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John Finnemore

This article is about the comedy writer and actor. For the school teacher and writer, see John Finnemore (born 1863).

John Finnemore
Finnemore recording at RADA Studio in 2024
Finnemore recording at RADA Studio in 2024
BornJohn David Finnemore
(1977-09-28) 28 September 1977 (age 47)
Reading, England
Pen nameEmu (as crossword writer)
OccupationWriter, Comedian, Actor
NationalityBritish
EducationDolphin School, Berkshire
High Lea, Dorset
Poole Grammar School
Alma materPeterhouse, Cambridge
Years active2000 – present
Notable worksCabin Pressure
Souvenir Programme
Double Acts
Notable awardsWriters' Guild of Great Britain: Outstanding Contribution to Writing (2020)
Website
www.johnfinnemore.com

John David Finnemore (born 28 September 1977) is a British comedy writer and actor. He wrote and performed in the radio series Cabin Pressure, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, and John Finnemore's Double Acts, and frequently features in other BBC Radio 4 comedy shows such as The Now Show. Finnemore has won more Comedy.co.uk awards than any other writer, and two of his shows appear in the top ten of the Radio Times' list of greatest ever radio comedies.

Early life and education

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John Finnemore was born in Reading to parents David and Patricia and has a younger sister, Anna. He attended Dolphin School in Berkshire, High Lea in Dorset and Poole Grammar School.[1] At 19, he moved to Kraków in Poland, where he spent 6 months teaching English.[2]

He then studied English at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he wrote his dissertation on Thomas Hardy ('Icons, Frames and Freedom in Jude the Obscure') and graduated in 2000.[3][4] He was a member of the Cambridge Footlights, becoming vice-president in his final year.[5] After graduating, he performed in Sensible Haircut with the Footlights team at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2000.[6]

Career

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Finnemore (left) with Ed Balls at BBC Radio 4 in 2017

As writer and comedian

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Finnemore wrote the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Cabin Pressure and played the part of the "consistently cheery steward" Arthur.[7] The sitcom aired for four series between 2008 and Christmas 2014, with a two-part finale at Christmas and New Year 2014–2015.[8][9] He also wrote a radio sketch show, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, which he performed with Simon Kane, Carrie Quinlan, Lawry Lewin and Margaret Cabourn-Smith.[10] The first series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011, and a special edition recorded at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was broadcast in 2012. Seven further series followed annually until 2019, and a ninth series was broadcast in 2021.

A stage version of Souvenir Programme, renamed John Finnemore's Flying Visit, completed two UK tours. The first between May and June 2018,[11] and the second from September to November 2019[12] with a bonus date in December.[13]

Finnemore went on to write John Finnemore's Double Acts, an anthology series of loosely connected two-handers. The first series of six episodes aired on BBC Radio 4 from October 2015, and was released on CD in 2016. A second series of six episodes was broadcast in 2017.

Finnemore has written extensively for other comedy shows, both on radio and TV, including That Mitchell and Webb Sound (2003–2009), That Mitchell and Webb Look (2006–2010), Dead Ringers (2003–2007), Tittybangbang (2005–2007), Safety Catch, The Now Show and The Unbelievable Truth (2011).[14][15] From 2009 to 2012, he co-wrote the podcast David Mitchell's Soap Box with Mitchell.[16] He has also been credited as programme associate on 10 O'Clock Live and Was it Something I Said.

In September 2011, Finnemore wrote a pilot episode for BBC One called George and Bernard Shaw, a sitcom starring Robert Lindsay and Richard Griffiths as an elderly gay couple. The show was not picked up for a full series.[17][18]

Finnemore has appeared on various BBC Radio 4 shows, including The Now Show, The Unbelievable Truth, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, Just a Minute, and The News Quiz and is a regular performer at the bi-monthly Tall Tales storytelling shows held in North London.[19]

Since 2016, he has written Listener cryptic crosswords under the pseudonym 'Emu', published in The Times.[20][21]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Finnemore uploaded videos to his YouTube channel entitled "Cabin Fever" as his Cabin Pressure character Arthur Shappey.[22] These would often involve games or puzzles for the viewer. In this period, he became the fourth person to win a prize for solving Cain's Jawbone, a literary puzzle created by Edward Powys Mathers in 1934.[23] In 2023, Finnemore revealed he was writing a sequel to the puzzle, to be published by Unbound in 2024.[24] The book titled "The Researcher's First Murder: A New Cain's Jawbone Puzzle" was first published on 22. August 2024 by Unbound.[25]

Finnemore was also a co-writer, with Neil Gaiman, of the second series of Good Omens, which starred Michael Sheen and David Tennant.[26]

As actor / self

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Finnemore appeared as recurring minor character Chris in Miranda Hart's television sitcom Miranda, in the episodes "Teacher" (2009), "Before I Die" (2010), "The Dinner Party" (2013) and "I Do, But to Who?" (2014).

