Dave Thornton
Encyclopedia
Dave Thornton is a stand-up comedian, actor and radio and TV presenter. He has performed Stand-up comedy throughout Australia, in Edinburgh
, Singapore and New York. He has also appeared on Australian Television and Radio.
to Ineke and Peter Thornton. He attended Belmont High School and studied Design and Art at the Gordon Institute of TAFE
. He now resides in Melbourne.
ing traveler, at the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
, where he was nominated for 'Best Newcomer'.
Thornton has performed at the MICF every year since, and in 2009 debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a new show, Allow Me to Introduce Myself.
He has also performed stand-up comedy on TV shows including Good Morning Australia
(Network 10) in 2006, Stand Up Australia
(Comedy Channel
Australia) in 2007 and Rove (Network 10) in 2008.
in Melbourne. He then became a fill-in co-host for Nova nationally on the breakfast shift during December leading up to Christmas hosting with Dylan Lewis
and Sophie Monk
. In 2010 he co-hosted Nova 106.9
in Brisbane for 6 weeks with Tim Blackwell and Meshel Laurie
. In July 2010, Thornton started hosting a Saturday morning breakfast show 'Saturday Sessions' nationally on Nova from 10am – 12pm with comedian Melinda Buttle.
's 'Comedy Inc.
as a replacement for Jim Russell
. This was followed the next year with a role in the ABC
television drama Bed of Roses
, as Shannon Atherton, an injured 24 year-old AFL
player who had found himself in trouble and returned home to the series fictional town Rainbow’s End and to his mum (played by Kerry Armstrong.)
He also hosted the first 3 seasons of Studio A, a live chat show produced at RMITV
studios. Featuring guests such as Rove McManus
, Tony Martin
and the former Melbourne Mayor John So
, the show won 'Programme of the Year' at the 2009 Channel 31 Antenna Awards
.
Since 2008, Thornton has made many guest appearances on Panel shows including Good News Week
(Network 10), ADbc
(SBS
) and Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
(Network 10).
In 2010 he was a regular panelist on The White Room
(Channel 7
).
(20 episodes, 2007) Bed of Roses
(3 episodes, 2008) Good News Week
(3 episodes, 2008, 2010, 2011) Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
(1 episode, 2009) The Breast Darn Show in Town
(2009) (TV) ADbc
(1 episode, 2010) The 7PM Project
(1 episode, 2010) The White Room
(2 episodes, 2010)
, Tim Hunter of The Age
wrote "Dave Thornton is the funniest. He's self-deprecating and engaging, and delivered the biggest laugh of the show: an impersonation of Dave Hughes, which is a worry in itself." Erin White of Australian Stage noted that "Thornton’s performance is quintessentially Australian". Melissa Phillips of East Torrens Messenger
wrote of Thornton's A Different Type of Normal, that "Thornton's show has a real soft side and it’s his family stories that hit home with plenty of honesty," while Melissa Mack of The Independent Weekly
wrote "Thornton tackles an interesting subject which is surprising and at times confronting, but always witty. His show is mostly about family and his very Australian style of comedy also has a deeply personal touch". Rove Daily writes that "Dave Thornton is one of Australia’s most exciting young stand-up comics".
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Singapore and New York. He has also appeared on Australian Television and Radio.
Background and education
Thornton was born in Geelong, VictoriaGeelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
to Ineke and Peter Thornton. He attended Belmont High School and studied Design and Art at the Gordon Institute of TAFE
Gordon Institute of TAFE
The Gordon Institute of TAFE is the TAFE institute servicing Geelong since 1888. It has 26,000 students studying on-campus, off-campus and in business or industry ....
. He now resides in Melbourne.
Stand-up comedy
Thornton began working in stand-up comedy at the Geelong heats of RAW comedy in 2002. He debuted his solo hour-long show Euro:mission, which was based on his experiences as a backpackBackpack
A backpack is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but there can be exceptions...
ing traveler, at the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks in April typically opening on or around April Fool's Day...
, where he was nominated for 'Best Newcomer'.
Thornton has performed at the MICF every year since, and in 2009 debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a new show, Allow Me to Introduce Myself.
He has also performed stand-up comedy on TV shows including Good Morning Australia
Good Morning Australia
Good Morning Australia from Network Ten was the name of two different programs. This article is for Bert Newton's morning program, not to be confused with the breakfast news program of the same name....
(Network 10) in 2006, Stand Up Australia
Stand Up Australia
Stand Up Australia was an Australian comedy TV program locally produced by The Comedy Channel from 2006 to 2008.It was hosted by Cameron Knight, and featured four Australian or international comedians on each one hour show...
(Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel is an Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television.-History:...
