(I wrote this smart-ass third person so I sound all clever-like, Wikipedia style)
Robert James Fletcher (born January 6, 1985) is a British comedy writer, Television Researcher, stand-up comedy performer and actor. Often known as “Bob Fletcher” or “Bobby Fletcher”, he’s also familiar with JobSeekers Allowance. Originally born in lovely smelly Coventry, he now resides in lovely less smelly Arsenal, London.
EARLY YEARS
Robert was born in industrial midland city Coventry, England and attended Whitmore Park primary school before moving onto Coventry’s Coundon Court School. Son to decorator Harry and nurse, Hazel, he has three elder siblings, a sister and two brothers. Yes, his dad was clearly incredibly potent and mum, awesomely fertile. Bob plopped out practically pain free with factory precision.
WRITING
After coming runner-up in the T4 Talent Awards at aged 17 for his sit-com script “Happy Medium” he managed to convince Bournemouth University’s Media School to enlist him on their Scriptwriting Degree Course.
Along with writers Steve Pearce and Lisa Wright, Robert wrote and starred in sketch show “Far-Fetched” which appeared at the Bournemouth Somnambullist Film Festival, began by BAFTA Award winning director Luke Snellin.
At around the same time he wrote for the Bournemouth University ‘Wire‘ Newspaper as a sports columnist.
In 2006 he was employed briefly by Blake Friedmann Literary Agency as a Script Reader and later for BBC Radio 4, providing – amongst other duties – sound effects for The Archers.
After contributing comedy sketches in 2007 for Radio 4 shows ‘Look Away Now’ and “Play and Record”, he made a breakthrough with commissioned sketches for BBC3′s second series of ‘The Wrong Door‘. Since then he has written for online football magazines FootballingWorld and SoccerLens as a football journalist.
Most recently, he wrote for channel 4′s Robert’s Web, a comedy programme hosted by Robert Webb.
TELLY
Bob started out telly life as an Junior Development Researcher at CBBC under the wing of former TV presenter and Development Chief Joe Mace. Whilst there he came up with the idea for ‘Help! Teach Is Coming To Stay‘ which got commissioned. Thus, he was recommended to adult entertainment (not porn, just grown up normal Entertainment, you!). There as a fully fledged Researcher, he helped devise and develop 4 new commissions.
After the BBC, Bob worked for various indies such as KEO Films, Monkey Kingdom, Princess Productions, TalkbackThames and Objective Productions.
He most recently worked on the record-breaking Comic Relief show ‘24 Hour Panel People‘, a 24 hour non-stop marathon of comedy panel shows with Little Britain star David Walliams featuring in all of them.
COMEDY
Robert made his stand-up debut in February 2010, supported by several established acts including Robin Ince at the ‘My First Gig‘ event. He has since performed at over 20 different venues across London.
He is due to appear in a surreal sketch show called ‘Monsters‘ at this years Edinburgh Comedy Festival at the Fingers Piano Bar from August 6th-28th
ACTING
Robert spent time practicing drama and music before quickly finding a niche in comedy performance whilst a member of the Eden Drama Workshop. From here, he went on to appear in several short films and a college production of Daisy Pulls It Off!
Whilst at Bournemouth University, he acted in a performance of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia.
His spoof, “The T Word“, a parody of Gordon Ramsay’s “The F Word” has accumulated over 100,000 hits on community website YouTube. “Rogue Grandmas“, a parody of the BBC daytime watchdog show Rogue Traders, stars his grandmother, the second oldest person to appear on youtube after Geriatric1927.
Robert also directed a short comedy film called “Possessed” whilst at the BBC.
MUSIC
As a guitarist and songwriter, Robert has worked with Coventry based musicians such as composer Matthew Harper and brother, Steven Fletcher; bass player for the group, Mr. Ben. In Bournemouth he performed with Luke Snellin as part of “The Hand Me Downs“.
OTHER
Robert ignited the ‘Cat in a Bin’ story documented in The Sun on August 24th, 2010. He uploaded the video after the owners – friends of friends from Coventry – posted it to Facebook. He sent the link to The Sun and Daily Mail and persuaded them to run the story.
Co-devised the CBBC format “Help! Teach is Coming to Stay” which aired from July 19th 2008 to March 29th 2009.
FILMOGRAPHY
Only Human (2002) as Agent Jeff Forester
Four Stories (2004)as the Mail Man
Two Shots (2004) as Noah
Short Grass (2005) as John Doe (Man)
Bovine (2005) as Herbert Herbert
Far-Fetched (2006) Various
PAST EMPLOYERS
CBBC
BBC Entertainment
KEO Films
Monkey Kingdom
Princess Productions
Objective Productions
TalkbackThames