Simon Brodkin

Simon Brodkin is an English comedian, previously a medical doctor, who performs on the stand-up circuit and in comedy television series. He is best known for playing a character called Lee Nelson, but also performs as other comedy characters. Performing solo stand-up since 2004 (or earlier), he has also written for and appeared on the television shows Al Murray's Multiple Personality Disorder in 2009, Lee Nelson's Well Good Show in 2010 and Lee Nelson's Well Funny People in 2013.

Career

Stand-up

Brodkin is a former medical doctor who qualified from Manchester University in 2001. He relinquished his GMC registration in January 2007. Brodkin performed his first solo show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2006, titled Simon Brodkin: Everyone But Himself.^[1]

In his Lee Nelson stand-up routine, Brodkin's character typically interacts with his audience, telling them about his life, asking them questions, then replying with responses that reflect his world view, his own ignorance or his own stereotypically antisocial attitudes. His act is peppered with slang words. In character as Lee Nelson, he briefly stood as a candidate in the South Shields by-election, 2013.^[2]

Brodkin also performs a selection of other characters,^[3] including Jason Bent, an unintelligent Premiership footballer with a Merseyside accent. Other characters have included the sleazy and incompetent Dr. Bob.

Television

Brodkin began appearing on television in 2003, in a series of shorts entitled From Baghdad To Balham (Channel 4), playing a recently arrived Iraqi asylum seeker, and twice on Absolutely Fabulous on BBC One.^[1][4]

In 2005, Brodkin appeared as Nelson in three episodes of Channel 4's The Morning After Show.

In 2007, Brodkin wrote for and appeared on Al Murray's ITV1 prime time sketch show Al Murray's Multiple Personality Disorder, where he appeared playing his characters of Jason Bent and Lee Nelson, as well as alongside Murray in sketches about mobile phone shop assistants.

In 2008, Brodkin appeared as Dr. Omprakash and Nelson in the BBC Three comedy show The Wall.

In 2011, Brodkin appeared as Lee Nelson in the 28 January episode of ITV's Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford and in Heat 3 of Let's Dance for Comic Relief on BBC One.

Also in 2011, on 11 November, he appeared as Lee Nelson in BBC One's Live at the Apollo Series seven, episode two, alongside Sean Lock and Ed Byrne.

In 2012, Brodkin returned as Nelson on the judging panel in Heat 4 of Let's Dance for Sport Relief on BBC One, along with Russell Kane and Jo Brand.

In 2013, Brodkin again returned as Nelson in Heat 3 of Let's Dance for Comic Relief on BBC One, dancing with street dance duo Twist and Pulse. He won the "judges' vote", thus performing again in the final. However, he did not win. His actual final position is unknown as the unsuccessful finalists were called in "no specific order".

Lee Nelson's Well Good Show

In 2009, Brodkin was commissioned by the BBC to write his own show for BBC Three.^[5][6][7] Titled Lee Nelson's Well Good Show, it was broadcast from 10 June 2010 on BBC Three in the 22.30 slot. It features Brodkin in character in a studio setting, but also features television sketches of his other characters.^[8] The show was commissioned for a second series, which aired on 25 August 2011.

Reception

Brodkin has won several competitions and awards for his work, including Brighton’s Komedia comedy competition and The Writers' Guild Award for Best Newcomer in Edinburgh for his show Everyone But Himself.^[1]

In reviewing his Nelson stand-up character in 2009, James Kettle of The Guardian stated that, in comparison to Matt Lucas's aggressive Vicky Pollard, and Catherine Tate's Lauren Cooper, Brodkin's portrayal has "a three-dimensional personality" and is a "gentler, more likeable soul, with a dopily comprehensive lack of self-awareness", and that in playing the 'chav', "no one's done it quite like Simon Brodkin".^[9]

Arrest

On 16 March 2013, Brodkin ran onto the pitch at Goodison Park during the warm-up to the Everton vs. Manchester City Premier League football match.^[10] He was playing his footballer alter ego, 'Jason Bent', and attempted to warm up with City players, but was instead arrested by Merseyside Police for pitch encroachment.^[11] Brodkin was subsequently charged with pitch encroachment contrary to the Football (Offences) Act 1991.^[12] On 3 April 2013, the charge was withdrawn, and Brodkin was given a 6 month conditional caution for the incident.^[13]

Stand-up DVDs

• Lee Nelson Live (19 November 2012)

References

External links

• Official website
• Simon Brodkin at Chortle.co.uk