Adam Kay (writer)

{{Short description|British comedy writer, author, youtuber, comedian and former physician (born 1980)}}

{{Infobox person

|name = Adam Kay

|image = Adam Kay 20171207 02.jpg

|caption = Kay in 2017

| birth_name = Adam Richard Kay

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1980|6|12}}

|birth_place = Brighton, England

|education = Dulwich College

| alma_mater = Imperial College London (MBBS)

|notable works = This Is Going to Hurt (2017)

|spouse = {{marriage|James Farrell|2018}}

|website = {{Official URL}}

}}

Adam Richard Kay (born 12 June 1980) is a British TV writer, author, comedian and former doctor. He is the author of the memoir This Is Going to Hurt (2017), about his time as a doctor.{{cite web|first=Lauren|last=Laverne|date=June 2023|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001n1sq|website=Radio 4|publisher=BBC|title=Desert Island Disics with Adam Kay}} His television writing credits include This is Going to Hurt (based on his memoir of the same name), Crims, Mrs. Brown's Boys and Mitchell and Webb.{{IMDb name}}{{British Comedy Guide|people|adam_kay}}

Early life and education

Adam Kay was born in Brighton, England, to Stewart and Naomi Kay, and grew up in a Jewish household with three siblings.{{Cite news |last=Rudd |first=Matt |title=The Interview: Adam Kay on Boris Johnson, the NHS and his bestselling book, This Is Going to Hurt |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/the-interview-adam-kay-on-boris-johnson-the-nhs-and-his-bestselling-book-this-is-going-to-hurt-qvzrd88w7 |access-date=26 April 2023 |issn=0140-0460}} His father being a doctor, Kay describes becoming a doctor as being a default decision.This Is Going to Hurt, {{ISBN|978-1-5098-5861-3}} . The Kay family was from Poland, the original family name being Strykowski.

Kay attended Dulwich College, leaving in 1997, and Imperial College London, where he read medicine and graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree in 2004. During his time at medical school, Kay began performing in medical school shows in 1998.Medicine Unboxed. {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130629204018/http://medicineunboxed.com/2012-belief-2425-november-2012/speakers-at-medicine-unboxed-2012-belief-1/g "Speakers at Medicine Unboxed"]}}, 1 November 2012. While at medical school, he founded the musical comedy group Amateur Transplants and wrote for BBC Radio 4.Curtis Brown Talent Agency. [https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/adam-kay "Adam Kay"]. As of April 2017.

Career

Kay initially trained in obstetrics and gynaecology before turning to writing.

=Medicine=

Kay worked as a doctor between 2004 and 2010, leaving the profession after a patient's caesarean section was complicated by an undiagnosed placenta praevia; the expectant mother was subsequently taken to the intensive care unit. Sadly, the baby was delivered stillborn, which left him with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

=Music=

Kay founded the Amateur Transplants. Their song "London Underground", which was set to the tune of "Going Underground" by the Jam, gained significant popularity on the internet in the UK in 2005.{{cite web|title='London Underground' by Amateur Transplants – lyrics|url=https://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/02/london-underground-song-lyrics.html|access-date=30 July 2009|website=London Underground Tube Diary}}{{cite news|date=14 February 2005|title=London Underground Song – The Video|publisher=London Underground Tube Diary|url=https://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/01/london-underground-song-video.html}}

=Writing=

Kay's first book, This Is Going to Hurt, based on diaries from his former career as a doctor, was published by Picador in September 2017Picador. [http://www.picador.com/blog/february-2017/adam-kay-s-this-is-going-to-hurt-to-be-published-b "Adam Kay's This Is Going To Hurt to be published by Picador"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416222438/http://www.picador.com/blog/february-2017/adam-kay-s-this-is-going-to-hurt-to-be-published-b |date=16 April 2017 }}. 3 February 2017. and became a Sunday Times bestseller.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/article/the-sunday-times-bestsellers-september-17-9gwjp3xx0|title=Sunday Times Bestseller List|date=17 September 2017|website=Sunday Times}} The paperback edition was also a Sunday Times number one bestseller,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/books-the-sunday-times-bestsellers-chart-april-29-930dfzxgp|title=Books: The Sunday Times Bestsellers chart, April 29|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=29 April 2018|language=en|issn=0140-0460}} a position it held for over a year{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/the-sunday-times-bestsellers-august-25-ws69mshd7|title=Books: The Sunday Times Bestsellers, August 25|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=25 August 2019|language=en}} and selling more than 2.5 million copies.{{Cite web |last=Sunner |first=Amber |date=8 February 2022 |title=This Is Going To Hurt author Adam Kay's journey from NHS to TV |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/who-going-hurt-author-adam-6614809 |access-date=26 April 2023 |website=BristolLive |language=en}} It was chosen as Book of the Year in the UK's 2018 National Book Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/kays-going-hurt-named-specsavers-book-year-925511|title=Kay's This is Going to Hurt named Specsavers Book of the Year {{!}} The Bookseller|website=thebookseller.com|first=Katherine |last=Cowdrey|date=7 January 2019}} The book was well received by critics, including in the literary pages of The Times,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/review-this-is-going-to-hurt-secret-diaries-of-a-junior-doctor-by-adam-kay-nsvmk76qc|title=Review: This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay|last= Rentzenbrink|first=Cathy|date=2 September 2017|work=The Times|issn=0140-0460}} Financial Times,{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/e5ce287c-8d8f-11e7-9580-c651950d3672|title=This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay|website=Financial Times|date=September 2017|access-date=6 November 2017|last1=Liu|first1=Rebecca}} Guardian,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/may/04/this-is-going-to-hurt-secret-diaries-of-a-junior-doctor-by-adam-kay-review|title=This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay – review|last=Smith|first=P. D.|date=4 May 2018|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} and The Scotsman.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/books/book-review-this-is-going-to-hurt-by-adam-kay-1-4577670|title=Book review: This is Going to Hurt, by Adam Kay|newspaper=The Scotsman|language=en|date=4 October 2017}}

