Cowards

For the band, see Cowards (band).

For the vice, see Cowardice.

Cowards are a British four-man comedy act, composed of Tim Key, Stefan Golaszewski, Tom Basden and Lloyd Woolf.

History

Having all studied at Cambridge University and/or been involved in Footlights (although Key was not a student), Cowards formed in October 2004 and began performing their sketches live. They performed a new hour of material each month. In 2005 and 2006 they had sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, performing at the Pleasance.

Cowards took over the BBC Three website on the 25 January 2007 and built their own "comedy world". Presented as living inside the website for a six-week duration, Cowards would walk on to the screen and encourage visitors to click through to their comedy area. In that area users could view a range of pre-filmed sketches and animation, as well as 'overhead' sketches filmed to give the impression the act are ‘living’ on the site. As part of the BBC 360 degree development strategy the material was used as a pilot for a TV series.

The group's first radio series was broadcast in April 2007 on BBC Radio 4, and a second was broadcast in autumn 2008. Both have since been released as a CD Audiobook by BBC Worldwide.

A three episode TV series was shot for BBC Four with director Steve Bendelack in early 2008, and was broadcast in January 2009. The show was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA in the "Best Entertainment" category.

Esquire Magazine named the Cowards on its list of "60 Brilliant Brits Shaping 2009".