Maisie Adam
{{short description|English stand-up comedian (born 1994)}}
{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Maisie Adam.jpg
| name = Maisie Adam
| birth_name = Maisie Elizabeth Adam
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|1|24}}
| caption = Adam performing in 2022
| birth_place = Pannal, North Yorkshire, England
| occupation = Comedian
| spouse = {{marriage|Mike Dobinson|2023}}
| education = East 15 Acting School (BA)
| years_active = 2016–present
| website = {{URL|https://maisieadam.com/}}
}}
Maisie Elizabeth Adam (born 24 January 1994) is an English stand-up comedian.
Early life
Maisie Adam was born on 24 January 1994.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MaisieAdam/status/161952203685363712|title=Had a mint birthday, and drove to school like the pro driver that I am #18dontstopmenow|first=Maisie|last=Adam|date=24 January 2012}} She grew up in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, with her parents Phillip and Jill Adam, and her younger brother Daniel.{{Cite web |url=https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/news/features/comedian-maisie-adam-shares-her-experiences-growing-epilepsy-her-new-show-vague-68560 |title=Comedian Maisie Adam shares her experiences growing up with epilepsy in her new show Vague |date=20 July 2018 |website=Epilepsy Action |access-date=21 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330205352/https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/news/features/comedian-maisie-adam-shares-her-experiences-growing-epilepsy-her-new-show-vague-68560|archive-date=30 March 2019}}{{Cite web |last=Downey |first=Mike |date=9 June 1999 |title=Once Again, Many Brits Think We've Overdone It |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-09-mn-45626-story.html |access-date=11 February 2020 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Adam's mother previously worked for Leeds Beckett University{{cite web |title=Trustees |url=http://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/about-us/ |website=Harrogate International Festivals |access-date=23 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520091202/http://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/about-us/ |archive-date=20 May 2012}} and is the founder and executive director of the Louder Than Words Festival{{cite web |title=Programming Team |url=http://louderthanwordsfest.com/team |website=Louder Than Words Festival : Manchester |access-date=23 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116125011/http://louderthanwordsfest.com/team |archive-date=16 November 2013 |quote=The inaugural Festival will take place over the weekend: 15th – 17th November 2013, at The Palace Hotel, Manchester.}} in Manchester.{{Cite web |last1=Cobley |first1=Mike |last2=Dessau |first2=Bruce |date=3 November 2019 |title=Interview: Brighton-Based Stand-Up Maisie Adam's On Her Rise To Tour Headliner Ahead Of Show @ Komedia Brighton |url=https://magazine.brighton.co.uk/Home/Editorial/Interview_Brighton-Based_Stand-Up_Maisie_Adams_On_Her_Rise_To_Tour_Headliner_Ahead_Of_Show___Komedia_Brighton/20_105_5387 |access-date=11 February 2020 |website=Brighton Magazine |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://louderthanwordsfest.com/the-team/|title=The Team|website=Louder Than Words Festival|language=en-US|access-date=11 February 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Si |date=12 July 2021 |title=Circuit Training 143: Maisie Adam is Making the Most of It |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/circuit_training/maisie-adam-interview/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}} In 1999, Adam's parents were charged with felony abuse for leaving their two children unattended in a Florida hotel room for 45 minutes; they spent the night in jail before returning to England.{{cite news |last1=Marks |first1=Cathy |title='Child alone' parents face prosecution |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/child-alone-parents-face-prosecution-1098674.html |access-date=28 December 2021 |work=The Independent |date=6 June 1999}} The charges were widely criticized for being unreasonable.
