Kay Stonham
Encyclopedia
Kay Stonham is a British
actress and writer. She was a member of the regular cast of Jasper Carrott
's BBC TV comedy sketch show Carrott's Lib
in 1982. She graduated from Rose Bruford College
in 1977. She co-created and co-wrote series one and two of the BBC Radio 4
series Robin and Wendy's Wet Weekends
, and was sole writer on series three and four. She took the part of Wendy Mayfield opposite collaborator on the first two series Simon Greenall
as Robin Mayfield.
She created the critically acclaimed series Audio Diaries
for Radio 4 which ran for three series from 1998 to 2001 This innovative mockumentary
was ahead of its time in style and content.
As a performer she appeared in another acclaimed mock documentary series People Like Us
both in its Radio 4 and BBC 2 incarnations.
She was also a contributor to other Radio 4 comedy shows including The Sunday Format
, Dead Ringers
and Week Ending
.
She won the Radio Light Entertainment Titheridge Award in 1995.
In 1995 she shared a Writers' Guild of Great Britain
award with her co-writers for the television comedy series Harry Enfield and Chums. Simon Greenall
shared the same award.
Other TV sketch shows she has written for include Alistair McGowan's Big Impression for BBC 1, and Alas Smith and Jones
for BBC 2, The Sketch Show
for ITV
, Comedy Nation
for BBC 2 and TV to Go
for BBC 1.
She was a table writer on My Family in 2006.
Her work for children's and young peoples tv includes, Kerching for CBBC
, Girls in Love
for Granada Kids, and Grange Hill
for Mersey Television
. Dani's House
for CBBC and Shaun the Sheep
for Aardman Animation.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actress and writer. She was a member of the regular cast of Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott OBE is a British comedian, actor, television presenter and personality.-Early life:...
's BBC TV comedy sketch show Carrott's Lib
Carrott's Lib
Carrott's Lib is a British satirical comedy series broadcast between 1982 and 1983. It starred Jasper Carrott and a cast of many comedians. The show was not just a satirical comedy, it was also a sketch show with many comedians of the future, most famously Chris Barrie & Jan Ravens...
in 1982. She graduated from Rose Bruford College
Rose Bruford College
Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance is a British drama school, offering university-level and professional vocational training for theatre and performance and the BA and MA degrees, based in Sidcup, Southeast London.-History:Founded in 1950, Rose Bruford "pioneered the first acting degree...
in 1977. She co-created and co-wrote series one and two of the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
series Robin and Wendy's Wet Weekends
Robin and Wendy's Wet Weekends
Robin and Wendy's Wet Weekends is a BBC Radio 4 comedy series written by and starring Kay Stonham and Simon Greenall. It revolves around the mundane lives of Robin and Wendy Mayfield who live on an anonymous estate in Stevenage. Robin tends to be self-centred, demanding and controlling in his...
, and was sole writer on series three and four. She took the part of Wendy Mayfield opposite collaborator on the first two series Simon Greenall
Simon Greenall
Simon Greenall is a British actor, writer and voice artist from Longtown in Cumbria. He has appeared in a wide variety of roles in television, film, radio and the theatre, and is probably best known for his role as Michael in the TV series I'm Alan Partridge and as the voice of headmaster Iqbal in...
as Robin Mayfield.
She created the critically acclaimed series Audio Diaries
Audio Diaries (Radio Show)
Audio Diaries was a short-lived radio program that aired from 1998-2001. There were 15 half-hour episodes and it was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It was written by Kay Stonham and produced by Jane Berthoud.-Notes and references:...
for Radio 4 which ran for three series from 1998 to 2001 This innovative mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
was ahead of its time in style and content.
As a performer she appeared in another acclaimed mock documentary series People Like Us
People Like Us
People Like Us is a British comedy programme, a spoof on-location documentary written by John Morton, and starring Chris Langham as Roy Mallard, an inept interviewer...
both in its Radio 4 and BBC 2 incarnations.
She was also a contributor to other Radio 4 comedy shows including The Sunday Format
The Sunday Format
The Sunday Format, "BBC Radio 4's first high-quality weekend broadsheet newspaper", is a British satirical radio comedy. The programme is a parody of British middle class newspapers, in particular the lifestyle supplements and glossy celebrity magazines that fill Sunday papers...
, Dead Ringers
Dead Ringers (comedy)
Dead Ringers is a UK radio and television comedy impressions broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and later BBC Two. The programme was devised by producer Bill Dare and developed with Jon Holmes, Andy Hurst and Simon Blackwell. It starred Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Phil Cornwell, Kevin Connelly and Mark Perry...
and Week Ending
Week Ending
Week Ending... was a satirical radio current affairs sketch show, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4, usually on Friday evenings. It was devised by writer/producers Simon Brett and David Hatch, and was originally hosted by Nationwide presenter Michael Barratt.The show's title was always announced as...
.
She won the Radio Light Entertainment Titheridge Award in 1995.
In 1995 she shared a Writers' Guild of Great Britain
Writers' Guild of Great Britain
The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, established in 1959, is a trade union for professional writers. It is affiliated with both the Trades Union Congress and the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds .-Activities:...
award with her co-writers for the television comedy series Harry Enfield and Chums. Simon Greenall
Simon Greenall
Simon Greenall is a British actor, writer and voice artist from Longtown in Cumbria. He has appeared in a wide variety of roles in television, film, radio and the theatre, and is probably best known for his role as Michael in the TV series I'm Alan Partridge and as the voice of headmaster Iqbal in...
shared the same award.
Other TV sketch shows she has written for include Alistair McGowan's Big Impression for BBC 1, and Alas Smith and Jones
Alas Smith and Jones
Alas Smith and Jones is a British comedy sketch television series featuring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones. It was broadcast on the BBC from 1984 to 1998...
for BBC 2, The Sketch Show
The Sketch Show
The Sketch Show is a British television sketch comedy programme, featuring many leading British comedians. It aired on ITV between 2001 and 2003.A short-lived spinoff of the same title was produced in the United States.- Original line-up :...
for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, Comedy Nation
Comedy Nation
Comedy Nation is a British sketch comedy television programme that premiered at midnight 9 January 1998 on BBC Two. The first series consists of 13 episodes, each containing 30 sketches. Each episode of the first series cost £29,000 to produce....
for BBC 2 and TV to Go
TV to Go
-Notes and references:* at BBC Online...
for BBC 1.
She was a table writer on My Family in 2006.
Her work for children's and young peoples tv includes, Kerching for CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
, Girls in Love
Girls In Love
Girls in Love is a British children's drama series produced by Granada Television which aired on CITV. It is based on the book of the same title , both created by UK author Jacqueline Wilson that follows the romantic thrills and spills of three teenage girls - Ellie, Magda and Nadine...
for Granada Kids, and Grange Hill
Grange Hill
Grange Hill is a British television drama series originally made by the BBC. The show began in 1978 on BBC1 and was one of the longest running programmes on British television...
for Mersey Television
Mersey Television
Lime Pictures, formerly known as Mersey Television, is a British television production company, founded by producer and writer Phil Redmond in the early 1980s....
. Dani's House
Dani's House
Dani's House is a UK BAFTA-nominated Series produced BBC children's sitcom, starring actress Dani Harmer. The series started broadcast on 26 September 2008, three series have now aired and a fourth is currently being broadcast on CBBC, it started on 16 September 2011. A fifth series was...
for CBBC and Shaun the Sheep
Shaun the Sheep
Shaun the Sheep is a British stop-motion animated children's television series produced by Aardman Animations, and commissioned by the BBC and the WDR. It first aired in the UK on CBBC in March 2007...
for Aardman Animation.