James really made his name in topical comedy, writing one-liners for commercial radio stations. During the 2005 general election campaign, his political material appeared on BBC Radio 1, 2, and 4. He has also written for Private Eye and is a frequent studio pundit on the Sky News Paper Review.

James Sherwood: Comedian

He is also a musician, mainly a classical singer, but also a pianist, composer and arranger. His vocal arrangement of the University Challenge theme tune featured in a BBC2 documentary about the TV quiz. He is a regular choral singer on the London church scene, despite not being a Christian; a contradiction he explored in his 2006 solo Edinburgh debut I Know What You Did Last Sunday. Since then he has taken a further five solo shows to the Fringe where he has become a firm favourite.

Trivia: his great-grandfather (also James Sherwood) scored the only goal in the 1914 Amateur FA Cup Final.

TV & Radio

• “The Matt Lucas Awards” BBC1 – playing the piano while Shappi Khorsandi sang music hall songs.
• Sky News Paper Review – Regular pundit
• Richard Bacon on 5 Live – Numerous appearances on Richard’s late night show as ‘presenter’s friend’.
• Regular piano-playing sidekick for Gethin Jones on his 5 Live show.
• Loose Ends, Radio 4 – Various guest appearances
• Performer on 4 Stands Up for Radio 4.
• Arthur Smith’s guest for Radio 4 Extra
• Nemone’s guest on 6 Music
• Various appearances on ‘the Milk Run’ on Radio 1
• Appeared on Radio 3’s Red Nose Day 2013 coverage as musicologist Jonathan Dingle
• Test Match Sofa (online cricket commentary service) – writes, presents and performs countless jingles

Comedy Writing

• Contract writer for BBC Radio Comedy department. Wrote for numerous shows, including News Quiz, and a Sony Award-winning series of The Now Show.
• Devised, wrote for, wrote and played and sang the theme tune for I Guess That’s Why They Call It The News, Radio 4 topical panel show. 2009
• Script writer for Rory Bremner for his comedy clips played on the big screens at major cricket matches, 2012
• Spent a day writing songs for Duncan from Blue which he performed in the shower, as part of a Vosene promotion. 2012

What Press Say

“Quite brilliant” THE SCOTSMAN
“Genuine hysterics…tears of laughter” SPOONFED
“Keeps the audience enraptured” ALLTHEFESTIVALS.COM
“Reminiscent of a young Stephen Fry” CALLTHATASHOW.COM
“Truly inspired, laugh out loud…hilarious” THE LIST
“Savage satire” SUNDAY TIMES
“Piercing” EVENING STANDARD
“Fantastic” TIME OUT