{{Short description|English comedian and writer}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox comedian | name = Alfie Brown | image = | image_size = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | medium = {{hlist|Stand-up}} | alma_mater = | active = | genre = [[Satire]], observational | subject = | spouse = | parents = {{plainlist| * [[Jan Ravens]] * [[Steve Brown (composer)|Steve Brown]] }} | children = 4 | partner = [[Jessie Cave]] | website = }}
'''Alfie Brown''' is an English [[stand-up comedian]]. In 2022, he was nominated for the main prize of the [[Edinburgh Comedy Awards]]. He is the son of comedian [[Jan Ravens]] and writer [[Steve Brown (composer)|Steve Brown]].
==Personal life== Brown is the son of [[Jan Ravens]] and [[Steve Brown (composer)|Steve Brown]]. He says he can see his humour in his parents' styles and described "a great team spirit" between them.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thorpe |first=Vanessa |date=14 July 2018 |title=Funny bones run in the family as fringe plays host to comic dynasties |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/jul/14/fringe-edinburgh-festival--family-comic-dynasties |website=The Guardian}}</ref> He attended [[Sibford School]] in Oxfordshire.
He is in a relationship with the actress [[Jessie Cave]]. They have four children: a son born in October 2014, a daughter born in July 2016, a second son born in October 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Needham |first=Lucy |date=22 October 2020 |title=Harry Potter star Jessie Cave welcomes baby boy after 'extreme' birth |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-harry-potter-star-jessie-22888581 |access-date=22 October 2020 |website=Metro.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ellis-Bextor |first=Sophie |title=Spinning Plates Episode 16 |url=https://sophieellisbextor.net/post/635566301392355328/this-week-on-spinning-plates |access-date=18 December 2020 |website=sophieellisbextor.net}}</ref> and a third son born in March 2022.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Slater|first=Georgia|date=22 March 2022|title=''Harry Potter''{{'}}s Jessie Cave Welcomes Fourth Baby, Son Becker, 3 Weeks After COVID Hospitalization|url=https://people.com/parents/jessie-cave-welcomes-fourth-baby-son-becker-after-covid-hospitalization/|magazine=People|access-date=23 March 2022}}</ref> In 2018, the couple took part in [[Comedy Central (British TV channel)|Comedy Central's]] ''[[Roast Battle]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/roast_battle/episodes/2/2/|title=Roast Battle Series 2, Episode 2|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=27 January 2020}}</ref>
==Career== Brown started performing comedy in January 2006 at the ''Laughing Horse New Act of the Year'' competition.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 May 2022 |title=Alfie Brown: "I wanted to have rumours about me and Pamela Anderson" |url=https://squaremile.com/culture/comedy/alfie-brown-comedian-interview |website=Squaremile.com}}</ref> He had left school at 17 and described himself at the time as "the funniest person working in ''[[TopShop]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Marissa |date=1 August 2022 |title=Alfie Brown: I was the funniest person working in Top Shop |url=https://list.co.uk/news/42378/alfie-brown-i-was-the-funniest-person-working-at-top-shop |website=thelist.co.uk}}</ref> He described his influences as [[George Carlin]], [[Stewart Lee]], [[Bill Hicks]] and [[Alexei Sayle]].<ref>{{cite web |date=18 January 2013 |title=Alfie Brown: Soul Not for Sale |url=https://thisweekculture.com/article/alfie-brown-soul-not-for-sale |website=Thisweeksculture.com}}</ref> A show in 2012 was described by ''[[The Independent]]'' as "[[Stewart Lee]]'s attitude trapped in [[Russell Brand]]'s body".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/reviews/alfie-brown-soul-for-sale-underbelly-edinburgh-8056613.html%3F|title=Alfie Brown: Soul for Sale, Underbelly, Edinburgh|first=Julian|last=Hall|date=17 August 2012|website=The Independent}}</ref>
He has since become a regular on the UK comedy circuit and at the [[Edinburgh Fringe Festival]], he also started his own improvisational podcast entitled ''Whatever Works''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WHO IS ALFIE BROWN, HARRY POTTER STAR JESSIE CAVE'S PARTNER? |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/12/04/who-is-alfie-brown-harry-potter-star-jessie-caves-partner/%3F |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204025128/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/12/04/who-is-alfie-brown-harry-potter-star-jessie-caves-partner/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 December 2021 |website=hitc.com}}</ref> In 2018, during a break in their relationship, Brown and Cave each performed at the Edinburgh Festival a personal show about their break up. ''[[The Evening Standard]]'' gave Brown's show ''Lunatic'' '4 stars' calling Brown an "intriguing misanthrope" and describing him as a "provocative stand-up" who "has always been painfully honest but often painfully indulgent. This time he is much more focussed".<ref name="EvStan">{{cite news |last1=Dessau |first1=Bruce |title=Edinburgh Fringe reviews: Jessie Cave and Alfie Brown tell both sides of their break-up story |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/edinburgh-fringe-reviews-jessie-cave-and-alfie-brown-tell-both-sides-of-their-break-up-story-a3906391.html |access-date=7 March 2023 |work=Evening Standard |date=8 August 2018}}</ref>