Adam's maternal grandfather, Sir Lawrence Byford, led an inquiry into the failings of the hunt for the "Yorkshire Ripper".{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-43030591|title=Ripper report police chief dies aged 92|date=2018-02-12|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-02-11|language=en-GB}} Her uncle, Mark Byford, was Deputy Director General of the British Broadcasting Corporation and head of BBC Journalism from 2004 to 2011.{{cite news|first=Neil |last=Midgley |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8057696/BBCs-Mark-Byford-made-redundant.html |title=BBC's Mark Byford made redundant |work=Daily Telegraph |date= 11 October 2010 |accessdate=14 May 2016}} At 14, Adam was diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.{{Cite web |url=https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/102874-maisie-adam-vague/ |title=Maisie Adam: Vague |last=Donaldson |first=Brian |date=12 August 2018 |website=Edinburgh Festival |access-date=21 June 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.voicemag.uk/interview/4196/interview-with-maisie-adam |title=Interview with Maisie Adam |last=Inniss |first=Tom |date=11 July 2018 |website=Voice Magazine |access-date=21 June 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://funnywomen.com/2018/08/19/maisie-adam-vague/ |title=Maisie Adam: Vague |last=Stone |first=Kate |date=19 August 2018 |website=Funny Women |access-date=21 June 2019}}
Adam attended St Aidan's Church of England High School in Harrogate,{{Cite web |last=Chalmers |first=Graham |date=9 August 2019 |title=Much-missed Harrogate schoolboy Frank - top comedians tribute concert |url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/health/much-missed-harrogate-schoolboy-frank-top-comedians-tribute-concert-1-9924756 |access-date=26 February 2022 |website=Harrogate Advertiser}}{{Cite web |last=Chalmers |first=Graham |date=9 August 2019 |title=Dear Reader - Everyone wants to help Harrogate + the nicer side of comedy |url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/opinion/dear-reader-everyone-wants-to-help-harrogate-the-nicer-side-of-comedy-1-9926959 |website=Harrogate Advertiser}} where she was Head Girl.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=19 December 2019 |title=A Level Presentation of Certificates 2019 |url=https://www.staidans.co.uk/a-level-presentation-of-certificates-2019/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122165508/https://www.staidans.co.uk/a-level-presentation-of-certificates-2019/ |archive-date=22 January 2020 |access-date=12 February 2020 |website=St Aidan's Church of England High School}} She trained with the National Youth Theatre in 2010 and 2012{{Cite web |title=Maisie Adam |url=https://www.spotlight.com/509078632197 |access-date=11 February 2020 |website=Spotlight}} and went on to study acting at the East 15 Acting School in Southend on Sea.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mandy.com/actor/profile/maisie-adam|title=Maisie Adam, Actor, North Yorkshire|website=Mandy|language=en-GB|access-date=11 February 2020}} She won a Laurence Marks sitcom-writing mentorship in 2015, and graduated with a BA in Acting & Community Theatre in 2016.{{Cite web |title=2016 graduates of East 15 Acting School |url=https://www.east15.ac.uk/alumni/2016 |access-date=11 February 2020 |website=East 15 Acting School |publisher=University of Essex}}
Career
A trained actress, Adam initially planned on acting and writing professionally.{{Cite web |last=Huddleston |first=Yvette |date=16 January 2020 |title=How Maisie Adam's climb towards stand-up stardom began in home county of Yorkshire |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/what-s-on/how-maisie-adam-s-climb-towards-stand-up-stardom-began-in-home-county-of-yorkshire-1-10205655 |access-date=11 February 2020 |website=Yorkshire Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbjmanagement.co.uk/artists/maisie-adam |title=Maisie Adam |website=PBJ Management |access-date=21 June 2019}}{{Cite web |title=Maisie Adam: Vague |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2018/m/27885/_maisie_adam:_vague |access-date=21 June 2019 |website=Chortle}}
=Stand-up comedy=
After graduating, Adam did not have an agent and had difficulty finding acting jobs.{{Cite web |date=24 July 2019 |title=Maisie Adam |url=https://nextupcomedy.com/acts/rising/maisieadam/ |access-date=11 February 2020 |website=NextUp |language=en-GB}} She moved back in with her parents in Yorkshire and worked various temp jobs. This led her to try stand-up,{{Cite web|url=https://bjournal.co/interview-with-edinburgh-fringe-best-newcomer-nominee-maisie-adam/|title="Female comedians are definitely marginalised" - An Interview With Edinburgh Fringe 'Best Newcomer' Nominee, Maisie Adam|last=Ayling|first=Kim|date=24 October 2018|website=Brighton Journal|language=en-GB|access-date=11 February 2020}} with her first gig at the Ilkley Literature Festival fringe on 13 October 2016{{cite web |title=Fringe Festival |url=http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk:80/whats-on/fringe-festival |website=Ilkley Literature Festival |access-date=23 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007194718/http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk:80/whats-on/fringe-festival |archive-date=7 October 2016 |quote=169. FRINGE: Maisie Adam – Live Stand-Up Thu 13th Oct at 9:30 pm - Ilkley Playhouse - Wharfeside}} with a one-hour show called Living on the Edge.{{Cite web |url=https://www.exposedmagazine.co.uk/comedy/interview-maisie-adams/|title=Interview: Maisie Adams|date=18 December 2017|website=Exposed Magazine|language=en-GB|access-date=11 February 2020}} In 2017, Adam won the national contest So You Think You're Funny for new stand-up acts at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.{{Cite web| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/news/2746/maisie_adam_wins_sytyf_2017/|title=Maisie Adam wins 'So You Think You're Funny?' 2017|last=Wolf|first=Ian|date=24 August 2017|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=11 February 2020}} Winning the contest led to her getting signed with an agent.