In addition to being named Book of the Year, This Is Going to Hurt also won at the National Book Awards in the categories of Non-Fiction Book of the Year, New Writer of the Year and Book Club Book of the Year.{{Cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/this-is-going-to-hurt-author-adam-kay-wins-big-at-national-book-awards-11559198|title='This Is Going To Hurt' author Adam Kay wins big at National Book Awards|publisher=Sky News|first=Ceren |last=Senkul|date= 22 November 2018| access-date=21 November 2018|language=en-GB}} It was also awarded Blackwell's Debut Book of the Year 2017,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/blackwells-reveals-book-year-shortlist-676646|title=Blackwell's reveals Book of the Year shortlist {{!}} The Bookseller|website=thebookseller.com|first=Lisa|last= Campbell|language=en|date=20 November 2017}} Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/books-of-the-year-humour-review-j7n8d5nk2|title=Books of the year: Humour|last=Rudd|first=Reviews by Matt|newspaper=The Times|date=26 November 2017|access-date=17 January 2018|issn=0140-0460}} and won both Non-Fiction Book of the Year and the overall prize in the 2017 Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/nov/21/doctors-diary-this-is-going-to-hurt-wins-public-vote-for-book-of-the-year|title=Doctor's diary This is Going to Hurt wins public vote for book of the year|date=21 November 2017|work=The Guardian|first=Danuta|last= Kean|issn=0261-3077}} It was nominated for Non-Fiction Book of the Year in the 2018 British Book Awards,{{Cite web|url=https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/news/pan-macmillan-nominated-7-british-book-awards-2018|title=Pan Macmillan nominated for 7 British Book Awards 2018|website=Pan Macmillan|language=en-GB|access-date=25 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326064423/https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/news/pan-macmillan-nominated-7-british-book-awards-2018|archive-date=26 March 2018|url-status=dead}} won Esquire Book of the Year{{Cite news|url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a22875643/this-is-going-to-hurt-is-esquires-biography-of-the-year/|title='This Is Going To Hurt' Is Esquire's Biography Of The Year|date=31 August 2018|work=Esquire|first=Tom|last=Nicholson|language=en-GB}} and was a selection of the Zoe Ball Book Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/itv-launches-zoe-ball-book-club-specsavers-786476|title=Debuts dominate 'wide-ranging' Zoe Ball Book Club line up {{!}} The Bookseller|website=thebookseller.com|language=en|first= Katherine |last=Cowdrey|date=17 May 2018}} This Is Going to Hurt has been translated into 28 languages,{{Cite web|url=https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/adam-kay/work/this-is-going-to-hurt|title=Adam Kay: This Is Going To Hurt|website=curtisbrown.co.uk|access-date=12 October 2018}} achieving number-one status internationally.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisisgoingtohurt.co.uk/#about-the-book|title=This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay|website=This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay|language=en|access-date=12 October 2018}} It was the UK's second-best selling book of 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/dec/29/100-bestselling-books-of-the-year-from-eleanor-oliphant-to-michelle-obama|title=The 100 bestselling books of the year: from Eleanor Oliphant to Michelle Obama|last=Dugdale|first=John|date=29 December 2018|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} On 6 July 2018, the BBC announced that Kay would be adapting This Is Going to Hurt as a seven-part comedy-drama for BBC One. It was made by Sister Pictures and Kay is one of the co-executive producers. Part one of the series, also titled This Is Going to Hurt, was broadcast on 8 February 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/this-is-going-to-hurt|title=BBC One announces adaptation of bestseller This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay|access-date=6 July 2018|publisher=BBC Media Centre}} Kay was awarded a BAFTA for his writing of the show at the 2023 British Academy Television Craft Awards.

