{{short description|British comic writer, film director and performer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Debbie Isitt | image = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|51|2017|12|16}}<ref name="Moorhead-2017"/> | birth_place = Birmingham, England | other_names = | occupation = Writer, film director and performer | known_for = ''Nativity!'' film series | spouse = Nicky Ager | children = Sydney Isitt-Ager }} '''Debbie Isitt''' (born {{Birth based on age as of date|51|2017|12|16|noage=1}}) is an English comic writer, film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist and performer.
==Early life and education== Isitt was born in Birmingham. She went to Our Lady of Fatima Primary School and Lordswood Girls Secondary School. Later, she studied a two-year course at Coventry University, graduating in 1985.<ref name="Moorhead-2017" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodger |first=James |date=2016-08-09 |title=15 people you (probably) didn't know studied in Coventry |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/whats-on/whats-on-news/gallery/15-people-you-probably-didnt-11724662 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Coventry Live |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== Isitt is best known for her Christmas comedy films, the ''Nativity!'' series, of which she has written and directed four to date.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/what-s-on/film/interview-debbie-isitt-i-m-proud-to-say-we-knocked-jim-carrey-and-disney-off-their-spot-1-2649320 |title=Interview: Debbie Isitt - 'I'm proud to say we knocked Jim Carrey and Disney off their spot'|work=The Scotsman |date=13 November 2014 |first=Claire |last=Black}}</ref> Prior to that, she wrote BAFTA award-winning television adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's book, ''The Illustrated Mum'',<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4050851.stm |publisher=BBC News |title=Children vote Shrek 2 best film}}</ref> the stage play ''The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband'', and the feature films ''Nasty Neighbours''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=857304&privcapId=857286 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141113173217/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=857304&privcapId=857286 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 November 2014 |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |title=Debbie Isitt: Executive Profile}}</ref> and ''Confetti''.
Earlier in her career, just after her graduation, she joined the Cambridge Experimental Theatre company and toured Europe for a year performing Shakespeare. She then founded the Snarling Beasties company and spent the next 15 years writing, directing and performing in plays they took around the world. In 2001, she adapted Dodie Smith’s ''The Hundred and One Dalmatians'' for the stage.<ref name="Moorhead-2017">{{cite news|last1=Moorhead|first1=Joanna|title=From Coventry with love: Debbie Isitt's Nativity! story|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/16/from-coventry-with-love-debbie-isitts-nativity-story|accessdate=21 January 2024|work=The Guardian|date=16 December 2017}}</ref>
''Nativity!'', Isitt's third feature film, starring Martin Freeman, was released in November 2009. It became the most successful British independent film of the year. The sequel, ''Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger'', starred David Tennant. Released in November 2012, and was also a financial success, making twice the amount at the UK box office as the original. Two further sequels, ''Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?'' and ''Nativity Rocks!'', were released in 2014 and 2018 respectively. They were financial successes, but received broadly negative reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=Graham|title=Coventry film director Debbie Isitt hits back after Nativity 3 is panned by critics|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/whats-on/film-news/coventry-film-director-debbie-isitt-8121566|accessdate=1 December 2014|work=Coventry Telegraph|date=17 November 2014 | quote = Distributors Entertainment One commissioned a third movie after Nativity 2 grossed more than £10million in the UK alone.}}</ref>
In 2017, Isitt wrote, directed and composed the music for a stage musical based on the first film in the ''Nativity!'' with her partner Nicky Ager. ''Nativity! The Musical'' ran from 20 October until 6 January and starred Daniel Boys, Simon Lipkin and Sarah Earnshaw.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Casting announced for Nativity! The Musical {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/birmingham-theatre/news/casting-announced-nativity-the-musical-daniel-boys_43486.html |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |date=2 May 2017 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The show returned for a second tour in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nativity! to return for UK tour and London run in 2018 {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/nativity-uk-tour-2018_45351.html |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |date=13 December 2017 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Simon Lipkin returned in the lead role as Mr. Poppy, joined by Scott Garnham and Ashleigh Gray.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilma |date=2018-09-07 |title=Cast announced for the UK Tour of NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL |url=https://www.westendwilma.com/news-cast-nativity-musical-tour/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=West End Wilma |language=en-GB}}</ref> Garnham and Gray for a third tour in 2019, with Scott Paige playing the show's comic lead. However, Lipkin returned to reprise his role for the Hammersmith Apollo run of the show.