{{Short description|British comedy writer}} '''Jason Hazeley''' is a British comedy writer. With long-time writing partner Joel Morris, Hazeley has written many books, and for many British comedy series, and films. Their work includes a collection of parody Ladybird books, and they have written scripts for many British comedy series and films, including ''That Mitchell and Webb Look'', ''Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe'' and the ''Paddington'' films.
==Early life== Hazeley, whilst known as Jason Smith, attended King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford, Essex<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kegs.org.uk/notable-alumni/2647.html|title=Notable Alumni|website=www.kegs.org.uk}}</ref> which is where he met his later comedy partner Joel Morris.<ref>https://www.inews.co.uk/culture/meet-men-invented-ladybird-books-grown-ups-not-millionaires-thousandaires-515348%3Famp</ref> Whilst at school they produced a parody newsletter, and at sixth form received their first paid work after selling a joke to the Russ Abbott show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/radio/2018-01-10/ladybird-book-duo-joel-morris-and-jason-hazeley-are-now-spoofing-scandi-noir-on-radio-4/amp/|title=Ladybird Book duo Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley are now spoofing Scandi noir on Radio 4|website=Radio Times}}</ref>
==Career== ===Television and film=== Hazeley has written for a number of British TV shows and films. These include ''That Mitchell and Webb Look'', ''A Touch of Cloth'', Charlie Brooker's ''Screenwipe'', ''Electionwipe'' and ''Newswipe'' programmes, and several Philomena Cunk series. The pair are regular contributors to the British adult comic ''Viz''. The 2016 Electionwipe won the BAFTA award for best Comedy and entertainment programme.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/television/comedy-comedy-entertainment-programme |title = Comedy & Comedy Entertainment Programme - Charlie Brooker's 2016 Wipe|date = 11 April 2017}}</ref> They also wrote for Paddington (film)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06sbgbv|title=BBC Radio 2 - Jo Whiley & Simon Mayo, Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris, Ladybird Book Confession, The link between Ladybird, Paddington and Bins!|website=BBC}}</ref> and Paddington 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/joel-morris-and-jason-hazeley|title=Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley | United Agents|website=www.unitedagents.co.uk}}</ref>
===Books=== With Joel Morris, Hazeley has co-written books including ''Bollocks to Alton Towers'',<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=ughuyrUZZ1AC|title=Bollocks to Alton Towers: Uncommonly British Days Out|first1=Jason|last1=Hazeley|first2=Robin|last2=Halstead|first3=Alex|last3=Morris|first4=Joel|last4=Morris|date=March 2, 2006|publisher=Penguin Adult|isbn=9780141021201|via=Google Books}}</ref> and a series of parody Ladybird books which re-caption original illustrations from the Ladybird series with jokes aimed at an adult audience.<ref name="BBC News 12 October 2015">{{cite web | title= Spoof Ladybird books target adult market |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34503866| author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date= 12 October 2015| website= BBC News Online | accessdate= 12 October 2015}}</ref> Topics have included Donald Trump,<ref>https://www.inews.co.uk/culture/books/jason-hazeley-joel-morris-a-ladybird-book-about-trump-interview-release-638826%3Famp</ref> hipsters and hangovers<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/ladybird-books-mid-life-crisis-new-books-take-on-hangovers-and-hipsters-1.2388551?mode=amp | title=Ladybird Books' mid-life crisis: New books take on hangovers and hipsters}}</ref> and Brexit.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/25/ladybird-book-authors-make-light-work-of-brexit |title = Ladybird book authors make light work of Brexit|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 25 October 2018}}</ref> The books were so successful that in 2015 only JK Rowling, David Walliams and Julia Donaldson sold more copies in the UK.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/meet-the-ladybird-authors-knocking-everyone-off-the-best-sellers/amp/ |title = Meet the Ladybird authors knocking everyone off the best-sellers list - including me}}</ref>
Hazeley wrote ''The Framley Examiner'', a local news parody website which later became a book, with Robin Halstead, Alex Morris and Joel Morris.
