Editing Simon Day

{{short description|English comedian, actor (born 1962)}}
{{for|the other English actor with the same name|Simon Paisley Day}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Simon Day
|image =
|caption =
|birth_name = Simon William Day
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|6|7|df=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]], London, England
|nationality = English 
|years_active = 1990–present
|occupation = Comedian, actor
|spouse = Ruth
|children = 2
}}

'''Simon William Day''' (born 7 June 1962) is an English [[comedian]] and actor known for his roles in the sketch show ''[[The Fast Show]]'' and the sitcom ''[[Grass (TV series)|Grass]]''.

==Career==
Day was born in [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]], London, and rose to fame as a stand-up comic, winning the ''[[Time Out (company)|Time Out]]'' new act of the year in 1991 with his music hall character Tommy Cockles. He then appeared on the [[BBC One]] show ''Paramount City'' as a weekly guest. He continued working live all over England before joining up with [[Vic Reeves]] and [[Bob Mortimer]] for two tours and two series of ''[[Vic Reeves Big Night Out|Big Night Out]]''. He continued to work with Vic Reeves throughout the 1990s.<ref name="Bevan"/>

In 1993, he was a cast regular in ''[[Saturday Zoo]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/21728 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417025933/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/21728 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2008 |title=BFI &#124; Film & TV Database &#124; SATURDAY ZOO |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref> [[Channel 4]]'s Saturday night extravaganza, in which he appeared as groundbreaking white rapper Ice Pick. His other TV credits include ''[[Heartbeat (British TV series)|Heartbeat]]'', ''[[Jonathan Creek]]'', ''[[Sensitive Skin (British TV series)|Sensitive Skin]]'', ''[[Love Soup]]'', ''[[Driving School]]'', and ''[[Skins (British TV series)|Skins]]''. His film credits include ''[[Shakespeare in Love]]'', as a ferryman on the Thames.

In 2006, he collaborated with [[Ambient house]] band [[The Transit Kings]] on their song "The Last Lighthouse Keeper" which appears on their debut album ''[[Living in a Giant Candle Winking at God]]''.

In 2008, Day embarked on his first solo UK stand-up tour, titled 'What a Fool Believes', which saw him play 36 dates during the period 30 October – 15 December, including [[Dundee]], [[Edinburgh]] and [[Glasgow]].<ref name="Bevan">{{cite web |last=Bevan |first=Siân |title=Simon Day – What A Fool Believes |url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/comedy/guide/simon-day-what-a-fool-believes |publisher=theskinny.co.uk |date=28 October 2008 |access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref>

In 2009, Day collaborated again with [[Rhys Thomas (comedian)|Rhys Thomas]] and wrote and starred in a web series of six videos as the character Brian Pern for the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/extra/show/p003cmwm |title=Comedy – Clips from 'Brian Pern' |publisher=BBC |access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref>

In 2010, Day appeared in the long-running BBC TV series ''[[Hustle (TV series)|Hustle]]'', playing Luke Baincross, a wannabe playboy with a huge country mansion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qbs17 |title=BBC One – Hustle, Series 6, Episode 3 |publisher=BBC |date=24 January 2010 |access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref>

In May 2010, Day played a hospital porter in BBC TV series ''[[Holby City]]'' on his last day at work following his resignation having won the National Lottery. He had an altercation with a patient's relative and received a bang on the head, and he became increasingly lairy during the episode, at one point making a pass at [[Connie Beauchamp]]; some people assumed he was drunk, but it transpired that he had developed a [[Subdural hematoma]] as a result of the knock on the head.

Day has appeared as a pundit on the long-running [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] Sports Pundit Quiz ''[[Fighting Talk]]'' on a number of occasions, and is most notable for swearing during a live broadcast during a show in 2009. This was later edited out on the podcast version of the show.