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-11 |title=Nativity the musical announces London cast for Christmas 2019 |url=https://britishtheatre.com/nativity-musical-announces-london-cast-christmas-2019/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=British Theatre |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008095955/https://britishtheatre.com/nativity-musical-announces-london-cast-christmas-2019/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The musical ran at the Birmingham Rep for the 2022 Christmas season, after initially being postponed from 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mullen |first=Enda |date=2022-01-16 |title=Nativity the Musical is returning in 2022 |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/nativity-musical-returning-2022-22711502 |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=CoventryLive |language=en}}</ref>
Isitt also directed the ITV series ''Love and Marriage,'' and more recently wrote and directed the family comedy ''Christmas On Mistletoe Farm'' for Netflix.<ref>{{cite web|title=Love And Marriage - Production Details|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/love_and_marriage/details/|website=comedy.co.uk|publisher=British Comedy Guide|accessdate=1 December 2014|archive-date=5 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205154929/http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/love_and_marriage/details/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kendall|first1=Paul|title=Love and Marriage, ITV, review|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10101936/Love-and-Marriage-ITV-review.html|accessdate=1 December 2014|work=The Telegraph|date=5 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=Netflix gets into the Christmas spirit early with announcing new family film |url=https://www.paudal.com/2022/10/26/netflix-gets-into-the-christmas-spirit-early-with-announcing-new-family-film/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=Paudal |language=en-US |archive-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028160733/https://www.paudal.com/2022/10/26/netflix-gets-into-the-christmas-spirit-early-with-announcing-new-family-film/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film stars Scott Garnham, Scott Paige and Kathryn Drysdale.
On 21 March 2023, it was announced that ''I Should Be So Lucky'', a jukebox musical making use of the songs by Stock Aitken Waterman, was due to open later in the year at the Manchester Opera House and then proceed on a UK tour. The original story and script was written by Isitt and she was announced as its director.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I Should Be So Lucky, based on the catalogue of Stock Aitken Waterman hits, to premiere this autumn {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/manchester-theatre/news/i-should-be-so-lucky-musical-kylie_58574.html |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |date=21 March 2023 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stock Aitken Waterman musical I Should Be So Lucky to open this year |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production-news/stock-aitken-waterman-musical-i-should-be-so-lucky-to-open-this-year |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=The Stage |language=En}}</ref>
In February 2025, Debbie was announced as director of the new musical, ''Military Wives'', based on the 2019 film of the same name.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Military Wives the Musical to premiere at York Theatre Royal |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/military-wives-the-musical-to-premiere-at-york-theatre-royal |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=The Stage |language=En}}</ref> Isitt also penned the script for the show which was announced with a limited season at The York Theatre Royal with previews beginning 10 September 2025 before an official opening on the 16 of the same month followed by closure on 27 September.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-24 |title=Military Wives musical to have world premiere |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/military-wives-musical-to-have-world-premiere_1666136/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> The show is being produced by York Theatre Royal in association with The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham and The Buxton Opera House.<ref>{{Cite web |title=York Theatre Royal announces world premiere of Debbie Isitt's MILITARY WIVES - THE MUSICAL |url=https://www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/york-theatre-royal-world-premiere-debbie-isitt-military-wives-the-musical |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=West End Best Friend |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wild |first=Stephi |title=Debbie Isitt's MILITARY WIVES - The Musical Comes to the York Theatre Royal |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regional/article/Debbie-Isitts-MILITARY-WIVES-The-Musical-Comes-to-the-York-Theatre-Royal-20250224 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref> A jukebox musical, the show will feature arrangements and orchestrations by Debbie's previous collaborator George Dyer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=February 24, 2025 |title=Military Wives Musical Sets Fall World Premiere |url=https://playbill.com/article/military-wives-musical-sets-fall-world-premiere |website=Playbill}}</ref>
