{{Short description|British comedian (born 1976)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use British English|date=August 2012}} {{Infobox person | name = Geoff Norcott | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Geoffrey Frank Norcott | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|12|16|df=yes}} | birth_place = London, England | occupation = [[Comedian]], writer and [[Pundit|political commentator]] | spouse = Emma Norcott | parents = | children = 1 | alma_mater = [[Goldsmiths, University of London]] }}
'''Geoffrey Frank Norcott''' (born 16 December 1976) is an English comedian, writer and political commentator.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/author/geoff-norcott | title= Geoff Norcott | work=The Independent | access-date=15 April 2021}}</ref><ref name="troikatalent1">{{cite web |url=https://www.troikatalent.com/geoff-norcott |title=Geoff Norcott – Troika |date=19 March 2019 |work=Troika |access-date=19 March 2019 |archive-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926094339/https://www.troikatalent.com/geoff-norcott |url-status=dead }}</ref> He first performed in 2001 and has appeared on ''[[Mock the Week]]'', ''[[Live at the Apollo (TV series)|Live at the Apollo]]'' and ''[[Question Time (TV programme)|Question Time]]'', and written for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', ''[[The Independent]]'' and ''[[Spiked (magazine)|Spiked]]''.
==Early life==
Norcott was raised in [[South London]]. His father was a draughtsman for [[BT Group|British Telecom]] and an active [[trade union]]ist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Maxwell|first=Dominic|title=Geoff Norcott – the right-wing comic who is standing up for the working class|newspaper=[[The Times]]|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/geoff-norcott-the-right-wing-comic-who-is-standing-up-for-the-working-class-mw9zx7wwq|access-date=2020-11-13|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> His parents divorced when he was nine, and his mother moved with him and his elder sister to a [[council estate]] in [[Mitcham, London|Mitcham]].
He attended Southfields Secondary School, before moving to [[Rutlish School]] in [[Merton Park]], the same school attended by Conservative [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[John Major]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/1999/oct/05/schools4|title=John Major's schooldays|date=5 October 1999|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref>
Norcott holds an English degree from [[Goldsmiths, University of London]], and worked as an English teacher.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17240687.big-interview-comedian-geoff-norcott-explains-how-at-eight-years-old-he-realised-the-power-of-comedy/|title=Big Interview: Comedian Geoff Norcott explains how at eight-years-old he realised the power of comedy|date=23 November 2018|work=Somerset County Gazette|first=Lawrence|last=John|access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref>
==Early career== Norcott performed at his first comedy gig in September 2001, initially performing as a way of supplementing his teaching income.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=Geoff Norcott – Original Review : Reviews 2001 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2001/11/01/33057/geoff_norcott_%E2%80%93_original_review |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=29 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229165515/https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2001/11/01/33057/geoff_norcott_%E2%80%93_original_review |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2003 Norcott performed at Balham's Banana Cabaret, alongside [[Paul Tonkinson]] and [[Michael McIntyre]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-02-14 |title=Comedy listings until February 20 |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6266506.comedy-listings-until-february-20/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=News Shopper |language=en |archive-date=29 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229165241/https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6266506.comedy-listings-until-february-20/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2005, Norcott was approached to appear on [[radio]] and [[television]], as a panellist and presenter on shows for [[Talksport]], [[Nuts TV]] and the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigcheesecomedy.com/comedians/geoff-norcott/|title=Geoff Norcott Comedian at Big Cheese Comedy|access-date=19 March 2019|publisher=Big Cheese Comedy}}</ref>
He received an [[Operational Service Medal (United Kingdom)|Operational Service Medal]] for five frontline tours entertaining the troops in [[Afghanistan]].<ref name="troikatalent1"/>
==Recent career==
In 2013, Norcott was nominated for 'Best New Show' at the [[Leicester Comedy Festival]] for his show ''Geoff Norcott Occasionally Sells Out'', about – among other things – the fact he was now a Conservative voter, which he then took to the [[Edinburgh Fringe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/53850-geoff-norcott-occasionally-sells-out/|title=Geoff Norcott Occasionally Sell Out|date=14 August 2013|access-date=19 March 2019|work=The List}}</ref>