Day appeared in an online-only version of ''The Fast Show'' sponsored by Lager brand Fosters on 10 November 2011 along with original cast save for Mark Williams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fosters.co.uk/tagged/The_Fast_Show |title=Foster's – The Fast Show |publisher=Fosters.co.uk |access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref>

In 2012, he published his autobiography, ''Comedy and Error: They Really Were Marvellous Times''.<ref name="auto">{{cite book|last=Day|first=Simon|title=Comedy and Error: They Really Were Marvellous Times|date=March 2012 |publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1849830560}}</ref>

Day has presented his own series, ''The Simon Day Show'' on [[BBC Radio 4]] in May to June 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Simon Day Show|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010gq38|publisher=BBC|access-date=15 April 2018}}</ref>

From 2014 to 2017, he co-wrote and starred in the spoof-documentary series ''[[Brian Pern]]'', a [[BBC Four]] comedy which parodied the life and career of former [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] singer [[Peter Gabriel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Life of Rock with Brian Pern |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/cssfr9/the-life-of-rock-with-brian-pern--series-1---1-birth-of-rock |work=Radio Times |access-date=16 February 2014}}</ref>

In 2015 Day appeared as Charlie Beckett in the BBC TV series ''[[Death in Paradise (TV series)|Death in Paradise]]'' episode 4.2.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jarossi|first=Robin|title=Death in Paradise series 4, Kris Marshall PREVIEW|url=http://crimetimepreview.com/2015/01/death-in-paradise-series-4-kris-marshall-preview.html/|date=14 January 2015|publisher=crimetimepreview.com|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref> In 2019 he appeared as Sid Onslow, a pub landlord, in ''[[Pennyworth (TV series)|Pennyworth]]''.

Day starred as Big Gary King, father of [[Tom Davis (British actor)|Tom Davis]]' titular character in the [[BBC One]] sitcom ''[[King Gary]],'' appearing in the 2018 pilot episode and the full series broadcast in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/king_gary/cast_crew/|title=King Gary cast and crew credits|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-10}}</ref>

Day reprised his ''Fast Show'' character 'Dave Angel, Eco Warrior' in 2023 in energy usage advertising.<ref>{{cite web |title=Simon Day revives Dave Angel |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2021/10/14/49443/simon_day_revives_dave_angel |website=Chortle |access-date=23 April 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Day was addicted to [[Alcoholism|alcohol]], [[Substance abuse|drugs]] and [[Problem gambling|gambling]], and spent some time in [[borstal]] for theft during his teenage years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/interviews/Interview-Simon-Day-comedian-.6789547.jp |title=Interview: Simon Day, comedian – News – Scotsman.com |publisher=Thescotsman.scotsman.com |date=22 June 2011 |access-date=2013-04-22}}</ref> He continued to take illegal drugs including [[cocaine]] and [[crack cocaine]] into the 1990s at the height of his ''Fast Show'' fame.<ref>{{cite web|title=Metro|date=23 June 2011 |url=http://metro.co.uk/2011/06/23/the-fast-shows-simon-day-vic-reeves-helped-me-get-my-big-break-55197/|access-date=31 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>

After failing to pass his driving test for charity during the 2003 Comic Relief Programme, Day later went on to gain an automatic driving licence.<ref name="auto"/> He is married to Ruth, a former waitress, with whom he has two children, Lloyd and Evie.<ref name="auto"/>

