Danny Wallace (humorist)

Infobox Person
name = Danny Wallace


image_size = 200 px
caption = Wallace in 2003
birth_name = Daniel Frederick Wallace
birth_date = birth date and age|1976|11|16
birth_place = Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
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nationality = British
ethnicity = White
citizenship = British
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known_for = How to Start Your Own Country
education = Media studies
alma_mater = University of Westminster
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occupation = Broadcaster
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website = http://www.dannywallace.com/
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Daniel Frederick Wallace (born 16 November, 1976) is a British documentary comedian, writer, television and radio presenter on XFM, living in London. His notable works include the book "Join Me" and the TV series "How to Start Your Own Country".

Biography

Early life

Wallace was born in Dundee, Scotland and grew up in Loughborough and Bath, England. He began writing reviews for video game magazines at the age of 13 for school work experience, a reviewer had become ill and so Wallace was given the opportunity to review a game. At 18 he started writing comedy, mainly through the magazine "Comedy Review". He specialised in radio production at the University of Westminster.

Early career and journalism

At 22, he became the youngest BBC producer. He was part of the production team behind British Comedy Award-winning "Dead Ringers", the critically-acclaimed cult hit "The Mighty Boosh", and "Ross Noble Goes Global".

As a journalist, Wallace has worked for "The Guardian", "The Independent" and other publications.

Danny Wallace currently has a column in the free weekly publication Shortlist and also writes blogs for doyoutravel.com [cite web|url=http://www.doyoutravel.com/blogs/100618/ | title=DoYouTravel.com]

Books

"Are You Dave Gorman?"

In 1999, Wallace challenged comedian Dave Gorman, who at the time was his flatmate, to find 54 other people called Dave Gorman ("one for every card in the deck, including the Jokers"). Wallace accompanied Gorman on his quest and the men created "Are You Dave Gorman?", an award-winning comedy stage show about what happened during their journey. [ [http://www.comedycv.co.uk/davegorman/index.htm Comedy CV] , Dave Gorman] A BBC series, also co-written and co-produced by Wallace, followed, as did a book, written by both men.

"Join Me"

In 2003, Wallace's book "Join Me" was published. The book explains how he "started a 'cult'" (or rather, a "collective") called Join Me. The movement is now generally referred to as the "Karma Army", although members are still typically "Joinees". He became a minor celebrity in Belgium whilst on his quest for Joinees. While on a book tour through America, Wallace was dubbed a "Generation X legend" by the "Wisconsin State Journal " [ [http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=1&pid=517547&agid=16 Simon & Schuster] , "Yes Man (Trade Paperback) - Praise" ] .

"Random Acts of Kindness: 365 Ways To Make the World A Better Place"

Wallace next wrote a short book called "Random Acts of Kindness: 365 Ways To Make the World A Better Place", with the help of submissions from Joinees. It includes many humorous Random Acts of Kindness (RAoK) ideas, such as "Contradict Demeaning Graffiti", and "Hide a surprise under someone's pillow. (Horses' heads are discouraged.)"

"Yes Man"

Wallace's second solo book, "Yes Man" was published in July 2005. In it, he describes how he spent six months "saying Yes where once would have said No", to make his life more interesting and positive. In this book he shows the tribulations and mischief that he got up to while he said yes to any question or proposal.

A film adaptation of "Yes Man" is in development with Warner Bros. and will star Jim Carrey . It is set to be released on 19 December 2008. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068680/ IMDb movie profile] Yes Man 16 December, 2007 ]

"Danny Wallace and the Centre of the Universe"

"Danny Wallace and the Centre of the Universe" was published in 2006. It is linked with World Book Day which in 2006 was on Thursday 2nd March. It tells the story of Wallace's trip to Idaho, to visit a manhole cover in a small town, whose residents have proclaimed it the centre of the universe. The cover identifies it as a "Quick Read"; the price and length of the book have been curbed in order to encourage people who may not often read books to purchase it.

"Friends Like These"

Wallace's next book, "Friends Like These," was released on the 3 July 2008, and tells the story of how he spent a summer trying to track down his old school friends, [ [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0091896762 Amazon.com] , "Friends Like These" was released 3 July 2008] .

Television and radio

"How to Start Your Own Country"

Wallace began television presenting in 2004. In 2005, Wallace presented a documentary comedy, "How to Start Your Own Country", in which he started his own micronation – "Lovely" – in his London flat. Beginning late August 2005 he co-presented on BBC One's Saturday night show "He's Having a Baby" with Davina McCall, which ran at the same time as his BBC Two series, "How to Start Your Own Country". The latter won two BAFTAs in early 2006.

