Dave Thornton
{{short description|Australian comedian}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dave Thornton
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|12|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Geelong, Victoria
| nationality = Australian
| education = Design and Art at the Gordon Institute of TAFE
| occupation = {{hlist|Comedian|actor|television and radio presenter}}
| years_active =
| partner = Nixi
| children = 2
}}
Dave Thornton (born 13 December 1979{{cn|date=October 2024}}) is an Australian stand-up comedian, actor, television and radio presenter. He has performed stand-up comedy throughout Australia, in Edinburgh, Singapore and New York. He has also appeared on Australian television and radio.
Career
=Stand-up comedy=
Thornton began working in stand-up comedy at the Geelong heats of Raw Comedy in 2002. He debuted his solo hour-long show Euro:mission, which was based on his experiences as a backpacking traveler, at the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where he was nominated for 'Best Newcomer'. Thornton has performed at the MICF every year since, and in 2009 debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a new show, Allow Me to Introduce Myself.
He has also performed stand-up comedy on TV shows including Good Morning Australia (Network 10) in 2006, Stand Up Australia (Comedy Channel Australia) in 2007 and Rove (Network 10) in 2008.
=Radio=
In October 2009, Thornton began hosting a Sunday evening show on Nova 100 in Melbourne. He then became a fill-in co-host for Nova nationally on the breakfast shift during December leading up to Christmas hosting with Dylan Lewis and Sophie Monk.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
In January 2010, Thornton filled in for Ash Bradnam on Nova 106.9 in Brisbane for 6 weeks with Tim Blackwell and Meshel Laurie.{{Cite web |last=Kellett |first=Christine |date=2010-01-11 |title=No joke as Nova replaces Bradnam with funnyman |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/no-joke-as-nova-replaces-bradnam-with-funnyman-20100111-m21o.html |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} In July 2010, he started hosting a Saturday morning breakfast show 'Saturday Sessions' nationally on Nova from 10am – 12pm with comedian Mel Buttle. He was also a regular fill in presenter for Matt Tilley on The Matt and Jo Show on FOX FM.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
In September 2013, Thornton began hosting Weekend Breakfast with Sophie Monk on the Today Network.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
In November 2013, Southern Cross Austereo announced that Thornton and Fifi Box will co-host Fifi & Dave on FOX FM in 2014. In 2016, Brendan Fevola joined the show and it was renamed Fifi, Dave & Fev. In 2017, Byron Cooke had his name added to the title and it was renamed to Fifi, Dave, Fev & Byron.
In September 2017, Thornton announced his resignation from Fox FM.{{Cite news|url=http://radiotoday.com.au/dave-thornton-depart-fox-fm-end-month/|title=Dave Thornton to depart Fox FM at end of month - Radio Today|date=2017-09-18|work=Radio Today|access-date=2017-09-18|language=en-US}}
=Television=
Thornton has appeared as a panelist on shows including Good News Week, ADbc, Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation, The White Room, This Week Live, All Star Family Feud, Celebrity Name Game, Studio 10, The Project, Show Me the Movie! and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.
In 2007, Thornton debuted on Channel 9's Comedy Inc. as a replacement for Jim Russell. This was followed the next year with a role in the ABC television drama Bed of Roses, as Shannon Atherton, an injured 24-year-old AFL player who had found himself in trouble and returned home to the series fictional town Rainbow's End and to his mum (played by Kerry Armstrong).
He also hosted the first 3 seasons of Studio A, a live chat show produced at RMITV studios. Featuring guests such as Rove McManus, Tony Martin and the former Melbourne Mayor John So, the show won 'Programme of the Year' at the 2009 Channel 31 Antenna Awards.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
In 2013 and 2014, Thornton had a recurring role in the ABC comedy series Upper Middle Bogan as Troy Van Winkle.{{cite web|url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/upper-middle-bogan/series1.html|title=Upper Middle Bogan: Episode Guide: Series 1|publisher=Australiantelevision.net|accessdate=11 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/upper-middle-bogan/series2.html|title=Upper Middle Bogan: Episode Guide: Series 2|publisher=Australiantelevision.net|accessdate=11 November 2014}}
= Podcast =
From 2011 until 2013, Thornton collaborated on a free weekly podcast, Slapbang Radio with fellow comedian Tommy Little.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Personal life
Thornton was born in Geelong, Victoria to Ineke and Peter Thornton. He attended Belmont High School and studied Design and Art at the Gordon Institute of TAFE.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
In July 2015, Thornton announced that he was engaged to girlfriend Nixi.