In 2014 Finnemore was the narrator for 24 Hours to Go Broke on Dave in the episodes "Iceland", "Greece", "Germany", "Ireland" and "Armenia".[27] and two years later was runner-up on Celebrity Mastermind, his specialist subject the ghost stories of MR James.[28]

John Finnemore featured as Paul, a Space Shuttle pilot in Armando Iannucci's American space comedy Avenue 5, for which he has also written teleplays for several episodes.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2009–2014 Miranda Chris Episodes: "Teacher", "Before I Die", "The Dinner Party" and "I Do, But to Who?"[29]
2009 That Mitchell and Webb Look Fruitcake Croupier (uncredited) Series 3; episode 3
2011 Peeder Jigson's Video Diary Charlie Dimmock Episode: "What Everyone's Up to in the Break"
2011 Peeder Jigson's Video Diary John Finn Episode: "Naming the Dwarves"
2011 George and Bernard Shaw Oliver Pilot
2012 Family Guy voices (various) Episode: "Family Guy Viewer Mail" #2
2014 24 Hours to Go Broke Narrator Episodes: "Iceland", "Greece", "Germany", "Ireland" and "Armenia"
2017 Carters Get Rich Oliver Campbell-Legge Series regular; 6 episodes
2020 Avenue 5 Shuttle pilot Paul Recurring role; 3 episodes

Awards

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In 2020 the Radio Times released their list of greatest comedies ever, as judged by an expert panel. Finnemore was the only individual with two entries in the top ten, with Cabin Pressure and John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme taking eighth and tenth spots respectively.[30] Cabin Pressure was also voted "Comedy of the Year" in 2014 across TV and radio, making it the first radio show to be given the honour.[31]

Finnemore has won more Comedy.co.uk Awards than any other writer.[32] When adding together shows for which Finnemore is the main writer or an additional writer, his work has resulted in him winning 13 awards.

Finnemore has also written for other shows that have won Comedy.co.uk Awards such as That Mitchell and Webb Sound which was voted "Best British Radio Sketch Show" in 2009, 2010, and 2013;[33][34][35] That Mitchell and Webb Look which was voted "Best British TV Sketch Show" in 2006 and 2009;[33][36] and The Unbelievable Truth which was voted "Best British Radio Panel Show" in 2011.[37]

Selected awards

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Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
2010 Cabin Pressure Writers' Guild of Great Britain Best Radio Comedy Nominated [38]
2011 Cabin Pressure Comedy.co.uk Awards Best British Radio Sitcom Won [39]
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme Best Radio Sketch Show Won [39]
Cabin Pressure Writers' Guild of Great Britain Best Radio Comedy Won [40]
2012 John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme Comedy.co.uk Awards Best Radio Sketch Show Won [41]
Cabin Pressure BBC Audio Drama Awards Best Scripted Comedy (drama) Nominated [42]
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme Chortle Awards Radio Award Nominated [43]
2013 Cabin Pressure Comedy.co.uk Awards Best British Radio Sitcom Won [44]
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme Radio Academy Awards Best Comedy Nominated [45]
Chortle Awards Radio Award Won [43]
2014 Cabin Pressure Comedy.co.uk Awards Best British Radio Sitcom Won [31]
Comedy of the Year Won [31]
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme Best Radio Sketch Show Won [31]
Cabin Pressure BBC Audio Drama Awards Best Scripted Comedy (studio audience) Nominated [46]
Best Scripted Comedy (drama) Nominated [46]
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme Radio Academy Awards Best Comedy silver [47]
2015 John Finnemore's Double Acts Comedy.co.uk Awards Best Radio Sitcom Won [48]
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme BBC Audio Drama Awards Best Scripted Comedy (studio audience) Won [49]
2016 Cabin Pressure (Finale: "Zurich") BBC Audio Drama Awards Best Scripted Comedy (drama) Nominated [50]
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme Comedy.co.uk Awards Best Radio Sketch Show Won [51]
2017 Double Acts (S1, Ep 5 "English for Pony Lovers") Writers' Guild of Great Britain Best Radio Comedy Won [52]
2018 Double Acts (S2, Ep 4 "Penguin Diplomacy") Tinniswood Award Best Audio Drama Script of the Year commended [53]
Writers' Guild of Great Britain Best Radio Comedy Nominated [54]
2019 John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme BBC Audio Drama Awards Best Scripted Comedy (sketch show) Won [55]
Chortle Awards Radio Award Nominated [43]
2020 n/a Writers' Guild of Great Britain Outstanding Contribution to Writing Won [56]