Other work

Wallace contributed ideas to and appeared in the hidden camera show "World Shut Your Mouth". He has presented a few shows for Sky including the first series of "Conspiracies...", "Secrets of the CIA" and "Danny Wallace's Hoax Files".

He also took part in "Carol Vorderman's Big Brain Game", shown on Sky One, and once came second on an episode of "The Weakest Link" and came third out of the celebrity guests on an episode of "Test the Nation" in 2005.

In 2006 he made a short foray into acting with a small non-speaking role in "The IT Crowd", a Channel 4 sitcom. He presented a new entertainment quiz for the BBC called "School's Out", in which celebrities are quizzed on topics they learned at school. It first aired on BBC One (except in Scotland) on 5 April 2006, and a second series followed in 2007. The second series has been promoted to prime time Saturday night. Guests include Graham Norton, Jo Brand, Adrian Edmondson, Patrick Kielty, Duncan James, and Dominic Wood.

On 28 July 2006, Wallace (whose wife, a TV producer, has worked on "Big Brother") made a guest appearance on "Big Brother's Little Brother" pronouncing his dislike for Spiral, and Michael.

On 2 September 2006 Wallace became co-presenter of "Test the Nation" with Anne Robinson, replacing Phillip Schofield.

He also presented an episode of "Horizon" that aired on the 10 October 2006, in which Wallace tried to prove that chimps are people too. He was the first person in 43 years to be asked to front an edition of BBC2's flagship science programme.

In October 2008 he will present his second episode of Horizon. "Where's My Robot?" features Wallace travelling the world to meet roboticists and ask "Where's my robot?". The documentary is based on the belief in the 1980's that by the next century personal robots would be available and be an accepted part of society. Wallace investigates why it did not become a reality and whether it will in the future. [cite web|url=http://www.dannywallace.com/Telly.aspx|title=DannyWallace.com]

Wallace presented the new series of reality show "Castaway" on both BBC One. The series was live from Great Barrier Island in New Zealand for three months, beginning 9 March 2007.

In 4 January 2008 Danny appeared on a celebrity spin-off episode of the BBC's "Mastermind". His specialist subject was the "Ghostbusters" films, he didn't get a single question wrong on the subject. He came third with 27 points. [ [http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D1R2qqtkYzTE&ei=-QVdSLD4PIiUQebw1Z4E&usg=AFQjCNF_XYwIUYWb1C7Ni0aalMQZ-oXwpQ&sig2=rpNSmuA47FVuRNLAz-xaMw You Tube] ]

On 9 February 2008, Wallace started a weekly show at 10am-2pm on Saturday Mornings at the radio station, Xfm London. [cite web| url=http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?b=news&id=576383| publisher=XFM| title=Danny Wallace Joins Xfm| accessdate=2008-01-09

In June 2008, Wallace became the co-star of the Cobra Pubcast, a podcast from British beer company Cobra Beer that he hosts with comedian Dom Joly. [cite web| url=http://www.utalkmarketing.com/pages/Article.aspx?ArticleID=10520&Title=Cobra_launches_%E2%80%98Pubcast%E2%80%99_project| publisher=UTalkMarketing| title=Cobra launches ‘Pubcast’ project| accessdate=2008-06-05]

He is currently recording for his new BBC radio show, "New World Order". [cite web|url=http://www.dannywallace.com/news2.aspx?newsid=1|title=DannyWallace.com]

He appeared on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on 20 June 2008.

ee also

*Cults in literature and popular culture

Bibliography

* cite book
date = July 4, 2002
title = Are You Dave Gorman
coauthors = Danny Wallace
last = Gorman
first = Dave
publisher = Ebury Press
id = ISBN 9780091884710

* cite book
date = June 3, 2004
title = Join Me
last = Wallace
first = Danny
publisher = Ebury Press
id = ISBN 9780091895822

* cite book
date = November 4, 2004
title = Random Acts of Kindness
last = Wallace
first = Danny
publisher = Ebury Press
id = ISBN 9780091901752

* cite book
date = April 6, 2006
title = Yes Man
last = Wallace
first = Danny
publisher = Ebury Press
id = ISBN 9780091896744

* cite book
date = July 3, 2008
title = Friends Like These
last = Wallace
first = Danny
publisher = Ebury Press
id = ISBN 9780091896768

References

External links

*imdb|0991245|name=Danny Wallace