Australia) in 2007 and Rove (Network 10) in 2008.
Radio
In October 2009, Dave Thornton began hosting a Sunday evening show on Nova 100Nova 100
Nova 100 is a commercial radio station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, broadcasting on 100.3 MHz. It is in the Melbourne radio market, with the intention of challenging the number one FM Austereo station Fox FM by playing alternative, hip hop, pop & dance music, with a strong lean towards...
in Melbourne. He then became a fill-in co-host for Nova nationally on the breakfast shift during December leading up to Christmas hosting with Dylan Lewis
Dylan Lewis
Dylan Lewis is an Australian television and radio personality.-Personal life:He was educated at Caulfield Grammar School, graduating in 1990, and studied for a Bachelor of Education in Drama and Music degree at the University of Melbourne. John Bannon, former South Australian premier is Dylan's...
and Sophie Monk
Sophie Monk
Sophie Charlene Akland Monk is a London-born Australian pop singer, actress and model. Monk was a member of female pop group Bardot and released a solo album Calendar Girl...
. In 2010 he co-hosted Nova 106.9
Nova 106.9
Nova 106.9 is a commercial radio station operating in Brisbane, Australia, owned by the DMG Radio Network. DMG Radio purchased the Brisbane FM licence for $80 million in April 2004 to complete their national network of Nova stations...
in Brisbane for 6 weeks with Tim Blackwell and Meshel Laurie
Meshel Laurie
Meshel Laurie is an Australian comedian and radio-television personality. She was born in Toowoomba, Queensland.Laurie moved to Melbourne early in her career as a stand-up comic to take advantage of its strong comedy industry/community. Her first Melbourne International Comedy Festival show was...
. In July 2010, Thornton started hosting a Saturday morning breakfast show 'Saturday Sessions' nationally on Nova from 10am – 12pm with comedian Melinda Buttle.
Television
In 2007 Thornton debuted on Channel 9Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's 'Comedy Inc.
Comedy Inc.
Comedy Inc. was an Australian sketch comedy television series, which ran on the Nine Network from 1 February 2003 to 26 December 2007. The series was produced by Crackerjack Productions. It first premiered in February 2003 in the new wave of Australian sketch comedy shows being launched across the...
as a replacement for Jim Russell
Jim Russell (actor)
Jim Russell is best known for starring in Comedy Inc. He has featured in numerous Australian films, sitcoms and dramas. Russell toured throughout Europe and North America during 2007 and 2008 with the award winning production of 'Soft'. In 2009 he played the title role in the highly acclaimed...
. This was followed the next year with a role in the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
television drama Bed of Roses
Bed of Roses (TV series)
Bed of Roses is an Australian comedy / drama television series which first screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 10 May 2008...
, as Shannon Atherton, an injured 24 year-old AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
player who had found himself in trouble and returned home to the series fictional town Rainbow’s End and to his mum (played by Kerry Armstrong.)
He also hosted the first 3 seasons of Studio A, a live chat show produced at RMITV
RMITV
RMITV is a not-for-profit community access television production facility based at RMIT University City Campus in Melbourne, Australia.It is one of the members of the Melbourne Community Television Consortium; the not-for-profit consortium that operates the community access channel Channel 31 in...
studios. Featuring guests such as Rove McManus
Rove McManus
John Henry Michael "Rove" McManus is an Australian comedian, television presenter, producer and media personality. He was the host of the self-titled variety show Rove, and is the owner of the production company Roving Enterprises...
, Tony Martin
Tony Martin
Anthony or Tony Martin may refer to:Education*Tony Martin , professor at Wellesley College known for racial controversies in the early 1990s.*Donald A...
and the former Melbourne Mayor John So
John So
John Chun Sai So JP is a Chinese-Australian businessman who served as the 102nd Lord Mayor of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, Australia. He was the first Lord Mayor in the city's history to be directly elected by the people; previously, Lord Mayors were elected by the Councillors.First elected...
, the show won 'Programme of the Year' at the 2009 Channel 31 Antenna Awards
Antenna Awards
The Antenna Awards are an annual award ceremony that recognises outstanding community television programs broadcast on Australia's Channel 31 stations. Since their inception in 2004, the Antennas have been traditionally hosted by C31 Melbourne, and are held at a gala ceremony at Federation Square...
.
Since 2008, Thornton has made many guest appearances on Panel shows including Good News Week
Good News Week
Good News Week is an Australian satirical panel game show hosted by Paul McDermott that initially aired from 19 April 1996 to 27 May 2000, and resumed on 11 February 2008 to 9 May 2011. The show aired first on ABC TV before it was bought by Network Ten in 1999...