Thornton is a fan of the Geelong Football Club in the AFL.{{Cite web|title = Dave Is Engaged!|url = http://www.fox.com.au/shows/fifi-dave/blog/dave-thornton-is-engaged/|accessdate = 2015-07-27|last = Fifi and Dave - Fox FM}}
Recognition
In his review of the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Tim Hunter of The Age wrote "Dave Thornton is the funniest. He's self-deprecating and engaging, and delivered the biggest laugh of the show: an impersonation of Dave Hughes, which is a worry in itself." Erin White of Australian Stage noted that "Thornton’s performance is quintessentially Australian".
Melissa Phillips of East Torrens Messenger wrote of Thornton's A Different Type of Normal, that "Thornton's show has a real soft side and it’s his family stories that hit home with plenty of honesty," while Melissa Mack of The Independent Weekly' wrote "Thornton tackles an interesting subject which is surprising and at times confronting, but always witty. His show is mostly about family and his very Australian style of comedy also has a deeply personal touch". Rove Daily writes that "Dave Thornton is one of Australia’s most exciting young stand-up comics".
=Awards and nominations=
- 2005, Search For Funny Bone Winner
- 2005, Angling For a Laugh Winner
- 2006, Campus Comedian of the Year (TREV Awards) Winner
- 2007, Nominated for 'Best Newcomer' at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
References
{{cite news|url=http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/46055|title=Stand-up rolls on|last=Martin|first=Tania|date=31 July 2007|publisher=Star News Group|accessdate=16 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819180751/http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/46055|archive-date=19 August 2008|url-status=dead}}
{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts-reviews/eye-candy/2006/04/18/1145126093415.html|title=Eye Candy|last=Hunter|first=Tim |date=18 April 2006|work=The Age|accessdate=16 May 2010}}
{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/motormouths-channel-motorhead-in-comedy-speedway/2008/03/19/1205602481527.html|title=Comedy gala|last=Ziffer|first=Daniel |date=20 March 2008|work=The Age|accessdate=16 May 2010}}
{{cite news|url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2008/05/20/melbourne-comedy-festival-roadshow/|title=Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow|date=20 May 2008|work=Sunshine Coast Daily|accessdate=16 May 2010}}
{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/the-winners-of-the-comedy-festival-are-133/2008/04/11/1207856836953.html|title=The winners of the comedy festival are …|last=Ziffer|first=Daniel |date=12 April 2008|work=The Age|accessdate=16 May 2010}}
{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/features/travel/2856434/Feel-the-vibe-follow-the-buzz-of-Edinburghs-Fringe|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223062321/http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/features/travel/2856434/Feel-the-vibe-follow-the-buzz-of-Edinburghs-Fringe|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2013|title=Feel the vibe, follow the buzz of Edinburgh's Fringe|last=Plater|first=Diana|date=12 September 2009|work=Australian Associated Press|publisher=Taranaki Daily News|accessdate=16 May 2010}}
{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/aussies-shine-at-edinburgh/2009/09/06/1252201211938.html|title=Aussies shine at Edinburgh|date=7 September 2009|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=16 May 2010}}
{{cite web|url=http://www.rovedaily.com.au/the-show-guest-dave-thornton.htm |title=Dave Thornton |publisher=Rove Daily |accessdate=16 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052759/http://www.rovedaily.com.au/the-show-guest-dave-thornton.htm |archivedate=27 October 2009 }}
{{cite news|url=http://east-torrens-messenger.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/fringe-review-dave-thornton-a-different-type-of-normal-comedian/|title=Fringe Review: Dave Thornton – A Different Type of Normal|last=Phillips|first=Melissa|date=11 March 2010|publisher=East Torrens Messenger|accessdate=16 May 2010}}
{{cite news|url=http://www.independentweekly.com.au/news/local/news/entertainment/fringe-review-dave-thornton/1771657.aspx|title=Fringe review: Dave Thornton|last=Mack|first=Melissa|date=9 March 2010|work=The Independent Weekly|accessdate=16 May 2010}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2765956}}
- [http://www.davidthornton.com.au Official Website]
- [http://www.comedyacts.com.au/australian-comedians.html Comedy Acts]
- [http://www.australianstage.com.au/reviews/brisbane/mike-wilmot-and-friends.-and-enemies--in-stiches-2668.html Australian Stage online]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100526093357/http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2010/season/ Melbourne International Comedy Festival homepage]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thornton, Dave}}
Category:Australian male television actors
Category:Australian male comedians