James Acaster was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire in 1985.
He left school age 17 so he could play drums in a band called The Wow! Scenario with his friend Graeme.
3 people, including the people in the band, liked the band.
He began performing stand-up comedy in January 2008.
In 2008 he went to the Edinburgh festival for the first time with no gigs booked. He got the National Express coach there which took 12 hours and then camped for 2 weeks in a field 20 minutes by bus from the heart of the festival and his tent got flooded on the first night.
In 2009 he returned to the Edinburgh festival with comedians Josh
Widdicombe and Nick Helm. They took their show Acaster, Helm and
Widdicombe Live At The Voodoo Lounge to the Free Fringe. An average
of 6 people turned up a day, James’ microphone got stolen, a bucket
of sick was found at the back of the room and they received one
review only, a one star review telling the public to
“give this one a miss.”
James Acaster is one of the most brilliant and distinctive young comedians of his generation. A whimsical master, he has received acclaim from around the world, including nominations for ‘Best Comedy Show’ at the 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, and winning the 2015 Chortle Award for Best Show, and Best International Show Award at the 2014 New Zealand International Comedy Festival. As well as his glowing stand-up career, James has made several television and radio appearances including a regular guest spot on fellow comic Josh Widdicombe’s Radio X show and writing and presenting his own show ‘Finding’s’ for BBC Radio 4. On the small screen James has graced the likes of; ‘Live At The Apollo’ (BBC) ‘8 Out Of 10 Cats’ (Channel 4), ‘Nevermind The Buzzcocks’ (BBC), ‘Mock The Week’ (BBC), ‘The John Bishop Show’ (BBC), ‘Russell Howards Good News’ (BBC Three), ‘Alan Davies As Yet Untitled’ (Dave), ‘Live at The Comedy Store’ (Comedy Central) and has a number of his own television projects in development including a new 15-part music show, ‘Sounds Random’ which will be available from BBC Three on Monday 25th April 2016.