He returned to the Fringe in 2015 with ''The Look of Moron'', a further development of his voice as a political comic,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/g/221/geoff_norcott|title=Geoff Norcott, comedian tour dates : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|access-date=19 March 2019|work=Chortle|archive-date=19 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019204126/https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/g/221/geoff_norcott|url-status=live}}</ref> and again in 2016 with ''Conswervative'', which received wide political acclaim and a successful sold-out run.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/631796-geoff-norcott-conswervative/|title=Geoff Norcott: Conswervative|access-date=19 March 2019|work=The List}}</ref>
In early 2017, Norcott made his first of several appearances on the BBC's ''[[Question Time (TV programme)|Question Time]]'' and made his debut as a regular on [[BBC Two]]'s ''[[The Mash Report]]'', a programme he continued to appear on, including after 2021 when it relocated to Dave post-cancellation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1711235/?ref_=nv_sr_1|title=Geoff Norcott|access-date=19 March 2019|publisher=IMDb|archive-date=3 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250603125534/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1711235/?ref_=nv_sr_1|url-status=live}}</ref>
Norcott took another show, ''Right Leaning, But Well Meaning'', to the Fringe the same year to further acclaim, and the show was later recorded as a radio special for [[BBC Radio 4]], airing in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b3bcsp|title=BBC Radio 4 – Stand-Up Specials, Geoff Norcott: Right Leaning But Well Meaning|access-date=19 March 2019|work=BBC Radio 4|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031174951/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b3bcsp|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2018, he made his first appearance on ''[[Live at the Apollo (TV series)|Live at the Apollo]]'', and took a new show, ''Traditionalism'' on a UK tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/tour/g/27795/geoff_norcott%3A_traditionalism|title=Geoff Norcott: Traditionalism : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|access-date=19 March 2019|work=Chortle|archive-date=17 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917214331/https://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/tour/g/27795/geoff_norcott%3A_traditionalism|url-status=live}}</ref>
Later the same year, Norcott appeared on ''[[Mock the Week]]'' for the first time, being the first openly pro-Brexit comedian on the show.
He has also appeared on several UK political debate shows, including ''[[Politics Live]]'' and ''[[Daily Politics]]''.
Norcott has written for a number of UK television shows, including ''[[A League of Their Own (UK game show)|A League of Their Own]]'', ''[[8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown]]'' and ''[[Frankie Boyle's New World Order]]''.
A 2019 appearance on ''Question Time'' prompted another online backlash for Norcott, after a clip of him criticising [[European Union]] President [[Donald Tusk]] went [[viral video|viral]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1087584/Brexit-news-Donald-Tusk-uk-BBC-question-time-Brexit-plan-theresa-may|title='Donald Tusk doesn't have the BALLS to talk to us' – Comedian attacks EU Council President|date=15 February 2019|work=Express|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=12 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312000339/https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1087584/Brexit-news-Donald-Tusk-uk-BBC-question-time-Brexit-plan-theresa-may|url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, he presented the BBC Two documentary ''How The Middle Classes Ruined Britain'', in which he investigated issues like how some people 'gamed' the system to secure places in good schools, and accusations of [[social cleansing]] in housing.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=24 July 2019|title=How the Middle Classes Ruined Britain, review: A confusing and hateful account of the class divide|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/how-the-middle-classes-ruined-britain-review-bbc2-geoff-norcott-housing-state-schools-a9017801.html|date=23 July 2019|website=The Independent|author=Sean O'Grady}}</ref>
2019 also saw Norcott become the first white male to join the BBC's diversity panel, by virtue of his [[working class]] background.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bennett|first=Steve|title=BBC appoints Geoff Norcott to its diversity panel : News 2019 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2019/05/01/42926/bbc_appoints_geoff_norcott_to_its_diversity_panel|access-date=11 December 2020|website=www.chortle.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> He has spoken of the irony of having, as a "straight, white, middle-aged man", taken advantage of diversity quotas to further his career.<ref name=":2" />
In November 2020, it was announced that Norcott would be publishing a memoir entitled ''Where Did I Go Right?,'' in which he "unpicks his working-class upbringing and his political journey".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tweet|url=https://twitter.com/geoffnorcott/status/1324288483758874624|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-date=5 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105095257/https://twitter.com/GeoffNorcott/status/1324288483758874624|url-status=live}}</ref> The book (and audio-book, voiced by Norcott)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.audible.com/|title=Audible.com {{!}} Try Audible Free Today|language=en|archive-date=14 December 2018|access-date=8 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214040507/https://www.audible.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> was released in May 2021 to mixed reception. In a three-star review in the [[The Daily Telegraph|''Daily Telegraph'']], critic Dominic Cavendish described it as a "frank, light-hearted account of how Norcott came from working-class origins in south London to forge a career in comedy" as well as "a sober mapping of the changing political landscape".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cavendish|first=Dominic|date=16 May 2021|title=How the Left lost me: stand-up comic Geoff Norcott on going from council estate to Conservative|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/left-lost-stand-up-comic-geoff-norcott-going-council-estate/|access-date=21 May 2021|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