References

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  1. ^ "Old Delphinians: John Finnemore". Archived from the original on 19 February 2012.
  2. ^ "John Finnemore". My Teenage Diary. Season 8. Episode 2. 19 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Twitter post". 3 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Congregations of the Regent House on 29 June, 30 June, and 1 July 2000". Cambridge University Reporter.
  5. ^ "Cambridge Footlights Alumni 1990–1999". Archived from the original on 15 October 2012.
  6. ^ "Cambridge Footlights at Edinburgh Fringe Festival". 2000. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011.
  7. ^ Whannel, Kate (2 July 2018). "Ten years on: The comedy hit that almost wasn't made". BBC News. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  8. ^ Finnemore, John (14 November 2012). "Cabin Pressure IV – prepare for boarding". Forget What Did.
  9. ^ "BBC – Good Omens and last ever Cabin Pressure confirmed in Radio 4 Schedule – Media centre".
  10. ^ "John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme". British Comedy Guide.
  11. ^ "New Tour Date!". Forget What Did. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Flying Visit Visits Again". Forget What Did. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Last Call for the Flying Visit". Forget What Did. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  14. ^ "John Finnemore, Apparently". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  15. ^ "Interview with John Finnemore". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  16. ^ Lewisohn, Sophie (16 November 2011). "Ten Questions for: John Finnemore". Varsity.
  17. ^ Tom Bryant (8 August 2011). "My Family replacement stars Robert Lindsay in show about two gay men". The Mirror.
  18. ^ Seale, Jack (9 January 2013). "Cabin Pressure writer John Finnemore on the joy of radio, crafting comedy – and Benedict Cumberbatch". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  19. ^ "Spoken Word Review: Tall Tales @ Peckham Literary Festival". Londonist. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  20. ^ Finnemore, John (27 February 2016). "Emu's debut". Forget What Did. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  21. ^ "Crossword blog: why are puzzles symmetrical?". The Guardian. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Cabin Fever – Episode 1: Fitton". 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2020 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ Flood, Alison (10 November 2020). "Literary puzzle solved for just third time in almost 100 years". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  24. ^ "John Finnemore to write Cain's Jawbone murder-mystery sequel". The Guardian. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  25. ^ "The Researcher's First Murder: A New Cain's Jawbone Puzzle". Unbound. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  26. ^ White, Peter (29 June 2021). "'Good Omens' Renewed For Season 2 at Amazon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  27. ^ Richard Herring (25 November 2015). "John Finnemore". RHLSTP (Podcast) (88 ed.). British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  28. ^ "BBC One – Celebrity Mastermind, 2016/2017, Episode 6". BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  29. ^ "I Do, But Who? (2014)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Radio Times Greatest Comedy List 2020". Radio Times. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  31. ^ a b c d Guide, British Comedy. "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2014 results". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  32. ^ "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2014 results announced". British Comedy Guide. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  33. ^ a b "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2009". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  34. ^ "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2010". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  35. ^ "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2013". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  36. ^ "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2006". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  37. ^ "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2011". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  38. ^ "Guild Awards 2010 – shortlists announced". 24 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  39. ^ a b Guide, British Comedy. "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2011 results". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  40. ^ "Writers' Guild Awards 2011". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  41. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2012 results". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  42. ^ "BBC – The BBC Radio Blog: BBC Audio Drama Awards: Shortlist". BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  43. ^ a b c "Chortle Awards : Awards 2014 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  44. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2013 results". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  45. ^ "Sony Radio Academy Awards | Winners | 2013 | Production Awards | Best Comedy". 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  46. ^ a b "BBC Radio 4 – BBC Audio Drama Awards – 2014 Winners". BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  47. ^ "Radio Academy Awards | Winners | 2014 | Production Awards | Best Comedy". 13 May 2014. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  48. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2015 results". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  49. ^ "BBC Radio 4 – BBC Audio Drama Awards – BBC Audio Drama Awards 2015 Winners". BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  50. ^ "BBC Radio 4 – BBC Audio Drama Awards – BBC Audio Drama Awards 2016 Finalists". BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  51. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2016 results". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  52. ^ "Writers' Guild Awards 2017 – Writers' Guild of Great Britain". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  53. ^ "Sarah Woods wins Tinniswood Award 2018". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  54. ^ "Writers' Guild Awards 2018". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  55. ^ "BBC Radio 4 – BBC Audio Drama Awards – The List of 2019 Winners". BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  56. ^ "Writers' Guild Award winners 2020". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
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