{{short description|English comedian}} {{about|the British television presenter|the American professional wrestler|Alex Zayne}} {{pp-move-vandalism|small=yes}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox person |name = Alex Zane |image = Alex Zane at The Other Woman London Premiere.jpg |image_upright = 0.9 |caption = Alex Zane at ''The Other Woman'' London premiere in April 2014 |birth_name = Faris Alexander L. Albayaty |birth_date = |birth_place = Leeds, England, UK |signature = Alexzanesig.png |occupation = Radio and television presenter |years_active = 2000–present |spouse = Nettie Wakefield (2022) }} '''Alex Zane''' (born '''Faris Alexander L. Albayaty''') is an English television presenter and DJ.
==Early and personal life== Zane was born in Leeds and attended Boston Spa School before going on to study Medicine at University College London,<ref name="Independent">{{cite news|title=Alex Zane: My Life in Media|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/alex-zane-my-life-in-media-480159.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004090500/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/alex-zane-my-life-in-media-480159.html |archive-date=2009-10-04 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|work=The Independent|date=29 May 2006|access-date=15 April 2011}}</ref> a course which he left after a year, and then Media and Communications at Goldsmiths College.<ref name="Independent"/> His father is an academic based in Trinidad and his mother a charity worker from Leeds, though a March 2014 interview with the ''Evening Standard'' reports that "Wikipedia has Zane's real name as Faris Alexander L Albayaty but when I email asking him to clarify this and some other family details his responses are prompt, polite and discreetly uninformative".<ref name="scoundrel">{{cite news |title=Funny rotten scoundrel: Alex Zane on his new comedy show for London |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/funny-rotten-scoundrel-alex-zane-on-his-new-comedy-show-for-london-live-9218886.html |access-date=23 January 2021 |work=standard.co.uk |date=27 March 2014 |language=en}}</ref> He bought a house in Highgate in 2005, having previously rented in the area.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stallwood |first1=Oliver |title=Alex Zane on his first home |url=https://www.metro.news/alex-zane-on-his-first-home/654138/ |access-date=23 January 2021 |work=Metro Newspaper UK |date=26 June 2017}}</ref> In June 2018, it was reported that he was engaged to Nettie Wakefield following a "whirlwind year-long romance".<ref>{{cite news |title=Alex Zane reportedly engaged to Aidan Turner's ex Nettie Wakefield |url=https://www.independent.ie/style/weddings/real-weddings/celebrity-weddings/alex-zane-reportedly-engaged-to-aidan-turners-ex-nettie-wakefield-37017079.html |access-date=23 January 2021 |work=independent |date=16 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref> They separated in 2022 following a five month marriage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walcott |first1=Escher |title=Alex Zane confirms marriage with artist Nettie Wakefield is over after five months |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/alex-zane-marrige-nettie-wakefield-over-five-months-b1054453.html |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=Evening Standard |date=20 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
==Stand-up comedy and radio== Zane began his career at the age of 18 when he became a finalist on an open-mic competition called ''So You Think You're Funny''. He moved to London to concentrate on his career, and before leaving medical school, he presented "The Alex Zane Show" on UCL's student radio station Rare FM. He also presented on Wired FM, which led to his own show on London alternative/Indie station Xfm. His radio show was heard by MTV producers, who subsequently signed him up to present shows such as ''Screenplay'' and ''TRL''. From April 2007 to April 2009 he presented the weekday breakfast show on Xfm.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|title=Zane steps into Laverne's shoes|publisher=Guardian Unlimited|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/apr/20/radio|date=20 April 2007|access-date=23 December 2007 | location=London | first=Stephen | last=Brook}}</ref> Zane left Xfm in April 2009, with the station stating that his sudden departure was by "mutual agreement" following a disagreement over a controversial self-created song by Zane.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2009/apr/23/xfm-where-next-alex-zane|title=Where does Xfm go next?|author=Paul Smith|work=The Guardian|date=23 April 2009 |access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref>
In April 2010 it was announced Alex would jointly present a Friday evening radio show on NME Radio with the creator of the indie club night Propaganda, DJ Dan. The Show launched 30 April and has a 6pm-8pm time slot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepropaganda.com/news.php?nid=1294|title=Propaganda confirms New London Night and Propaganda Radio Show Launch With Alex Zane & DJ Dan!|author=Propaganda|date=30 March 2010|access-date=20 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505183140/http://www.thepropaganda.com/news.php?nid=1294|archive-date=5 May 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The show is presented live and blends Alex and DJ Dan's taste in music with the NME Radio playlist. In 2010 Alex performed at the Edinburgh Festival with his stand-up show 'Just One More Thing...'.
