{{short description|British alternative comedian, comic actor and screenwriter}} {{BLP primary sources|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} thumb|Norris at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016 '''Josiah Norris''' (born 1989) is a British alternative comedian,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/j/34145/joz_norris|title=Joz Norris, comedian tour dates : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|website=www.chortle.co.uk}}</ref> comic actor, and screenwriter.<ref>{{cite web|title=LA Webfest – 2017 Award Nominees|url=https://lawebfest.com/award-nominations/}}</ref>
Norris started writing and performing comedy while studying English Literature at the University of East Anglia, alongside fellow comics and writers John Kearns, Jon Brittain and Pat Cahill.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Fleming's Blog – Joz Norris Interview|date=10 June 2014|url=https://thejohnfleming.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/comic-joz-norris-is-vague-on-counties-studied-russian-as-english-literature/}}</ref>
He has performed solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2012,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/edinburgh-fringe/comedy/joz-norris-is-matt-fisher-uberperson|title=Comedy Review: Joz Norris is Matt Fisher: Überperson | The Skinny|website=www.theskinny.co.uk}}</ref> with his first full hour show in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/edinburgh-fringe-comedy-highlights-2013-the-top-ten-free-shows|title=Edinburgh Fringe highlights 2013: the top ten free shows – Time Out Comedy|date=25 July 2013|website=Time Out London}}</ref> In 2017 he was included in the Guardian's Comedy Picks of the Fringe.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Guardian – "Laugh A Minute: Edinburgh Festival's 2017 Comedy Lineup"|newspaper=The Guardian |date=8 June 2017|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/jun/08/edinburgh-festival-2017-comedy-highlights|last1=Logan |first1=Brian }}</ref> His 2019 show 'Joz Norris is Dead: Long Live Mr Fruit Salad' won the Comedians Choice Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2019/08/22/44138/joz_norris_and_laura_lexx_win_comedians_choice_awards|title=Joz Norris and Laura Lexx win Comedians' Choice Awards : News 2019 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|first=Steve|last=Bennett|website=www.chortle.co.uk}}</ref> at the Fringe and transferred to the Soho Theatre, where its initial run was extended due to popular demand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sohotheatre.com/shows/joz-norris-mr-fruit-salad/|title = Joz Norris is Dead. Long Live Mr Fruit Salad}}</ref> The show was also featured in the Guardian list of the Ten Best Jokes of the Fringe.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/aug/13/edinburgh-festival-2019-the-10-best-jokes|title=Edinburgh festival 2019: The 10 best jokes|newspaper=The Guardian |date=13 August 2019|last1=Fleckney |first1=Paul |last2=Fleckney |first2=Compiled by Paul }}</ref> Norris has also performed at the Fringe in other comics' shows including Adam Larter's ''Return on Investment''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2016/a/25750/adam_larters_return_on_investment|title=Adam Larter's Return on Investment : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|website=www.chortle.co.uk}}</ref> in 2015 and, since 2015, he has also performed regularly with the collectives Comedians' Cinema Club<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://broadwaybaby.com/shows/comedians-cinema-club/706019|title=Comedians’ Cinema Club: 4 star review by Louise Jones|website=broadwaybaby.com}}</ref> and The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Chocolate Ocelot's Pouch – ACMS Review|date=11 August 2016|url=http://chocolate-ocelot.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/the-chocolate-ocelots-2016-fringe-day_11.html}}</ref>
He is a frequent collaborator with Weirdos Comedy Club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/weirdos-comedy-collective-funny-peculiar|title=Weirdos Comedy Collective: funny peculiar|date=3 December 2015|website=Time Out London}}</ref> He has also collaborated with Up In Arms Theatre Company. Other theatre projects have included his performance in the play 'Timmy' by Roxy Dunn at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018.
In 2015 Norris won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy at the Los Angeles Webseries Festival for his performance in the webseries ''The Backbenchers'', and in 2017 his own webseries ''The Girl Whisperer'' saw him nominated for awards for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Writing.<ref>{{cite web|title=LA Webfest Award Nominees 2017|url=https://lawebfest.com/award-nominations/}}</ref> His own short films include ''Robert Johnson & The Devil Man'', a collaboration with director Matthew Highton which received positive notices in the comedy press.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shortcom.co.uk/comedy/comedy-features/a-big-turtle-dump/|title=Short Com – A Big Turtle Dump}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2017/06/13/36791/the_turtle_package|title=The Turtle package : Reviews 2017 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|first=Steve|last=Bennett|website=www.chortle.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Laugh Out London – Turtle Canyon's Comedy Binge Review|date=13 June 2017|url=https://laughoutlondoncomedyclub.co.uk/2017/06/13/turtle-canyon-comedys-comedy-binge/}}</ref>
In 2016 he appeared alongside Bob Slayer on an episode of ITV's courtroom reality show Judge Rinder to resolve a dispute over an unpaid fee after a performance at a metal festival.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beyond The Joke – Comedians To Resolve Dispute on Judge Rinder|date=28 October 2016|url=http://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/3301/news-comedians-resolve-dispute-judge-rinder}}</ref> The episode was subsequently reviewed by the comedy website Chortle, noting that it was the first time they had ever had to review an episode of a reality TV show.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2016/10/31/26115/judge_rinder:_joz_norris_vs_bob_slayer|title=Judge Rinder: Joz Norris vs Bob Slayer : Reviews 2016 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|first=Steve|last=Bennett|website=www.chortle.co.uk}}</ref>
In 2023 he was ranked among the top 13% of Taylor Swift listeners by Spotify.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=JozNorris |number=1684299945623404546 |title=I'm now one of the her [sic] biggest fans in the world. |link=https://twitter.com/JozNorris/status/1684299945623404546}}</ref>
==Radio==
* 2020: Joz And Roxy Are Useless Millennials (BBC Radio 4)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000f6c8 | title=BBC Radio 4 - Joz and Roxy are Useless Millennials }}</ref> * 2021: Joz Norris: A Small Talk on Small Talk (BBC Radio 4)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000qxmj | title=Stand-Up Specials - Joz Norris: A Small Talk on Small Talk - BBC Sounds }}</ref> * 2022: The Dream Factory (BBC Radio 4)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001czhw | title=BBC Radio 4 - the Dream Factory }}</ref>
==Awards==
*2015: Outstanding Actor In a Comedy, Los Angeles Webseries Festival
*2019: Best Show, Comedians’ Choice Awards, Edinburgh Fringe
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norris, Joz}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of East Anglia Category:British comedians