== Podcast == In February 2019, Norcott launched a podcast titled ''What Most People Think'', in which he aims to "get to the heart of what ordinary people think about social and political issues".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=What Most People Think with Geoff Norcott on Apple Podcasts|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/what-most-people-think-with-geoff-norcott/id1453517233|access-date=2020-11-13|website=Apple Podcasts|language=en-gb|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101032114/https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/what-most-people-think-with-geoff-norcott/id1453517233|url-status=live}}</ref> Now recorded weekly, the podcast is funded by [[Patreon]] donations from listeners. Norcott claims to have refused approaches from would-be advertisers so as to avoid the risk of his content being influenced or censored.<ref name=":1" /> The podcast has been described by [[The Times]] as "amiably polemical".<ref name=":0" />
Many of the episodes have featured interviews with guests, including fellow comedians [[David Baddiel]], [[Katherine Ryan]], [[Romesh Ranganathan]], [[Andrew Doyle (comedian)|Andrew Doyle]], [[Henning Wehn]], [[Marcus Brigstocke]], [[Simon Evans (comedian)|Simon Evans]], [[Konstantin Kisin]], [[Seann Walsh]], [[Dominic Frisby]] and [[Leo Kearse]]. Outside of comedy, other guests have included journalists [[Owen Jones]] and [[Garry Bushell]], actor turned political activist [[Laurence Fox]], and trade unionist [[Paul Embery]].<ref name=":1" />
Regular minor features which supplement the interviews include a "cuss count" in which Norcott recounts the number of swear words used in the previous episode; a letters section in which observations from listeners are discussed; and a final segment in which Norcott shares recent reviews left for the podcast on [[iTunes]]. In reading out listener contributions, Norcott often adopts [[Exaggeration|exaggerated]] [[Accent (sociolinguistics)|regional accents]] reflecting whichever part of the country the correspondent come from.
==Personal life==
Norcott lives in [[Cambridgeshire]] with his wife Emma, whom he married in 2004. In 2014 the couple's daughter Connie, was still-born at 34 weeks, Norcott has spoken openly of their loss and in May 2021 on an episode of [[Cariad Lloyd|Cariad Lloyd's]] ''[[Griefcast]]'' podcast.<ref>{{Citation|title=Geoff Norcott|date=11 May 2021 |url=https://play.acast.com/s/griefcast/-140geoffnorcott|language=en|access-date=2021-12-08}}</ref> The couple now have a son named Sebastian.<ref name=":0" />
Norcott describes himself as a "[[Right-libertarianism|right-wing libertarian]]".<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Radio 4 – Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4, The Now Show – 3rd April – ft Geoff Norcott, Robin Morgan and more...|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p088lqy0|access-date=2020-07-23|website=BBC|date=3 April 2020|language=en-GB|archive-date=24 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724172746/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p088lqy0|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, he said he was the only outspoken [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] supporter on the British comedy circuit<ref>{{Citation|title=Geoff Norcott and Grainne Maguire on political stand-up|work=BBC News|date=2016-08-05|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36987867|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-01-28}}</ref> and in 2020 suggested that he is one of only "about six" [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] comedians.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=The Bunker: Daily: Crossing swords with Geoff Norcott, conservative comedian on Apple Podcasts|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/daily-crossing-swords-geoff-norcott-conservative-comedian/id1496246490?i=1000502026543|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Apple Podcasts|language=en-gb}}</ref> In 2017, he was listed by [[Iain Dale]] as one of the '100 Most Influential People on the Right'.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2017/10/iain-dales-100-most-influential-people-on-the-right-2017.html|title=Iain Dale's 100 most influential people on the Right 2017. May tops it. Davis is second. And Davidson third. {{!}} Conservative Home|last=Dale|first=Iain|date=2 October 2017|work=Conservative Home|access-date=2017-10-30|language=en-US|archive-date=30 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030152011/https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2017/10/iain-dales-100-most-influential-people-on-the-right-2017.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Norcott is an [[AFC Wimbledon]] fan. He attended the [[1988 FA Cup Final]] and he used to sell programmes during the Dons' time at [[Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames|Kingsmeadow]], in addition to hosting an event at the new [[Plough Lane]].
