Steve Furst

Steve Furst, born Stephen Jonathan Furst on 3 September 1967 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is a versatile British comedian, actor and writer whose career has spanned over three decades. He first entered the entertainment world in 1990 by writing comedy for Chris Evans's Power Up show on BSB's Power Station, and quickly established himself as a pioneer by founding Britain's inaugural comedy magazine, The Heckler. Throughout the early 1990s he cultivated a reputation as a stand‑up performer and promoter, creating iconic live‑music comedy nights such as The Double Six Club, The Youth Club and The Regency Rooms, venues that nurtured emerging talent across the UK. Under the flamboyant persona Lenny Beige, Furst not only hosted cabaret evenings at the Regency Rooms for ten seasons, but also entered the 1997 general election in Putney, a stunt that epitomised his blend of satire and showmanship. His Lenny Beige character later enjoyed television series on BBC Choice, featured guests like Terry Wogan and Davina McCall, and returned to stage in headline cabaret residencies at the Pigalle Club, Playboy Casino, and Café Zédel, where he delivered tribute shows to Anthony Newley, Neil Diamond and Tom Waits. As a television actor, Furst is perhaps best known for recurring roles in the iconic sketch comedy Little Britain, as well as appearances in The Bill, Father Brown, Doc Martin, Friday Night Dinner and the CBBC series The Legend of Dick and Dom. His film work includes the villain Goldfist in CITV’s Spy Kids and a starring turn as Popsy Wilson Jr in Walk Like A Panther (2018). On stage he has tackled diverse roles, from Juror No. 1 in 12 Angry Men at the Edinburgh Fringe to Mr Wormwood in Matilda the Musical and the titular Mr Gum at the National Theatre. Beyond performing, Furst co‑writes songs with composer Guy Chambers for artists such as Nathan Carter and contributes to the Norwich Film Festival judging panel. In recognition of his contributions to the arts, he received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Winchester in October 2019.