Kay's second book, Twas the Nightshift before Christmas, was released in October 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/new-adam-kay-christmas-2019-885006|title=New Adam Kay for Christmas 2019 |work= The Bookseller|date=1 November 2018 |first= Benedicte |last=Page}}

Kay is now an established screenwriter, having written and co-created the 2015 BBC Three sitcom series Crims – along with Grandma's House writer Dan Swimer,BBC Press Office. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/bbc-three-comedy-commissions "BBC Three announces new comedy commissions"], BBC, 20 March 2014. with other television work as a writer and script editor including Mrs. Brown's Boys, Mongrels, Watson & Oliver, Up the Women, Very British Problems, Flat TV, Our Ex Wife, Who Is America?, Mitchell and Webb and Child Genius.

In April 2020, it was announced that Trapeze would publish a collection of personal stories about the National Health Service (NHS) edited by Kay. Entitled Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You, the book includes letters from stars including Paul McCartney, Louis Theroux, and Caitlin Moran.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jul/08/dear-nhs-edited-by-adam-kay-celebrities-say-thank-you|title=Dear NHS, edited by Adam Kay – celebrities say thank you|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Fiona|last=Sturges|date=8 July 2020}}

Since 2020, Kay has written and released several children's books.{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=Adam Kay signs up for more children's books : News 2021 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|date=16 March 2021 |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2021/03/16/48019/adam_kay_signs_up_for_more_childrens_books |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=chortle.co.uk |language=en}}

In 2022, he published Undoctored: The Story of a Medic Who Ran Out of Patients.{{Cite web |title=British comedian raped in NZ, reveals attacker 'thanked' him after horror assault |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/british-comedian-adam-kay-raped-in-sauna-while-on-trip-to-new-zealand-attacker-thanked-him-afterwards/34LZKYPA4JE3SCQIQHJIANDHYM/ |access-date=11 September 2022 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ|date=11 September 2022}}{{cite book |last1=Kay |first1=Adam |title=Undoctored: The Story of a Medic Who Ran Out of Patients |date=13 September 2022 |publisher=Orion |isbn=978-1-3987-0038-3 |language=en}}

=Performing=

Kay has sold out shows for six years at the Edinburgh Festival FringeChortle Review. [http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2011/a/19255/amateur_transplants%3A_adam_kays_smutty_songs/review "Amateur Transplants: Adam Kay's Smutty Songs"]. 9 August 2011. and has also had sell-out nationwide UK tours.Bound & Gagged Comedy Promoters. [http://www.boundandgaggedcomedy.com/Biographies/AdamKayBiography.pdf "Adam Kay Biography"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904135052/http://www.boundandgaggedcomedy.com/Biographies/AdamKayBiography.pdf |date=4 September 2012 }}. As of March 2013. His 2018 tour of This Is Going to Hurt sold out a season at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), the largest venue of the Edinburgh Fringe,{{Cite web|url=https://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/6288/news-apollo-gig-adam-kay|title=News: Apollo Gig For Adam Kay|date=30 September 2018|website=Beyond The Joke|language=en|access-date=12 October 2018}} and a week at the Garrick Theatre, before culminating in two shows at the Hammersmith Apollo.{{Cite web |title=Adam Kay adds a second Hammersmith Apollo show : Other news 2018 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/other-news/2018/10/12/41447/adam_kay_adds_a_second_hammersmith_apollo_show |access-date=12 October 2018 |website=chortle.co.uk |language=en}} He performs regularly at cultural events including the Latitude Festival,Latitude Festival. [http://2012.latitudefestival.com/line-up/artist/adam_kay "2012 Latitude Line-up, Adam Kay"]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. 13 July 2012. and the Cheltenham Literature Festival.British Comedy Guide. [http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2012/adam_kay/ "Edinburgh Fringe 2012, Adam Kay's Bum Notes"]. 1 August 2012 Kay won Best Musical Variety Act at the 2014 London Cabaret AwardsLondon Cabaret Awards. [http://www.londoncabaretawards.co.uk/bestmusicalvariety2014.htm "Best Musical Variety Act 2014"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811163800/http://www.londoncabaretawards.co.uk/bestmusicalvariety2014.htm |date=11 August 2014 }}. 12 February 2014. and has been named by the Evening Standard as one of London's most influential people.{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/the1000/the-progress-1000-londons-most-influential-people-2018-performance-comedy-a3953696.html|title=The Progress 1000: London's most influential people 2018 – Performance: Comedy|work=Evening Standard|access-date=12 October 2018|language=en-GB}}