===Podcast=== Hazeley and Morris also hosted the comedy podcast ''Rule of Three''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sawyer |first1=Miranda |title=The week in radio and podcasts: Football Daily; Giant; Athletico Mince |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jun/23/radio-podcasts-football-daily-giant-athletico-mince-reviews |accessdate=6 April 2020 |work=The Observer |date=23 June 2019}}</ref> until 2020. ''Rule of Three'' was named in the best podcasts of 2018 by The Guardian.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jun/30/the-50-best-podcasts-of-2018|title=The 50 best podcasts of 2018|first1=Hannah J.|last1=Davies|first2=Hannah|last2=Verdier|first3=Harriet|last3=Gibsone|first4=Gavin|last4=Haynes|date=June 30, 2018|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> On the show they invite a comedy performer on to discuss their career and a comedy performance or programme, a TV show, a film, a book, an album or a comic that means a lot to them.<ref>https://www.podnews.net/podcast/1362621695</ref> Guests have included Eddie Izzard, John Finnemore, Danielle Ward, Jon Holmes,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wearecult.rocks/podcast-of-the-week-rule-of-three|title=Podcast of the Week: Rule Of Three » We Are Cult|first=James|last=Gent|date=June 8, 2018}}</ref> and Aisling Bea<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aislingbea.com/podcasts/rule-of-three/|title=AISLING BEA - Actor, Writer, Stand-Up, MC. People have woken up to worse. Rule Of Three – Father Ted|first=Aisling|last=Bea|website=www.aislingbea.com}}</ref> Topics have included Bill Hicks, films such as ''Trading Places'' and ''Time Bandits'' and the LP version of ''The Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/the-podcast-hour/audio/2018660535/dissecting-comedy-classics-rule-of-three|title=Dissecting comedy classics: Rule of Three|date=August 31, 2018|website=RNZ}}</ref> The podcast has branched out into live shows with special guests such as Sue Perkins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/rule-of-three/|title=Rule of Three with special guest Sue Perkins • Comedy • Kings Place|website=Kings Place}}</ref> Hazeley has also appeared as a guest on the Griefcast podcast with Cariad Lloyd.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/griefcast/ep-56-jason-hazeley-UE_BT-9saO5/|title=Ep. 56 Jason Hazeley - Griefcast (podcast)|website=Listen Notes}}</ref> At the 2020 British Podcast Awards it was named best Arts and Culture Podcast.<ref> https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/winners-2020</ref>
===Music=== From 1998 to 2003 Hazeley was part of the folk-pop duo Ben & Jason.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/71f13beb-f273-4af4-8154-a1c21c496dc3|title=Ben & Jason - New Songs, Playlists & Latest News - BBC Music|website=BBC}}</ref> In 2024, he toured the UK as part of Beth Gibbons' live band, and appeared with her on ''Later... with Jools Holland''.
==Publications== *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |authorlink1=Jason Hazeley |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |authorlink2=Joel Morris |title=How it Works: The Husband |date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8356-1 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of Dating |date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8357-8 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=How it Works: The Wife |date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8354-7 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of Dating |date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8357-8 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of Mindfulness |date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8352-3 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Hangover |date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8351-6 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Hipster |date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8359-2 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Mid-Life Crisis |date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8353-0 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Shed |date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8358-5 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=How it Works: The Mum |date=11 February 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8421-6 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=How it Works: The Dad |date=19 May 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8426-1 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=How it Works: The Student |date=25 August 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8428-5 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=How it Works: The Cat |date=20 October 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8433-9 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=How it Works: The Dog |date=20 October 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8435-3 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=How it Works: The Grandparent |date=20 October 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8430-8 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of Red Tape |date=20 October 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8439-1 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Meeting |date=20 October 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8437-7 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The People Next Door |date=20 October 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8441-4 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Sickie |date=20 October 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8443-8 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Zombie Apocalypse |date=20 October 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8445-2 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of Boxing Day |date=1 December 2016 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8486-5 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Do-Gooder |date=23 February 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8447-6 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=How it Works: The Baby |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8863-4 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=How it Works: The Brother |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8869-6 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=How it Works: The Sister |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8870-2 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=People at Work: The Rock Star |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8865-8 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of Balls |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8871-9 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Big Night Out |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8867-2 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Ex |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8866-5 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Nerd |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8864-1 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The New You |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8885-6 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Ladybird Book of The Quiet Night In |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8868-9 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=A Ladybird First Grown-Up Picture Book |date=5 October 2017 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-7181-8884-9 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Story of Brexit |date=25 October 2018 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-241-38656-9 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=The Wonderful World of Ladybird Books for Grown-Ups |date=15 November 2018 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-241-36404-8 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hazeley |first1=Jason A. |last2=Morris |first2=Joel P. |author-mask1=2 |author-mask2=2 |title=A Ladybird book about Donald Trump |date=3 October 2019 |publisher=Ladybird Books |location=Loughborough |isbn=978-0-241-42272-4 }}
==See also== *''Bollocks to Alton Towers'' ({{ISBN|0-14-102120-9}}) *''More Bollocks to Alton Towers'' ({{ISBN|0-14-102785-1}})
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hazeley, Jason}} Category:British comedy writers Category:British male singers Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:People educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford