- Phil Hammond (comedian)
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Phil Hammond Born 1 January 1962
EnglandAlma mater Girton College, Cambridge and St Thomas' Hospital Medical School Occupation General Practitioner Known for Comedian and broadcaster Title Dr Website www.drphilhammond.com - For the Conservative MP, see Philip Hammond.
Dr Philip Hammond (born 1 January 1962) is a general practitioner who has become noted as a comedian and commentator on health issues in the United Kingdom. Hammond was educated at Marlborough Grammar School, St John's Comprehensive, Marlborough, and Marlborough College. He qualified as a doctor in 1987, from Girton College, Cambridge University and St Thomas' Hospital Medical School, London. He has worked as a Lecturer in Medical Communication at the Universities of Birmingham and Bristol and currently works as a GP. He is best known for his humorous commentary on the National Health Service. He first came into the public spotlight writing a column for The Independent newspaper, where he wrote with a strong pro-patient-rights line. He has since starred in his own show 59 Minutes to save the NHS at the Edinburgh Fringe and was one of two doctor-cum-comics who captained teams on the Five medical quiz Tibs and Fibs, hosted by Tony Slattery.
As well as appearing on Channel 4's longest running programme, Countdown, Hammond has starred in the BBC Two TV series Trust Me, I'm a Doctor and in the BBC Radio 4 series Struck Off and Die and 28 Minutes to Save the NHS. He has appeared on the BBC TV news quiz Have I Got News For You, as well as the original and longer-running The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 and The Now Show on the same station. He also writes a column in Private Eye usually named Medicine Balls, under the pseudonym "M.D." (most of the Private Eye's writers are anonymous and it is typical for writers to adopt appropriate pseudonyms).[1]
He presents the Music Group on BBC Radio 4 and was a regular contributor to Gabby Logan's Sunday morning show on BBC Radio 5. He also has a Saturday mid-morning show on BBC Radio Bristol between 9am and 12pm. He is a patron of the Herpes Viruses Association and a Vice President of the Patients Association.
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Politics
Whilst a junior doctor Hammond contested the 1992 general election under the title 'Struck Off and Die Doctor's Alliance'. He ran in the Bristol West constituency against William Waldegrave, the then Secretary of State for Health, capturing 87 votes.[2]
In 2009, Hammond broke allegations about pathological misdiagnosis in Bristol, which is the subject of an independent inquiry chaired by Jane Mishcon. He also campaigned for an inquiry into the sacking of Cornwall chief executive John Watkinson. His Private Eye columns are available on his website.
In July 2011, Hammond co-authored a Private Eye special investigation with Andrew Bousfield called Shoot the Messenger, exposing the shocking treatment of NHS whistleblowers and how large sums of public money are used to silence them and cover up their concerns. It triggered an early day motion by Peter Bottomley MP. Hammond and Bousfield also launched a website dedicated to NHS staff, patients and relatives who have highlighted concerns about safety in the NHS.
Writing and performing
Hammond co-authored Trust Me I'm a Doctor (Metro books) with Michael Mosley, the executive producer of the BBC2 series of the same name. There are two editions (1999 and 2002), both out of print. Hammond is the sole author of Medicine Balls - Consultations with the World's Greatest TV Doctor (2007, 2008) and Trust Me, I'm (Still) a Doctor (2008, 2009) and Sex, Sleep or Scrabble? - Seriously Funny Answers to Life's Quirkiest Questions (2009, 2010)
Hammond wrote a four part BBC Radio 4 comedy with David Spicer called Polyoaks, about GPs struggling with the Coalition's NHS reforms and starring Nigel Planer, Tony Gardner, Celia Imrie, David Westhead, Carla Mendonca, David Holt, Phil Cornwell and Kate O’Sullivan. It was broadcast in June 2011 and repeated in August 2011.
Hammond is currently on a gentleman's tour of the UK with 'Dr Phil's Rude Health Show', which was released on DVD in two halves. 'Dr Phil's Rude Health Show' and 'Confessions of a Doctor'. They were broadcast of BBC Radio 4 Extra in August 2011. He returned to the Edinburgh Fringe for the eighth time in 2011.
Non-medical broadcasting
Hammond co-presented BBC1's Heaven and Earth Show with Juliet Morris in 2000. He presented two series for BBC Radio 4 of Pillories of the State in 1999/2000 and presents the Music Group, also on Radio 4 (sixth series 2011). Hammond has also frequently appeared as a guest in the Dictionary Corner on Countdown. Hammond has been a presenter for BBC Radio Bristol since 2007, broadcasting on Saturday mornings.
Miscellaneous
Hammond is possibly the only comic to have appeared at a Public inquiry.[1] In 1999, he was reported to the General Medical Council by William Hague's Press Secretary. He writes for the Mendip Times, celebrating life on the Mendips and in surrounding areas.
References
- ^ a b "Transcript of Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry hearing from Dr Phil Hammond". 1999-10-18. http://www.bristol-inquiry.org.uk/evidence/transcripts/day64.htm#99. Retrieved 2006-09-19.
- ^ English election results
External links
Categories:- Living people
- British comedians
- British medical doctors
- Old Marlburians
- Private Eye contributors
- Alumni of Girton College, Cambridge
- Alumni of King's College London
- 1962 births
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