Simon Day

Simon Day, whose full name is Simon William Day, was born on 7 June 1962 in Blackheath, London, England. He first burst onto the comedy scene in the early 1990s, winning the Time Out New Act of the Year award in 1991 with his eccentric music‑hall character Tommy Cockles, a role that showcased his talent for blending slap‑stick with sharp observational wit. After that breakthrough, he became a frequent guest on the BBC One series Paramount City and toured extensively across England, honing a style that combined rapid‑fire sketches with a uniquely British absurdist flavor. His collaborations with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer on two tours and the television series Big Night Out cemented his reputation as a versatile performer who could shift seamlessly between stand‑up, character work, and ensemble comedy. In 1993, Day was a regular on Channel 4’s Saturday Zoo, playing the pioneering white rapper Ice Pick, a role that pre‑figured the satirical edge he would later bring to the cult sketch show The Fast Show. His work on The Fast Show introduced audiences to unforgettable figures such as the eco‑warrior Dave Angel, a character he would later revive for a 2023 energy‑saving advertising campaign, cementing his lasting impact on British comedy culture.

Beyond television, Day has appeared in films like Shakespeare in Love, where he played a ferryman on the Thames, and he has contributed musically to projects such as The Transit Kings’ debut album, providing vocals on the track “The Last Lighthouse Keeper”. His radio credentials include presenting The Simon Day Show on BBC Radio 4 in 2012 and making regular pundit appearances on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Fighting Talk, where his infamous 2009 on‑air profanity incident became a talking point among listeners. He authored the autobiography Comedy and Error: They Really Were Marvellous Times in 2012, offering an unflinching look at his battles with alcohol, drug addiction, and gambling, as well as his time in borstal for theft during his teenage years. Despite these personal challenges, Day has built a stable family life, marrying former waitress Ruth and raising two children, Lloyd and Evie, while continuing to act in series such as King Gary, Pennyworth, and the spoof documentary Brian Pern, confirming his status as a resilient and enduring figure in the UK entertainment industry.