== Filmography ==

=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1992
|''[[Sid the Sexist]]''
|Graham / Various Cockney Characters
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1998
|''[[Shakespeare in Love]]''
|First Boatman
|
|-
|''The Fast Show Live''
|Various roles
|Direct-to-video
|-
|2002
|''[[The Heart of Me (film)|The Heart of Me]]''
|Hospital Doctor
|
|-
|2007
|''[[Run Fatboy Run]]''
|Vincent
|
|-
|2009
|''[[The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus]]''
|Uncle Bob
|
|-
|2010
|[[Huge (film)|''Huge'']]
|Noel Faulkner
|
|-
|2012
|''Jon''
|Child Therapist
|
|-
|2016
|[[Ethel & Ernest (film)|''Ethel & Ernest'']]
|Alf
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1991
|''[[Vic Reeves Big Night Out]]''
|Various roles
|5 episodes
|-
| rowspan="5" |1992
|''[[The Fat Slags]]''
|Baz
|Miniseries
|-
|''Wilderness Edge''
|Ian Kaye
|2 episodes
|-
|''[[A Bunch of Fives]]''
|Slow PC
|Episode: "The Weekenders"
|-
|''[[Saturday Zoo]]''
|Bruce Urqhart
|Episode #1.2
|-
|''[[The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer]]''
|Milkman
|2 episodes
|-
|1994
|''[[The All New Alexei Sayle Show]]''
|Various characters
|Episode #1.4
|-
|1994, 2006
|''[[The Bill]]''
|BJ Berry / Stephen Latham
|2 episodes
|-
|1994–2014
|''[[The Fast Show]]''
|Various characters
|24 episodes
|-
|1995
|''The Great Kandinsky''
|News Reporter
|Television film
|-
|1996
|[[Heartbeat (British TV series)|''Heartbeat'']]
|Fenwick
|Episode: "Forget Me Not"
|-
|1997
|''[[Jonathan Creek]]''
|Jordan Strange
|Episode: "The House of Monkeys"
|-
| rowspan="4" |1998
|[[In Exile (TV series)|''In Exile'']]
|Denzel
|Episode #1.6
|-
|[[Casualty (TV series)|''Casualty'']]
|Cardiothoracic Surgeon
|Episode: "New Year and All That"
|-
|''[[Ted and Ralph]]''
|Tall Tom / Cliff Carter / Friend of Dorothy
|Television film
|-
|''[[Rex the Runt]]''
|Constable Funnyname / Taxi Driver
|3 episodes
|-
|1999
|''You Ain't Seen All These, Right?''
|Various roles
|Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2000
|''[[Peak Practice]]''
|Consultant
|Episode: "A Test of Faith"
|-
|''[[Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)]]''
|Swift
|Episode: "Paranoia"
|-
| rowspan="3" |2001
|[[Happiness (British TV series)|''Happiness'']]
|Miserable Dad / Angry Father
|2 episodes
|-
|''Jumpers for Goalposts''
|Clive Graham
|13 episodes
|-
|''We Know Where You Live''
|Billy Bleach
|Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2002
|''[[Fun at the Funeral Parlour]]''
|Dirty Ernie
|Episode: "A Pocket Full of Gravel"
|-
|''[[Bertie and Elizabeth]]''
|Robert Wood
|Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2003
|[[Grass (TV series)|''Grass'']]
|Billy
|8 episodes
|-
|''The Fast Show Farewell Tour''
|Various roles
|Television film
|-
|2003–2004
|''[[Swiss Toni]]''
|Geoff
|16 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" |2004
|[[He Knew He Was Right (TV serial)|''He Knew He Was Right'']]
|Club Member #2
|Episode: "Part 1"
|-
|[[Shane (American TV series)|''Shane'']]
|Suicide Man
|Episode #1.6
|-
|''[[EastEnders]]''
|Cabbie
|Episode dated 25 December 2004
|-
| rowspan="3" |2005
|[[Casanova (2005 TV serial)|''Casanova'']]
|Argenti
|Episode #1.1
|-
|[[Space Race (TV series)|''Space Race'']]
|Kammler
|Episode: "Race for Rockets"
|-
|''[[ShakespeaRe-Told]]''
|Quince
|Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
|-
|2006
|''Mr. Loveday's Little Outing''
|Doctor
|Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2007
|[[Sensitive Skin (British TV series)|''Sensitive Skin'']]
|Mike
|Episode: "The Wilderness"
|-
|''[[Learners (film)|Learners]]''
|Simon
|Television film
|-
|2007–2012
|''[[Harry & Paul]]''
|Various character
|12 episodes
|-
|2008
|''[[Love Soup]]''
