Jason Forbes (born 27 October 1990) is a British actor, writer, comedian, impressionist, and TV presenter. He is best known for the CITV series Horrible Science;Ben Miller is bringing Horrible Science to CITV ; Digital Spy – 21 May 2015 The Mash Report on BBC Two;The Mash Report; British Comedy Guide as PC Peasey in the Professor Branestawm television films on BBC One;The Incredible Adventures of Professor Brainstawm – Credits, BBC One and as a member of the award-winning sketch trio 'Daphne'.Edinburgh festival 2015: 10 comedy acts to watch, The Guardian
Forbes is co-creator, star and writer of the BBC Radio 4 series, Daphne Sounds Expensive.Daphne Sounds Expensive, BBC Radio 4
Early life and education Forbes was born in Bristol, England, and educated at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital in Clifton.QEH Bristol News He then went up to Jesus College, Cambridge, to read English,Cast & Crew | CAST 2011 graduating in 2012.The Company – Footlights International Tour 2012
At school he joined the 'Gabblers' Club' – a Bristol-based after-dinner speaking society for young students; and, in 2008, was awarded the Gabblers' prize for 'Best Speaker'QEH Bristol News – a prize formerly awarded to stand-up comedian Mark Watson.Talking it up , Bristol Grammar School
At Cambridge University, Forbes wrote and performed in a number of comedy shows as a member of the famous Cambridge Footlights. In 2012, he co-wrote and performed in Perfect Strangers – the Footlights' 50th annual revue – touring the UK and the United States.The Company – Footlights International Tour 2012Dates – Footlights International Tour 2012 He also performed in a number of 'serious plays', from contemporary to Shakespeare;Person: Jason Forbes, Camdram and on London's West End as part of a showcase directed by former artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre, Max Stafford-Clark.Show: Marlowe Showcase 2012, Camdram
Prior to becoming a professional actor, Forbes worked as a marketing executive, civil servant, computer programmer, web designer, graphic designer and teacher of languages.Interview with Daphne, Comedy Blogedy
Career
Comedy In September 2014, Forbes reunited with his Cambridge Footlights contemporaries Phil Wang and George Fouracres to form the sketch group 'Daphne'.who? | Daphne | Sketch comedy from Phil Wang, Jason Forbes & George Fouracres
The trio began hosting a comedy night called Nova Nova, every other month at the Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone, where they trialled their new material alongside guests, including British comedians Harry Hill and James Acaster.Nova Nova , Daphne – Official Website
Daphne went on to win the London Sketchfest's prize for 'Best New Act' in 2015.Seven sketch comedy shows to see at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, TimeOut Their first Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Daphne Do Edinburgh, was critically acclaimedBest-reviewed Edinburgh Fringe shows 2015, British Comedy Guide and Daphne were nominated for the 2015 Foster's (formerly Perrier) Award for 'Best Newcomer'.Foster's Edinburgh Comedy awards shortlist announced, BBC NewsRecord 8 nominees for Edinburgh Comedy Award, Chortle
Radio
Daphne Sounds Expensive (BBC Radio 4) In February 2016, the BBC announced that Daphne would be bringing a "Goon Show-esque" comedy called Daphne Sounds Expensive to BBC Radio 4,Radio 4’s Comedy Commissioner announces a raft of new commissions BBC Media Centre with the first episode airing on 14 July 2016.Daphne Sounds Expensive – Series 1, Episode 1, BBC Radio 4 The series consists of four thirty-minute episodes.Daphne Sounds Expensive – Series 1, Episode Guide, BBC Radio 4
Daphne Sounds Expensive was shortlisted for the 'Best Radio Sketch Show' award at the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2016.Comedy.co.uk Awards 2016 – News – British Comedy Guide Radio 4 commissioned a second series which it would broadcast from 13 July 2017.Daphne Sounds Expensive | BBC Radio 4Daphne Sounds Expensive | British Comedy GuideDaphne – Official Website
Other radio work Forbes is a regular guest on the satirical sketch show Newsjack on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
In 2017, he appeared in the two-part BBC Radio 4 sitcom Life on Egg by Daniel Maier, alongside Harry Hill, Marek Larwood, and Gyles Brandreth.Life on Egg – Episode 1, Inspection, BBC Radio 4Life on Egg – Episode 2, CCTV, BBC Radio 4
Film and television Forbes made his first TV appearance in 2013 in Kerry, a BBC Three Comedy Feeds episode by comedic actress Kerry Howard.
He later appeared in The Mimic on Channel 4 and Pompidou by Little Britain star Matt Lucas on BBC One.
