kilty Pleasures (Assembly Rooms, Ballroom)
• 2007 Craig Hill - Makin' A Big Song & Dance (Assembly Rooms)
• 2008 Craig Hill Makes Your Whole Week! (Gilded Balloon, Nightclub)
• 2009 Craig Hill - 40 Love...? (Gilded Balloon, Nightclub)
• 2010 Craig Hill - Why Don't You Come Down the Front? (Gilded Balloon, Nightclub)
• 2011 Craig Hill - Blown By a Fan...! (Udderbelly's Pasture)

Radio

• 2002 Craig Hill’s Passionate Encounters (BBC Radio Scotland)
• 2002 Famous for Five Minutes (BBC Radio Scotland comedy-quiz)

Television

• 2002 - 2003 series I & II Live Floor Show (featured weekly artist, BBC Scotland comedy programme)
• 2003 Live Floor Show (featured weekly artist, BBC 2)
• 2002-2004 Hogmanay Live (presenter, BBC1)
• 2004 Floor Show (presenter, BBC Scotland)
• 2001-2004 T in the Park (presenter & interviewer, BBC Scotland)
• 2005 Craig Hill's Out Tonight (BBC Scotland chat, entertainment and comedy series)
• 2007 "Ready Steady Cook"(celebrity guest)
• 2009 "The Scots Factor" (STV, contributor)
• 2010 "Celebrity Postcode Challenge" (STV, contributor)
• 2010 "Good News Week" (Ch10 Australia, 2 episodes, guest panellist)
• 2010 "Spicks and Specks" (ABC Australia, guest panellist)

Short film

• Lay of the Land (supporting role, Producer: Screenbase; Director: Fraser McDonald; 1998)

Voiceovers

• Dunfermline Building Society Radio & TVC campaign 2003 - 2005; BBC Online Education Local Government

International

International live work includes shows in New York, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Amsterdam, Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp and Athens (including workshops for the British Council).

External links

• Craig Hill

References

1. ^ Chrystall, Margaret (8 February 2007). "A Hill of a laugh". Lochaber News. Scottish Provincial Press. http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/786/A_Hill_of_a_laugh.html. Retrieved 29 March 2010. 
2. ^ Geddes, Jonathan (30 September 2009). "Craig Hill set for show at Rutherglen Town Hall". Rutherglen Reformer (Scottish & Universal Newspapers). http://www.rutherglenreformer.co.uk/rutherglen-lifestyle/rutherglen-lifestyle-news/2009/09/30/craig-hill-set-for-show-at-rutherglen-town-hall-63227-24812314/. Retrieved 29 March 2010. 
3. ^ "Our Work Is A Terrific Laugh". Sunday Mail (Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail). 29 June 2008. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/life/2008/06/29/our-work-is-a-terrific-laugh-78057-20624730/. Retrieved 29 March 2010. 

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