Jess Robinson

{{Infobox person

| name = Jess Robinson

| image = Jess Robinson 2019 Glastonbury Festival 02 crop.jpg

| caption = Robinson at the Glastonbury Festival, 2019

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date |26|2009|10|28}}

| birth_place = Edgware, London, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education = The Arts Educational School, Tring Park

| occupation = Comedy actress, singer and impressionist

| known for = Spitting Image 2020 and podcast Stars in Your Ears

| spouse = Jonty Fisher

| partner =

| children =

| parents =

| relatives =

| website = www.jessrobinson.co.uk

}}

{{Listen |filename = Jess_robinson_bbc_radio4_newsjack_27_10_2013.flac |title = Jess Robinson's voice |type = speech |description = from the BBC programme Newsjack, 25 June 2009.{{Cite episode | title= Jess Robinson |series= Newsjack |series-link= Newsjack |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kvs8r |station= BBC Radio 4 Extra |date= 25 June 2009 |access-date= 18 January 2014 }} }}

Jess Robinson (born 1982/1983) is an English comedy actress, singer, impressionist, voice artist and comedian.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/2021/winners |website=British Podcast Awards |publisher=British Podcast Awards |access-date=17 July 2021 |title=2021 Winners |archive-date=15 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715041107/https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/2021/winners |url-status=dead }}

Early life

Robinson was born in Edgware, London, in a non-religious Jewish family, the daughter of a piano teacher and artist, and granddaughter of the jazz pianist Jules Ruben.{{cite news |last1=Lewington |first1=Lara |title=Jess Robinson: How to be famous — use chutzpah |url=https://www.thejc.com/culture/interviews/jess-robinson-1.12094 |access-date=1 October 2021 |work=The Jewish Chronicle |date=28 October 2009}} She grew up in Aldbury, Hertfordshire.{{cite episode|series=Don't Hate the Playaz|title=Series 1, Episode 2|network=ITV2|airdate=18 October 2018}} Her mother is a teacher{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} and her father was an artist. She attended the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.{{cite news |title=Profile: Why church choir made a lasting impression |url=https://www.jewishtelegraph.com/prof_471.html |access-date=2 November 2019 |work=Jewish Telegraph |year=2018}}

Career

While still at school, Robinson first appeared on stage in the title role of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, by Jim Cartwright, at the Courtyard Theatre. Her role included imitating the voices of Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Julie Andrews. Geraldine McNulty appeared as her mother, Marie Hoff.{{cite web |last1=Jess |first1=Robinson |title=Little Voice, big presence |url=https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/5678910.little-voice-big-presence/ |website=Hereford Times |publisher=Hereford Time |access-date=29 May 2003}}

She performed in the last two series of Dead Ringers on BBC Two. She occasionally appeared as an impressionist but mostly played characters in various sketches to support the stars: Jan Ravens, Jon Culshaw, Mark Perry, Kevin Connelly, and Phil Cornwell.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

In the Dead Ringers CBBC spin off 'Spoof!' (part of the Gina's Laughing Gear comedy pilot season), Robinson appeared as Supernanny, Charlotte Church, Konnie Huq and Billie Piper among others. Other appearances include the CBBC talent show The Slammer as part of an impressions double act and as a special guest on Blue Peter.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Robinson provided female impressions on Headcases, an animated satirical show similar to Spitting Image which appeared on ITV from April to June 2008 on Sunday evenings.{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Jess |title=Headcases |publisher=IMDb }}

In 2009, she appeared as a number of characters in several Big Finish Productions Doctor Who audio plays.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-key-2-time---the-destroyer-of-delights-284|title=The Key 2 Time – The Destroyer of Delights|publisher=Big Finish Productions|access-date=5 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/patient-zero-290|title=Patient Zero|publisher=Big Finish Productions|access-date=5 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/blue-forgotten-planet-292|title=Blue Forgotten Planet|publisher=Big Finish Productions|access-date=5 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-pyralis-effect-480|title=The Pyralis Effect|publisher=Big Finish Productions|access-date=5 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/cyberman-2-343|title=Cyberman 2|publisher=Big Finish Productions|access-date=5 May 2014}}