In 2014, he appeared on BBC One alongside Harry Hill, David Mitchell, Ben Miller, Miranda Richardson, Simon Day and Charlie Higson, as PC Peasey in Higson's adaptation of The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm by Norman Hunter.
In May 2015, ITV announced that Forbes would be among the cast of their new series Horrible Science, based on the Horrible Science books by Nick Arnold.Horrible Science, ITV/CITV
Forbes also joined the cast of Tracey Ullman's sketch show, Tracey Ullman's Show, for BBC Onewho? | Daphne | Sketch comedy from Phil Wang, Jason Forbes & George Fouracres and HBO. He was a regular in the second series of Tracey Ullman's Show, and portrayed former American World No. 1 professional tennis player, Arthur Ashe, in the 2017 film Borg/McEnroe, starring Sverrir Guðnason and Shia LaBeouf.Jason, Daphne Comedy – Official WebsiteShia LaBeouf to play John McEnroe in movie of Wimbledon legend's 1980 battle with Borg – The Guardian
In 2021, broadcaster UKTV announced that Forbes would be joining Kemah Bob and Tom Allen as co-host of a new panel show called The Island on its comedy channel Dave. The show was co-created by comedians John Robins, Lloyd Langford, Ed Gamble, and James Acaster. Recording of the first eight episodes began in June 2021.
In 2024, he starred in Netflix's science fiction television series, 3 Body Problem, as Omar Khayyam.
Style and influences Forbes is a lover of physical comedy and often incorporates slapstick humour into his routines. He has cited Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Rowan Atkinson, Sir Norman Wisdom and, "most of all", Michael Crawford among his physical influences. "Against all advice," says Forbes in an interview with online blog Comedy Blogedy, "I'd try everything they did at home: bumping into things, falling over, deliberately spilling stuff and – to my mother's horror – throwing myself down the stairs."Interview with Daphne, Comedy Blogedy
Forbes apparently perfected his stair-fall in a university production of Michael Frayn's Noises Off.Noises Off, The Tab
Of his sketch group Daphne's debut Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, The List magazine's Brian Donaldson remarked upon a "wild slapstick moment that will hopefully not result in an injury to Forbes before August is out."Daphne Do Edinburgh – Wild and original sketches from a three-man team clearly going places, The List
Credits
Film and television Year Title Role Notes 2013 Kerry Various TV pilot2014 The Mimic Spa worker TV series (1 episode) The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm PC Peasey TV film2015 Pompidou Ambulance Volunteer TV series (1 episodes) BBC's Fresh from the Fringe Various As part of sketch trio, Daphne Professor Branestawm Returns PC Peasey TV film 2015–present Horrible Science Junior/Various TV series (10 episodes)2016Tracey Ullman's ShowVariousThe Windsors Paramedic TV series (1 episode)Jason Forbes IMDB2017Borg/McEnroe Arthur Ashe Feature filmJason, Daphne Comedy – Official Website2017–2022The Mash ReportNathan MuirJason Forbes – Official WebsiteTV series2020Spitting ImageIdris Elba/Lewis HamiltonTV series2024A Gentleman in MoscowNachevkoTV series 3 Body Problem Omar KhayyamTV seriesRenegade NellCourt ClerkTV seriesMy Lady JaneScrope (2 episodes)TV series
Radio Year Title Role Notes 2015 BBC Radio 4's Fresh from the Fringe Various As part of sketch trio, Daphne 2015–2017Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 Extra)VariousSeries 13, Episode 4; Series 14, Episode 2;Series 15, Episode 5; Series 16, Episode 12016Daphne Sounds Expensive (BBC Radio 4)Creator / Writer / PerformerRadio seriesRadio 4’s Comedy Commissioner announces a raft of new commissions, BBC Media CentreDaphne Sounds Expensive, BBC Radio 42017Life on Egg (BBC Radio 4)Skulk / Tim / Nev / DoubledayRadio sitcomLife on Egg – Episode 1, Inspection, BBC Radio 4Life on Egg – Episode 2, CCTV, BBC Radio 4Ankle Tag (BBC Radio 4)Trevor / ChrisSeries 1, Episode 1
Video games Year Title Role 2022 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Mwamba A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
Awards and nominations Forbes' sketch group Daphne were the winners of the London Sketchfest's prize for 'Best New Act' in 2015.Seven sketch comedy shows to see at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, TimeOut Their first Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Daphne Do Edinburgh, was critically acclaimedBest-reviewed Edinburgh Fringe shows 2015, British Comedy Guide and Daphne were nominated for the 2015 Edinburgh Comedy Award for 'Best Newcomer'.Foster's Edinburgh Comedy awards shortlist announced, BBC NewsRecord 8 nominees for Edinburgh Comedy Award, Chortle
References