==Television presenting== In 2006 Zane was signed by Channel 4 under an exclusive contract. He co-presented ''Popworld'' and the accompanying Popworld Radio podcast with Alexa Chung until the programme ended in July 2007. He has narrated an E4 television show, ''Princess Nikki'', and made appearances on Channel 4 entertainment programmes such as ''The Law of the Playground'', ''8 out of 10 cats'' and ''Balls of Steel''. He presented E4's coverage of Channel 4's hoax reality show ''Space Cadets'',<ref name="Guardian"/> as well as Death Wish Live, the BT Digital Music Awards in 2005 and 2006 and Carling Live 24. He has also presented television coverage of several large scale music events, including the V Festival, and the Wireless Festival in London's Hyde Park and more recently Orange Unsigned Act. He presented ''Celebrity Scissorhands'' first on BBC Three, then on BBC One, as part of the BBC's Children in Need charity campaign in November 2006.<ref name="Guardian"/> He has presented Channel 4's variety show based on YouTube videos, ''Rude Tube'', four times (February 2008, January 2009, January 2010 and October to November 2010). He co-presented the Kerrang! music awards 2008 with Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil. He has done promotional presenting work with [https://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/ BBC Blast] including a piece on [https://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/65057 what creativity means].
[[File:AlexZane.jpg|thumb|Zane at the Xfm Music Awards 2008]] He had small acting roles in ''Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo'' (2005), ''Dawn of the Dead'', ''Land of the Dead'' and ''The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex Zane |url=https://www.nmplive.co.uk/alex-zane |website=nmplive.co.uk |access-date=23 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
In July 2009, he co-hosted ''Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: A T4 Special'' with Rick Edwards and hosted the Channel 4 coverage of ''Inglourious Basterds''.
Between 2008 and 2011 Zane hosted a film show, ''Alex Zane's Guest List'', on Sky Movies Premiere.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alex Zanes guest list |url=http://movies.sky.com/alex-zanes-guest-list |access-date=24 November 2016 |publisher=BSkyB |website=movies.sky.com |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216152853/http://movies.sky.com/alex-zanes-guest-list |archive-date=16 December 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{IMDb title | id=3138746| title= Alex Zane's GuestList | description= Talk-Show/TV Series (2008–2011)}}, Retrieved 24 November 2016</ref>
In early 2010 he appeared with Bill Bailey as a team captain on birdwatching show ''Bill Bailey's Birdwatching Bonanza'' for Sky 1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/TV-Review-Bill-Bailey39s-Birdwatching.5965597.jp |title=TV review: Bill Bailey's Birdwatching Bonanza/Silent Witness – The Scotsman |publisher=thescotsman.scotsman.com |access-date=9 January 2010 }}</ref> He is the leading face of Sky Cinema.{{when|date=January 2023}}
==Writing== Zane has written comedy material for ''The Eleven O'Clock Show'' (Channel 4), ''Smack the Pony'' (Channel 4), ''Brain Candy'' (BBC Three), and ''The Sketch Show'' (ITV1). He also presents some shows on Kerrang! TV. He has been the film reviewer for ''The Sun'' newspaper since November 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/nov/25/alex-zane-sun-film-critic|title=Alex Zane to become the Sun's film critic|first=John|last=Plunkett|date=25 November 2009|website=The Guardian}}</ref>
==Podcasting== In 2019, he began presenting movie podcast ''Clash of the Titles'', along with Chris Tilly and Vicky Crompton.<ref>{{cite web |title=Off Mic {{!}} Alex Zane {{!}} Stakhanov |url=https://stakhanov.studio/articles/a-moment-with-alex-zane/ |website=stakhanov.studio |access-date=23 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Alex Zane}} *{{IMDb name|1577445}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090709103627/http://thisiswhoiam.heatworld.com/Celebrities/View/Alex_Zane Alex Zane "This is Who I Am" Interview] Heat World, June 2009
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zane, Alex}} Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London Category:Comedians from Leeds Category:DJs from Leeds Category:English male comedians Category:English podcasters Category:English radio personalities Category:English television presenters Category:Mass media people from Leeds Category:People educated at Boston Spa Academy Category:People from Wetherby Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:English people of Iraqi descent