Joz Norris

Josiah Norris (born 1989) is a British alternative comedian^[1], award-winning^[2] comic actor^[3] and award-nominated^[4] screenwriter^[5].

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.^[6]

He has performed solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2012^[7], with his first full hour show in 2013^[8], and his most recent show was included in the Guardian's Comedy Picks of the Fringe for the 70th Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017.^[9]. His shows have become known for their inherent feelgood qualities^{[10] [11]}. He has also performed at the Fringe in other comics' shows including Adam Larter's Return on Investment^[12] in 2015 and, since 2015, he has also performed regularly with the collectives Comedians' Cinema Club^[13] and The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society^[14].

He is a frequent collaborator with Weirdos Comedy Club^[15] and his roles in their annual alternative comedy Christmas pantomimes usually see him playing irritating^[16] characters who are the victims of bullying^[17].

In 2015 he won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy at the Los Angeles Webseries Festival for his performance in the webseries The Backbenchers^[18], and in 2017 his own webseries The Girl Whisperer saw him nominated for awards for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Writing^[19]. His own short films include Robert Johnson & The Devil Man, a collaboration with director Matthew Highton which received positive notices in the comedy press.^{[20] [21] [22]}

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^[23]. 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.^[24]

References