==Personal life== Isitt has a long-term partner,<ref name="RaisingFilms-2015"/> Nicky Ager, who works as the editor for her films as well as composing the music and writing the songs alongside Isitt. Together, they have a daughter, Sydney Isitt-Ager, who appeared in the first three ''Nativity'' films.<ref name="Moorhead-2017" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nicky Ager |url=https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/bio/nicky-ager/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Birmingham Rep |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-12 |title=Nativity transformations: Here's what the child cast of the iconic film look like now |url=https://thetab.com/uk/2022/12/12/nativity-transformations-heres-what-the-child-cast-of-the-iconic-film-look-like-now-285475 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=The Tab |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Isitt was pregnant during filming for her first feature film - ''Nasty Neighbours'' - but she still completed the film, and took her then-two-month old to the Cannes Film Festival for the film's screening.<ref name="RaisingFilms-2015">{{Cite web |date=2015-07-29 |title=Testimonial: Debbie Isitt |url=https://www.raisingfilms.com/testimonial-debbie-isitt/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Raising Films |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Isitt is a cousin of the footballer Darren Wassall.<ref>{{cite web |date=27 September 2016 |title=The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband being served up at Oldbury Rep |url=http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/14766637.The_Woman_Who_Cooked_Her_Husband_being_served_up_at_Oldbury_Rep/ |accessdate=15 May 2018 |publisher=Halesowen News}}</ref>
== Awards and honours == In 2005, Isitt won a BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay as well as an International Emmy for her work on ''The Illustrated Mum''.<ref name="RaisingFilms-2015" />
''Confetti'' received a nomination at The British Comedy Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arnold |first=Lewis |date=2020-08-21 |title=Debbie Isitt |url=https://www.directorsnow.com/debbie-isitt/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Directors Now |language=en-GB}}</ref>
''Nativity!'' won two Richard Attenborough Film Awards and was also nominated as Best Breakthrough Movie at The National Movie Awards.
In 2023, Warwick University awarded Isitt an honorary doctorate for her work in championing the creative potential of the West Midlands. She is now a Doctor of Letters (DLitt).<ref>{{Cite web |title=award-winning_film_director |url=https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/award-winning_film_director/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=warwick.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=List of all Honorary Graduates and Chancellor's Medallists |url=https://warwick.ac.uk/services/gov/hongrads/list/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=warwick.ac.uk}}</ref>
==Controversy== Actors Robert Webb and Olivia Colman publicly criticised the film ''Confetti'' upon release.<ref>[http://tmwl.project76.tv/2006/09/526/ 10 questions for Mitchell & Webb] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831063223/http://tmwl.project76.tv/2006/09/526/ |date=31 August 2011 }}, from [http://tmwl.project76.tv/ That Mitchell & Webb Log] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828192924/http://tmwl.project76.tv/ |date=28 August 2023 }}; originally featured on the BBC Two web site.</ref> The pair play a couple of naturists planning their wedding, and claim they were misled about the amount of nudity involved in the film.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/18/comedy.arts | work=The Guardian | location=London | title='Fame is quite scary' | first=Sarah | last=Dempster | date=18 June 2007 | accessdate=30 October 2012}}</ref> Webb said in an interview that Isitt had told them their genitals would all be pixelated in the final film, and was not aware until the screening that this was not the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n9mdw |title=BBC One - The Graham Norton Show, Series 6, Episode 2 |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=12 October 2009 |access-date=26 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX0TjGEBITg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/iX0TjGEBITg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Mitchell and Webb's Rants on Smoking, Coffee and Nudists - The Graham Norton Show Preview - BBC One|publisher=YouTube|date=9 October 2009|accessdate=1 May 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Colman and Webb started legal proceedings against the filmmaker, but these were eventually abandoned when the actors concluded it was too late and the lengthy process would prevent them from "pretending it didn't happen".<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/sep/09/olivia-colman-tyrannosaur-paddy-considine | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Olivia Colman takes on the Tyrannosaur | first=Simon | last=Hattenstone | date=9 September 2011 | accessdate=30 October 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0411213|name=Debbie Isitt}}
{{Debbie Isitt}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isitt, Debbie}} Category:Living people Category:English radio actresses Category:English women film directors Category:1960s births Category:English television actresses Category:English film actresses Category:Actresses from Birmingham, West Midlands Category:Writers from Birmingham, West Midlands Category:Alumni of Coventry University Category:Year of birth missing (living people)