Adam's first full-length Edinburgh solo show, Vague, was nominated for the Best Newcomer Award at the 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Awards.{{Cite web |url=http://www.comedyawards.co.uk/best-newcomer/2018/maisie-adam|title=Maisie Adam {{!}} 2018 Best Newcomer Nominee|website=Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Awards|language=en-GB|access-date=11 February 2020}} In that year, she won the Amused Moose National New Comic Award.{{Cite web |title=Maisie Adam |url=https://www.amusedmoose.com/performers/maisie-adam/ |access-date=11 February 2020 |website=Amused Moose Comedy}} Adam returned to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019 with her show Hang Fire, which she took on a UK and European tour in 2019/2020.
=Television=
Adam first appeared as a contestant on The Chase while she was a university student in April 2016. There, she was eliminated by Paul Sinha in her head-to-head round with him.{{Cite web |date=7 April 2016 |title=Maisie Tries to Take £3000 Pounds Away from Her Team - The Chase |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIxubLzYOl4 |website=YouTube |publisher=The Chase}}
Following her television appearance as a comedian on ITV2's The Stand-Up Sketch Show in February 2019,{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |date=28 January 2019 |title=The Stand Up Sketch Show |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2019/01/28/42168/the_stand_up_sketch_show |access-date=11 February 2020 |website=Chortle }} Adam has appeared on episodes of 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, QI, Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie To You?, Richard Osman's House of Games, Roast Battle, and The Last Leg.{{IMDb name|9865421|Maisie Adam}}{{Cite web |last=Hannam |first=Laura |date=22 January 2021 |title=Maisie Adam on The Last Leg: The comedian's haircut the source of much derision! |url=https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/tv/maisie-adam-on-the-last-leg-the-comedians-haircut-the-source-of-much-derision/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |website=Entertainment Daily |language=en-GB}} She portrayed punk singer Siouxsie Sioux in a 2018 episode of Urban Myths, titled "The Sex Pistols Vs. Bill Grundy".
She has written for Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and in 2019 she was a writer on two episodes of Rob Beckett's Savage Socials on Channel 4.
She narrated the reality show The Cabins, which first aired on 4 January 2021 on ITV2.{{Cite web |last=Colderick |first=Stephanie |date=4 January 2022 |title=Who is ITV2's The Cabins narrator? |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/the-cabins-itv-cast-time-22637105 |access-date=26 February 2022 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Who is The Cabins narrator? Meet Maisie Adam - the voiceover for ITV's new dating show |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-cabins-narrator-maisie-adam/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |website=Radio Times |language=en}} A second series was renewed and aired on 3 January 2022. In June 2022, ITV announced that The Cabins would not return for a third series.{{cn|date=April 2023}}
In November 2022, Adam appeared in the new series of Outsiders on Dave. In December 2022, she was on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year as a panellist with Katherine Ryan.{{Cite web |date=26 December 2022 |title=Big Fat Quiz: Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2022 |url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/big-fat-quiz/on-demand/74703-001}} She appeared again on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year in 2024, paired with Chris McCausland.{{cite web |title=The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year: The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year 2024 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/big_fat_quiz_of_the_year/episodes/1/29/ |website=British Comedy Guide |access-date=29 December 2024 |language=en}}
In June 2023, Adam appeared as a contestant in New Tipping Point for Soccer Aid@TippingPointITV with Brian McFadden and Sam Matterface, which Brian McFadden won.
