Coming to prominence in the hit Channel 4 comedy The IT Crowd, Richard has gone on to present Travel Man and Gadget Man. He also acts as the deadpan guide to contestants navigating The Crystal Maze, has directed two hit feature films, written two books and regularly pops up on panel shows.


Biography

Richard Ayoade is a comedian, actor, presenter, writer and director best known for his starring role in The IT Crowd, as host of Channel 4’s Gadget Man, Travel Man, and The Crystal Maze, and as director of the hit indie films Submarine and The Double. He has also written several books including Ayoade on Ayoade and Ayoade on Top.

During his time at Cambridge, Richard joined the illustrious Footlights, becoming President. He went on to co-write the show Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place with fellow Footlights alum Matt Holness. The pair won the Perrier Award for the live stage show in Edinburgh, and Channel 4 went on to produce two series of the cult supernatural mystery parody.

With roles in other cult and seminal comedies including Nathan Barley, Man to Man with Dean Learner (again with Matthew Holness) and The Mighty Boosh, Richard was cast as the archetypal nerd Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd. The show became a huge hit with Richard the undoubted star.

Appearances on various panel shows, including assorted Big Fat Quizzes and A League of Their Own led to presenting roles. He took over from Stephen Fry as Channel 4’s Gadget Man, and then as Travel Man, which saw Richard apply his slightly awkward, cynical take to technology and holidaying. He also fronts the revived Crystal Maze, acting as the deadpan guide to celebrities and the public as they tackle the tasks and trials of the innovative game show.

Behind the camera, Richard made his directorial feature film debut with the coming-of-age comedy drama Submarine, which he also co-wrote. He followed this up with the critically acclaimed adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s The Double starring Jesse Eisenberg. He is also the author of two books, the slyly ironic Ayoade on Ayoade - A Cinematic Odyssey, and The Grip of Film.

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JLA Presents

Risk Speakers Breakfast event image.
Event - 17/09/2024 - 09:00

Speakers Breakfast

Navigating Risk and Chaos – Strategies For Coping With An Uncertain World.

Speakers
Clive Myrie, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Rt Hon Lord Parker of Minsmere, and Robin Niblett

On Tuesday 17th September we had the pleasure of hearing from a remarkable panel of speakers, who shared their expertise on the challenges of managing Risk in a chaotic world.

The panel featured esteemed speakers, Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton KFSM (Firefigter and Neuroscience researcher), Lord Parker of Minsmere (Andrew Parker, Former Director General of MI5), and Sir Robin Niblett (Former Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House). The event was hosted superbly by Mastermind and BBC News presenter Clive Myrie.

Over the hour, our panellists explored Risk on multiple levels, from global affairs to business environments and personal everyday challenges. They provided valuable insights into how we can better manage and mitigate Risk in today’s unpredictable world.

 

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

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AI Speakers Breakfast event image.
Event - 30/04/2024 - 09:00:00

Speakers Breakfast

Understanding AI Now

Speakers
Priya Lakhani and Anne-Marie Imafidon

We were joined at 87 Barts Close by three brilliant speakers on a panel that delved into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence. Over the hour our panellists de-mystified AI, speaking about AI’s immense promise for enhancing our lives, alongside the apprehension it has generated regarding job security, privacy infringement, and ethical considerations.

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

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