(Network 10), ADbc
ADbc
ADbc is an Australian television comedy history quiz show hosted by Sam Pang. It was first broadcast on SBS One in 2009.-Summary:There are two teams of two contestants, the AD team and the bc team. Each team consists of an academic and a celebrity working together in an attempt to win the game...
(SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
) and Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
Talkin' 'bout your Generation
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation is an Australian game show produced by Granada Productions which premiered on Network Ten on 5 May 2009. It is hosted by Shaun Micallef....
(Network 10).
In 2010 he was a regular panelist on The White Room
The White Room
Allmusic said that The White Room "represents the commercial and artistic peak of late-'80s acid-house" and Q magazine called it "strikingly imaginative" and "a more subtle form of subterfuge" than previous works...
(Channel 7
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
).
Partial Television
Comedy Inc.
Comedy Inc. was an Australian sketch comedy television series, which ran on the Nine Network from 1 February 2003 to 26 December 2007. The series was produced by Crackerjack Productions. It first premiered in February 2003 in the new wave of Australian sketch comedy shows being launched across the...
(20 episodes, 2007)
Bed of Roses (TV series)
Bed of Roses is an Australian comedy / drama television series which first screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 10 May 2008...
(3 episodes, 2008)
Good News Week
Good News Week is an Australian satirical panel game show hosted by Paul McDermott that initially aired from 19 April 1996 to 27 May 2000, and resumed on 11 February 2008 to 9 May 2011. The show aired first on ABC TV before it was bought by Network Ten in 1999...
(3 episodes, 2008, 2010, 2011)
Talkin' 'bout your Generation
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation is an Australian game show produced by Granada Productions which premiered on Network Ten on 5 May 2009. It is hosted by Shaun Micallef....
(1 episode, 2009)
2009 in Australian television
This is a list of Australian television events and premieres which occurred in 2009. The year 2009 is the 54th year of continuous operation of television in Australia...
(2009) (TV)
ADbc
ADbc is an Australian television comedy history quiz show hosted by Sam Pang. It was first broadcast on SBS One in 2009.-Summary:There are two teams of two contestants, the AD team and the bc team. Each team consists of an academic and a celebrity working together in an attempt to win the game...
(1 episode, 2010)
The 7PM Project
The Project is an Australian talk show television program airing weeknights across Australia on Network Ten. The formerly half hour long show premiered on 20 July 2009, and is hosted by Charlie Pickering, Carrie Bickmore and Dave Hughes, with a rotating daily guest panelist...
(1 episode, 2010)
The White Room
Allmusic said that The White Room "represents the commercial and artistic peak of late-'80s acid-house" and Q magazine called it "strikingly imaginative" and "a more subtle form of subterfuge" than previous works...
(2 episodes, 2010)
Podcast
From 201, Thornton has collaborated on a free weekly podcast, Slapbang Radio with fellow comedian Tommy Little.Recognition
In his review of the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy FestivalMelbourne International Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks in April typically opening on or around April Fool's Day...
, Tim Hunter of The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
wrote "Dave Thornton is the funniest. He's self-deprecating and engaging, and delivered the biggest laugh of the show: an impersonation of Dave Hughes, which is a worry in itself." Erin White of Australian Stage noted that "Thornton’s performance is quintessentially Australian". Melissa Phillips of East Torrens Messenger
East Torrens Messenger
East Torrens Messenger is a weekly suburban newspaper in Adelaide, part of the Messenger Newspapers group. The East Torrens area is bounded by Hackney Road to the west, the River Torrens Valley to the north, Magill Road to the south and the Athelstone foothills in the east.The newspaper generally...
wrote of Thornton's A Different Type of Normal, that "Thornton's show has a real soft side and it’s his family stories that hit home with plenty of honesty," while Melissa Mack of The Independent Weekly
The Independent Weekly
The Independent Weekly, established in September 2004, is an independent newspaper published and circulated in Adelaide, capital of South Australia...
wrote "Thornton tackles an interesting subject which is surprising and at times confronting, but always witty. His show is mostly about family and his very Australian style of comedy also has a deeply personal touch". Rove Daily writes that "Dave Thornton is one of Australia’s most exciting young stand-up comics".
Awards & nominations
- 2005, Search For Funny Bone Winner
- 2005, Angling For a Laugh Winner
- 2006, Campus Comedian of the Year (TREV Awards) Winner
- 2007, Nominated for 'Best Newcomer' at the Melbourne International Comedy FestivalMelbourne International Comedy FestivalThe Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks in April typically opening on or around April Fool's Day...
External links
- Dave Thornton at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Official Website
- Comedy Acts
- Austrailian Stage online
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival homepage