Robinson's TV appearances include Scoop and Comedy Cuts for ITV2 and Gigglebiz.{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Jess |title=Acting Credits |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2825606/ |publisher=IMDb}}

She appeared in various sketches in the first two series of The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson. In 2010, director Angie De Chastelai Smith collaborated with producer Charlie Hanson at ITV to make It's Paul Burling! in which Robinson co-starred as the main female impressionist. Her impressions included Cheryl Cole, Stacey Solomon and Kerry Katona. The show, which aired in December 2010 to a television audience of 3.7 million viewers, was a one-hour Christmas special on ITV following Burling's success on talent show BGT.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

On radio, Robinson was part of Newsjack for BBC Radio 7,{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kvs8r |title=BBC Radio 4 Extra – Newsjack |publisher=BBC |date=5 March 2017 |access-date=27 May 2017}} and has also recorded numerous episodes of 15 Minute Musical,{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qy7q/episodes/guide |title=BBC Radio 4 – 15 Minute Musical – Episode guide |publisher=BBC |access-date=27 May 2017}} The Castle,{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01j8gyl |title=BBC Radio 4 Extra – The Castle, Series 4, Highlights and Twilights |publisher=BBC |date=3 August 2016 |access-date=27 May 2017}} The Secret World,{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00jsxhl |title=BBC Radio 4 – The Secret World, Series 1 |publisher=BBC |date=26 November 2015 |access-date=27 May 2017}} and radio sitcom, The Music Teacher.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s3h48 |title=BBC Radio 4 Extra – The Music Teacher, Series 1, Episode 1 |publisher=BBC |date=6 May 2014 |access-date=27 May 2017}}

In late 2012, she reprised the role of Little Voice in the UK touring production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, among a cast including Beverley Callard, Joe McGann and Ray Quinn.{{cite web |url=https://swindontheatres.co.uk/online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=1FC32FF4-C584-4BDA-BD03-FB6F9C7D497F |website=Swindon Theatre|title=The Rise and Fall of Little Voice | Wyvern Theatre, Swindon}}

She participated in the eleventh series of Britain's Got Talent and finished in fifth place at the live semi-finals.{{cite web |title=Jess Robinson |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/j/34395/jess_robinson |website=Chortle |publisher=chortle}}

As a voice-over artist, Robinson is the lead voice on Horrible Histories along with Jon Culshaw. She has completed 52 episodes of new animation Bat Pat, playing one of the lead roles; Leo as well as many other characters. She has voiced many promotions on Disney Channel and Disney Junior.{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitvocalmanagement.co.uk/artists/impressionists/jess-robinson |title=Rabbit Vocal Management |publisher=Rabbit Vocal Management |access-date=27 May 2017}}

Robinson has worked on many video games including Anno 1404,{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1476966/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast|title=Anno 1404 (2009 Video Game) : Full Cast & Crew|publisher=IMDb|access-date=27 May 2017}} Venetica,{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1534563/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm|title=Venetia : Full Cast & Crew|publisher=IMDb|access-date=27 May 2017}} Risen 2: Dark Waters and Risen 3: Titan Lords in which she played the role of Pirate, Patty Steelbeard.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2825606/?ref_=tt_cl_t14|title=Jess Robinson|publisher=IMDb|access-date=27 May 2017}} Jess plays popular character of Ivo in Book of Unwritten Tales.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4121812/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1|title=The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 (2015)|publisher=IMDb|access-date=27 May 2017}} In 2016, Robinson appeared as a panellist on The Dog Ate My Homework.