He has performed songs on the topical BBC Radio 4 series The Now ShowNow Show Homepage. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b051w4dt "Series 45"]. 14 February 2015. and has appeared on numerous TV shows, such as The Russell Howard Hour on Sky One,{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_russell_howard_hour/videos/14807/adam_kay_interview/|title=Adam Kay interview – The Russell Howard Hour (Series 1, Episode 2) |website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=6 November 2017}} BBC Breakfast, Lorraine,{{Cite web|last=Lorraine|title=The Junior Doctor Who Became a Comedian {{!}} Lorraine|via=YouTube|date=15 November 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3bjyRBqX8c|access-date=20 November 2017}} Peston on Sunday{{Cite news|last=Peston on Sunday Official|title=Peston Compressed – Episode 47|date=20 October 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWeJwZW9R20}} and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/8-out-of-10-cats-does-countdown/episode-guide|title=8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown – Episode Guide – All 4|publisher=Channel 4|language=en|access-date=12 October 2018}}

= Books =

2017: This Is Going to Hurt
2019: Twas the Nightshift before Christmas Twas the Nightshift before Christmas {{ISBN|1529018587}}
2020: Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank YouDear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You. Trapeze {{ISBN|1398701181}}
2020: Adam Kay and Henry Paker, Kay's Anatomy: A Complete (and Completely Disgusting) Guide to the Human BodyKay's Anatomy: A Complete (and Completely Disgusting) Guide to the Human Body, Delacorte Press {{ISBN|0593483405}}
2021: Adam Kay and Henry Paker, Kay's Marvellous Medicine: A Gross and Gruesome History of the Human BodyKay's Marvellous Medicine: A Gross and Gruesome History of the Human Body Puffin, {{ISBN|0241508525}}
2022: Undoctored: The Story of a Medic Who Ran Out of Patients
2023: Adam Kay and Henry Paker, Kay's Brilliant BrainsKay's Brilliant Brains, Puffin, {{ISBN|0241624428}}
2023: Adam Kay and Henry Paker, Amy Gets EatenAmy Gets Eaten, Puffin, {{ISBN|0241585902}}
2023: Adam Kay and Henry Paker, Kay's Incredible Inventions{{Cite book |last=Kay |first=Adam |title=Dexter Procter the 10-Year-Old Doctor |publisher=Puffin |year=2024 |isbn=9780241668603}}
2024: Adam Kay and others, Charlie and the Christmas Factory.{{cite news |last1=Rawlinson |first1=Kevin |last2=Creamer |first2=Ella |title=Greg James apologises for suggestion a glass eye would make Roald Dahl Twit disgusting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/apr/05/roald-dahl-rewritten-by-stars-including-greg-james-adam-kay-and-konnie-huq |work=The Guardian |date=5 April 2024}}
2024: Adam Kay and Henry Paker, Dexter Procter the 10-Year-Old Doctor{{Cite book |last=Kay |first=Adam |title=Dexter Procter the 10-Year-Old Doctor |publisher=Puffin |year=2024 |isbn=9780241668603}}

Personal life

Kay is gay,{{cite web|url=https://swindontheatres.co.uk/online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=8C77C920-1F0A-4110-9D09-A31612FFFD11|title=Adam Kay Interview – Wyvern Theatre Swindon|website=swindontheatres.co.uk}} and was voted in Pink News{{'}} top 50 most influential LGBT Twitter users.[http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/12/31/pinknewscouks-most-influential-lgbt-twitter-users-of-2011/ "PinkNews.co.uk's top 50 Twitter users influencing LGBT life in 2011"], Pink News, 31 December 2011. Kay married James Farrell in 2018, and together they have two children through surrogacy which he announced in June 2023.[https://play.acast.com/s/walkingthedog/adamkay-returns- "Walking the Dog with Emily Dean: Adam Kay – Returns!"], Acast, 14 September 2021.{{cite web | last=Thorpe | first=Vanessa | title=Adam Kay tells of life 'transformed' by two babies | website=The Guardian | date=17 June 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jun/18/adam-kay-tells-of-life-transformed-by-two-babies | access-date=18 June 2023 }} Kay and his family live in Oxfordshire, England.{{Cite web |date=14 September 2022 |title=Oxfordshire author of bestseller This Is Going To Hurt reveals some major traumas in his new book |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/leisure/21472679.oxfordshire-author-bestseller-going-hurt-reveals-major-traumas-new-book/ |first=Hannah |last=Stephenso|access-date=30 June 2023 |website=Oxford Mail |language=en}}