In 2021, ''[[The Guardian]]'' described him as a twisty and thoughtful social satirist, and a contrarian, in his show ''Sensitive Man'' as they saw "Brown looking askance at complacent twentysomethings 'ostentatiously waving around wads of time'- What a phrase!".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Logan |first=Brian |date=11 November 2021 |title=Alfie Brown: Sensitive Man review – contrarian comic with a devilish twinkle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/nov/11/alfie-brown-sensitive-man-review-contrarian-comic-with-a-devilish-twinkle |website=The Guardian}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' was effusive about the show saying "the title of Alfie Brown's new stand-up tour, ''Sensitive Man,'' might be the cleverest thing in an hour of very clever things" and "it's a hoot from the outset, partly due to his original turns of phrase."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saunders |first=Tristram Fane |date=27 January 2022 |title=Alfie Brown, Soho Theatre, review: jabs at 'free speech' hypocrites and sensitive souls alike |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/comedians/alfie-brown-soho-theatre-review-jabs-free-speech-martyrs-sensitive |website=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> Sensitive Man won best show at the 2022 Chortle Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 March 2022 |title=Chortle Awards 2022 results |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/6798/chortle-awards-2022-results |website=comedy.co.uk}}</ref> The show was recorded for [[Amazon Prime]] at the [[Soho Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 December 2021 |title=Felicity Ward and Alfie Brown to tape Amazon Prime specials |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2021/12/23/49910/felicity_ward_and_alfie_brown_to_tape_amazon_prime_specials |website=Chortle.co.uk}}</ref> After performing ''Sensitive Man'' at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Brown was nominated for the main prize of the [[Edinburgh Comedy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 August 2022 |title=Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominations 2022 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/news/6991/edinburgh-comedy-awards-2022-nominations |website=www.comedy.co.uk}}</ref> ''[[The Times]]'' described Brown "made it his business to say the unsayable with.. much wit, control, imagination and playful charm" and "Somehow he both maligns his audience and flatters their intelligence too, keeping the laughs coming as he does so."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maxwell |first=Dominic |date=26 August 2022 |title=Alfie Brown at Edinburgh festival review — saying the unsayable with wit and charm |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/alfie-brown-at-edinburgh-festival-review-saying-the-unsayable-with-wit-and-charm-dzxkbb3xm |website=[[The Times]]}}</ref> The comedian Stewart Lee described it as "the best British stand-up I have seen for some years".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Stewart |date=20 August 2022 |title=Edinburgh Extra 3 - Stewart Lee August 20 2022 |url=https://www.stewartlee.co.uk/2022/08/edinbuegh-extra-3-stewart-lee-aug-20th-2022 |website=Stewartlee.co.uk}}</ref>
In 2022, Brown began co-hosting a new [[Formula One]] podcast called "Dirty Air", with fellow comedian and musician [[Josh Weller]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-01 |title=Dirty Air F1 |url=https://shows.acast.com/dirtyair/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=shows.acast.com}}</ref>
In 2023, Brown came under fire after making reference to claims of antisemitism within the Labour Party. After doubling down on these comments, it was revealed that Brown had used the [[N word]] in 2015 in a routine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-24 |title=Was Alfie Brown really cancelled over N-word routine?|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2023/03/24/52782/was_alfie_brown_really_cancelled_over_n-word_routine |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=Chortle |language=en}}</ref> Footage also resurfaced of him joking about the [[Grenfell Tower fire]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/shame-comedian-alfie-brown-anyone-29562859|title='Shame on comedian Alfie Brown and anyone who laughs at Grenfell Tower'|first=Darren|last=Lewis|date=27 March 2023|website=Daily Mirror}}</ref>
In August 2024, he was nominated for Best Show by the [[ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2024/08/21/56422/ish_edinburgh_comedy_awards_announces_2024_shortlists|website=Chortle|accessdate=21 August 2024|date=21 August 2024|title= ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards announces 2024 shortlists}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Alfie}} [[Category:English stand-up comedians]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Edinburgh Festival performers]] [[Category:English male comedians]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]