In February 2024, Adam appeared as a contestant in [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001w42l Celebrity Mastermind] alongside Michelle Heaton, Nihal Arthanayake and Aaron Evans.
In March 2024, Adam announced her biggest tour so far, entitled [https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/maisie-adam-tickets/artist/5280026 Appraisal]. It began at Reading Concert Hall on 17 September.
= Podcasts =
Since December 2019, Adam has hosted a podcast, That's a First!, with fellow comedian Tom Lucy.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=12 March 2021 |title=Podcast |url=https://tomlucy.com/podcast/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |website=Tom Lucy |language=en-US}}
In 2023, Adam became the co-host of Big Kick Energy, with fellow comedian Suzi Ruffell.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=19 July 2023 |title=Podcast |url=https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/83ae3b23-b820-4401-a012-25b30fffd1cd/big-kick-energy |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=Amazon Music |language=en-US}} Launched for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Big Kick Energy now primarily focuses on the Women's Super League Season (WSL). It has been nominated for a Sports Broadcast Award.
Awards and nominations
Adam has been nominated for or won several awards, including:{{cite web | title=Comedy Artist – Maisie Adam | website=Mary Tobin Presents | url=https://marytobinpresents.com.au/artists/comedy-artist-maisie-adam/ | access-date=9 April 2023}}
- 2018: Winner – Amused Moose National New Comic winner
- 2017: Winner – So You Think You're Funny
- 2018: Nominee – Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Best Newcomer
- 2019: Nominee – Chortle Awards, Best Newcomer
Personal life
{{as of |2021}}, Adam lives in Brighton. She plays for a football team in Brighton and is also a Leeds United fan.{{cite web |last=Dessau |first=Bruce | date=18 September 2022 |url=https://beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/12547/interview-maisie-adam |title=Interview: Maisie Adam |website=Beyond The Joke |access-date=23 December 2022}} She also took part in Soccer Aid 2023.
While in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, she cut her hair to a Chelsea style, which has since become her signature look.{{cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/soccer-aids-maisie-adam-story-27101832|title=Soccer Aid's Maisie Adam and the story behind unique hairstyle|last=Jones|first=John|work=Liverpool Echo|date=11 June 2023 |access-date=26 November 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Panse |first1=Sonal |title=What Is a Chelsea Haircut? |url=https://www.beautyanswered.com/what-is-a-chelsea-haircut.htm |website=Beauty Answered |access-date=24 October 2022 |date=21 September 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Alex |title=Former 80s skinheads reflect on the significance of their Chelsea haircuts |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/51451/1/80s-skinheads-chelsea-haircut-punk-derek-ridgers-photography |access-date=24 October 2022 |work=Dazed |date=28 December 2020 |language=en |quote=Capturing many of the faces in the scene was photographer Derek Ridgers. Armed with a camera, in the 70s and 80s Ridgers found himself on the front lines of the subcultures that emerged during that time, compiling a definitive record of the kids defining the aesthetics of a movement.}}{{cite news |last1=Dessau |first1=Bruce |title=Maisie Adam: The rising star comic on her next gig, Live at the Apollo |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedian-maisie-adam-interview-live-the-apollo-london-b971807.html |access-date=24 October 2022 |work=Evening Standard |date=17 December 2021 |language=en}}
In December 2021, she became engaged to Mike Dobinson.{{Cite web |last=Adam |first=Maisie |date=3 December 2021 |title=HERE WE CHUFFIN' GO |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CXBu5y0sPlu/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |website=Instagram}} They married on 10 June 2023.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://maisieadam.com/ Official website]
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adam, Maisie}}
Category:English women comedians
Category:People from the Borough of Harrogate
Category:National Youth Theatre members
Category:Alumni of East 15 Acting School
Category:21st-century English comedians
Category:English stand-up comedians
Category:Comedians from North Yorkshire