==Live tours== * ''Conswervative'' (2016) * ''Right Leaning but Well Meaning'' (2017) * ''Traditionalism'' (2018) * ''Taking Liberties'' (2020) * ''I Blame the Parents'' (2021) * ''Basic Bloke'' (2024) * ''Basic Bloke 2: There's No Bloke Without Fire'' (2025)
==Television credits== * ''[[Would I Lie to You? (British game show)|Would I Lie to You?]]'' BBC One, 2020 * ''[[Question Time (TV programme)|Question Time]]'', BBC One, 2017 – 2019 * ''[[Jeremy Vine (TV programme)|Jeremy Vine]]'', Channel 5, 2019 * ''[[The Wright Stuff]]'', Channel 5, 2018 * ''[[Live at the Apollo (TV series)|Live Apollo]]'', BBC, 2018 * ''[[Mock the Week]]'', BBC Two, 2018 * ''Dave’s Advent Calendar'', Dave, 2018 * ''[[Politics Live]]'', BBC Two, 2018 * ''[[The Blame Game (British TV programme)|The Blame Game]]'', BBC One Northern Ireland, 2017 * ''Edinburgh Nights'', BBC Two, 2017 * ''Comedy Bigmouths'', My5, 2017 * ''[[The Mash Report]]'', BBC Two, 2017–2021 * ''[[Daily Politics]]'', BBC Two, 2017 * ''All Out Politics'', Sky News, 2017 – present * ''[[Countdown (game show)|Countdown]]'', Channel 4, 2022
==Radio credits== * ''Right Leaning but Well Meaning'', BBC Radio 4 * ''Good Week, Bad Week'', BBC Radio 5Live * ''[[The Now Show]]'', BBC Radio 4 * ''[[Loose Ends (radio programme)|Loose Ends]]'', BBC Radio 4 * ''Breaking the News'', Radio Scotland * ''[[The News Quiz]]'', BBC Radio 4
==Writing credits== * ''[[Have I Got News for You]]'', BBC One * ''[[King Gary]]'', BBC Two * ''Xmas Live at the Apollo'', BBC Two * ''[[8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown]]'', Channel 4 * ''[[Judge Romesh]]'', Dave * ''[[A League of Their Own (British game show)|A League of Their Own]]'', Sky 1 * ''[[The Sarah Millican Television Programme]]'', BBC Two * ''[[Roast Battle]]'', Comedy Central * ''Katherine Ryan Stand-up Show'', JFL * ''[[Frankie Boyle's New World Order]]'', BBC Two * ''[[The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan]]'', BBC Two * ''[[The Fake News Show]]'', Channel 4 * ''[[Safeword (game show)|Safeword]]'', ITV 2 * ''[[8 Out of 10 Cats]]'', Channel 4 * ''Round Earth'', BBC Worldwide * ''[[The Outlaws (2021 TV series)|The Outlaws]]'', BBC * ''[[Weakest Link]]'', BBC (2021 – present)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=1711235|name=Geoff Norcott}} * [https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/g/221/geoff_norcott/ Chortle page, with tour dates] * {{British Comedy Guide|people|geoff_norcott}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norcott, Geoff}} [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:21st-century English comedians]] [[Category:Comedians from London]] [[Category:Conservative Party (UK) people]] [[Category:English libertarians]] [[Category:English male comedians]] [[Category:English stand-up comedians]] [[Category:English television presenters]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People educated at Rutlish School]]