In 2017, Robinson became a voice artist on the CBBC mockumentary The Zoo and on animated Noddy series Noddy, Toyland Detective.{{cite web |title=Jess Robinson IMDB |publisher=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2825606/ }}

In 2018, she made several higher profile television appearances on The Imitation Game, Don't Hate The Playaz for ITV, and The Last Leg.{{cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/jess_robinson/ |website=British Comedy Guide |access-date=18 April 2018|title=Jess Robinson }}

In 2020, she became a voice artist on the new series of Spitting Image for BritBox, voicing most of the female characters including: Adele, Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Angela Merkel, Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Jacinda Ardern, Greta Thunberg and Gwyneth Paltrow.{{cite web |title=Spitting Image reveals launch date – and new puppets |website=Chortle |publisher=chortle |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2020/09/11/46881/spitting_image_reveals_launch_date_-_and_new_puppets}}

In 2020 amid the COVID-19 crisis Robinson joined the supergroup known as The Celebs which now included Frank Bruno and X Factor winner Sam Bailey to raise money for both Alzheimer's Society and Action for Children. They recorded a new rendition of Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin' Stevens and it was released digitally on 11 December 2020, on independent record label Saga Entertainment. The music video debuted exclusively on Good Morning Britain the day before release. The song peaked at number two on the iTunes pop chart.{{cite web | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/good-morning-britain-stars-show-22984823| title=Good Morning Britain stars show off their vocals in charity Christmas single| website=Daily Mirror| date=10 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=The Celebs – Merry Christmas Everyone |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEwtQcv24nM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/aEwtQcv24nM |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|via=YouTube |publisher=TheCelebsVEVO |access-date=11 December 2018}}{{cbignore}}

In 2021, Robinson's podcast 'Stars in Your Ears' won gold at The British Podcast Awards in The Best Entertainment category, with 'James Acaster's Perfect Sounds' and 'A Gay and a Non Gay' placed in second and third place. Of Robinson's winning podcast, the said "in a very strange year and in a field that is brimming with a lot of entertaining podcasts, this one stood out as bold and totally unique. It's clear that the host spends every second on this podcast having fun with a total commitment of creativity, energy and ambition to the podcast from all involved, that was topped off with outstanding production values. It kept a smile on the judges faces throughout." In each episode of the first two series, made during the COVID-19 lockdown, Jess and her band – Jessington World Of Adventures impersonate the styles of famous singers, interview a celebrity guest and teach them how to do an impression. Guests have included: Stephen K Amos, Ellie Taylor, Rachel Parris, Deborah Frances-White, Romesh Ranganathan, Gareth Malone, Al Murray, Alex Horne and Rosie Jones.

In November 2021, Robinson appeared on Channel 4's The Last Leg, ostensibly in character as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, performing karaoke versions of famous songs with lyrics modified satirically.{{Cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt16257808/?ref_=tt_eps_rec|title = "The Last Leg" Episode #24.9 (TV Episode 2021) – IMDb|publisher = IMDb}}

Podcast

Robinson has a podcast called Stars in Your Ears (2020){{cite web |title=Stars In Your Ears Podcast |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/stars-in-your-ears/id1516402111 |website=Apple Podcasts |publisher=Apple}} In 2021 the podcast won gold for 'Best Entertainment Podcast' at the British Podcast Awards.{{Cite web |url=https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/2021/winners |title=Archived copy |access-date=17 July 2021 |archive-date=15 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715041107/https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/2021/winners |url-status=dead }}

Live shows

Jess Robinson: Mighty Voice (2014){{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2014/jess_robinson/|title=Jess Robinson – Edinburgh Fringe 2014 – British Comedy Guide|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=30 January 2017}}
Jess Robinson: The Rise of Mighty Voice (2015){{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2015/jess_robinson/|title=Jess Robinson – Edinburgh Fringe 2015 – British Comedy Guide|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=30 January 2017}}
Jess Robinson: Impressive (2016){{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2016/jess_robinson/|title=Jess Robinson – Edinburgh Fringe 2016 – British Comedy Guide|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=30 January 2017}}
Jess Robinson: Unravelled (2017){{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2017/jess_robinson/|title=Jess Robinson – Edinburgh Fringe 2017 – British Comedy Guide|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=20 March 2019}}
Jess Robinson: No Filter (2018){{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2018/jess_robinson/|title=Jess Robinson – Edinburgh Fringe 2018 – British Comedy Guide|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=20 March 2019}}
Jess Robinson: The Jess Robinson Experience (2019){{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2019/jess_robinson/|title=Jess Robinson – Edinburgh Fringe 2018 – British Comedy Guide|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=20 March 2019}}
Jess Robinson: LEGACY (2022)