|Wolf
|Episode: "Lobotomy Bay"
|-
|2009, 2010
|[[Skins (British TV series)|''Skins'']]
|Leo Mclair
|2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4" |2010
|[[Hustle (TV series)|''Hustle'']]
|Luke Baincross
|Episode: "Tiger Troubles"
|-
|''[[Bellamy's People]]''
|Various characters
|10 episodes
|-
|''[[Holby City]]''
|Frank Chapman
|Episode: "Brutally Frank"
|-
|''Pete & Dud: The Lost Sketches''
|Performer
|Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2011
|''[[Midsomer Murders]]''
|Combover Guy
|Episode: "The Oblong Murders"
|-
|''The Fast Show Faster''
|Dave Angel / Clive / Colonel Mumas
|3 episodes
|-
|2011–2012
|''[[Pixelface]]''
|QM
|26 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" |2012
|''[[Comedy Showcase]]''
|Rhodesy
|Episode: "The Function Room"
|-
|''[[New Tricks]]''
|Tony Symes
|Episode: "Queen and Country"
|-
|[[Mr Blue Sky (sitcom)|''Mr Blue Sky'']]
|Mr. Bolt
| rowspan="2" |3 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2013
|''[[It's Kevin]]''
|Various / Screaming Pillows Pitchman
|-
|[[Mount Pleasant (TV series)|''Mount Pleasant'']]
|Gerry
|5 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2014
|''[[Moone Boy]]''
|Sean Murphington Esq.
|Episode: "Handball Duel"
|-
|''[[The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm]]''
|Colonel Dedshott
|Television film
|-
|2014–2017
|''[[Brian Pern]]'' (Various titles)
|Brian Pern
|11 episodes
|-
| rowspan="6" |2015
|[[Death in Paradise (TV series)|''Death in Paradise'']]
|Charlie Beckett
|Episode: "Hidden Secrets"
|-
|''[[Drunk History: UK]]''
|[[Lord Carnarvon]]
|Episode: "Tutankhamen/Dick Turpin/Byron's Pet Bear"
|-
|[[Nurse (British TV series)|''Nurse'']]
|Tony Beckton
|3 episodes
|-
|''[[SunTrap]]''
|Handlebar
|Episode: "The Big Sleep"
|-
|''[[Cradle to Grave]]''
|Shaky
|Episode #1.6
|-
|''Professor Branestawm Returns''
|Colonel Dedshott
|Television film
|-
| rowspan="3" |2016
|[[Boomers (TV series)|''Boomers'']]
|Vaughan
|Episode: "Naming Ceremony"
|-
|''[[The Amazing World of Gumball]]''
|Narrator
|Episode: "The Love"
|-
|''Lost Sitcoms''
|[[Alf Garnett]]
|Episode: "Till Death Us Do Part"
|-
| rowspan="2" |2017
|[[Loaded (British TV series)|''Loaded'']]
|Jeff
|3 episodes
|-
|[[Zapped (TV series)|''Zapped'']]
|Daggett
|Episode: "Pear Fair"
|-
| rowspan="2" |2018
|''Dave Allen at Peace'' 
|Lew Grade
|Television film
|-
|''[[A Year in the Life of a Year]]''
|Various
|Episode: "2018"
|-
|2018–2020
|''[[King Gary]]''
|Big Gary King
|8 episodes
|-
|2019–present
|[[Pennyworth (TV series)|''Pennyworth'']]
|Sid Onslow
|15 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2020
|''[[The Windsors]]''
|Mike Middleton
|Episode #3.2
|-
|''The Kemps: All True''
|Neighbour
|Television film
|-
|2021
|''[[Elliott from Earth]]''
|Various voices
|5 episodes
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0206588|name=Simon Day}}
*[http://www.ff.e-mansion.com/~phobos/FASTSHOW/SimonDay.htm Japanese site with pictures of characters he plays]
*[https://archive.today/20070725014122/http://magneton.hut.fi/Q/horse/files/fastshow_scripts/gideon.htm Site containing complete scripts for Day's Gideon Soames sketches]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Day, Simon}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of East Anglia]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 4 presenters]]
[[Category:English stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:English sketch comedians]]
[[Category:Comedians from the Royal Borough of Greenwich]]
[[Category:English autobiographers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actors from the Royal Borough of Greenwich]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:People from Blackheath, London]]