Rufus Hound

Hound was born on 6 March 1979{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/rufus-hound-one-man-two-monikers-8488398.html |title=Rufus Hound: One man, two monikers |last=Mesure |first=Susie |work=The Independent|date=10 February 2013 |access-date=7 March 2015 }} in Essex and moved to Surrey at the age of seven.{{cite news |author= |date= 2 August 2017 |title= Comedian Rufus Hound on Surrey school days, theatre and politics |url= https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/celebrity-interviews/comedian-rufus-hound-on-surrey-school-days-theatre-and-politics-7218550 |work= Surrey Life |access-date= 8 May 2022}} He was educated at Hoe Bridge School Woking, Frensham Heights and Godalming College, where he was elected as a Student Representative and built the college radio station. After leaving school he began working for a PR agency but started performing comedy in the evenings. In 2000, he left his job as an account executive for Claire's Accessories to begin working full-time as a stand-up comedian. While working at the Edinburgh Festival he adopted the stage name 'Rufus Hound' for the first time.{{cite web |last=Mills |first=Steve |title=Interview: Comedian and actor Rufus Hound talks about new play in Leicester|url=http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-and-comedy/interview-comedian-and-actor-rufus-hound-talks-about-new-play-in-leicester-1-7837966|website=Harborough Mail|publisher=Johnston Publishing|access-date=10 March 2017}}

Hound hosted Destination Three, the coverage of the Glastonbury Festival and Top of the Pops in 2005 and 2006 alongside Fearne Cotton. He presented the idiosyncratic reality show Grime Scene Investigation on BBC Three with staff and students from Aston University, and narrated BBC Two's broadcasts of MythBusters. He has also appeared in many comedy shows and quizzes such as Street Cred Sudoku and Nevermind the Buzzcocks, as well as Celebrity Juice where he was a regular panellist. He narrated the 2009 series Rocket Science and has appeared on The Apprentice: You're Fired! and Richard & Judy. He also presented Outtake TV on BBC1, replacing Anne Robinson.

In early 2008, Hound appeared twice on ITV's Thank God You're Here in the UK, after initially working as the warm-up act. In late summer 2008, Hound joined the panel show Argumental as the Blue Team Captain. Hound was the narrator for the gaming series Playr and presents What Do Kids Know? on UKTV-owned channel Watch. Hound took part in Let's Dance for Sport Relief, dancing to Cheryl Cole's "Fight for This Love" and won the final of the series on 13 March 2010. Partnered with Flavia Cacace, Hound won the 2013 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.{{cite news |title= Rufus Hound wins Strictly Come Dancing Christmas show |date= 25 December 2013 |work= BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25494892 |access-date= 28 February 2025 }}

Hound hosted the year 2000 edition of My Funniest Year, a look at a past year of British television, which was broadcast on Channel 4 in September 2010. He has been a regular panelist on Celebrity Juice, hosted by Keith Lemon, and has appeared at Bright Club a number of times.{{cite news |title=Bright Club at the 2010 Brighton Fringe |first=Steve |last=Bennett |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/misc_live_shows/b/17908/bright_club/review |newspaper=Chortle |date=15 May 2010 |access-date=9 December 2010}} In January 2011, Hound participated in the former Channel 4 reality series Famous and Fearless. He came third for the boys' team, and was referred to as "The Ruthless Hound". In 2012, Hound was a team captain for Mad Mad World.

Since 2012, he has presented a programme on BBC Radio Four called My Teenage Diary, in which celebrities talk about the diary that they kept in their teenage years. On 22 February 2016, Hound made his debut as a panellist on BBC Radio 4's Just A Minute alongside regular Paul Merton and semi-regulars Pam Ayres and Graham Norton.

Hound plays a fictionalised version of himself in the CBBC television series Hounded as the protagonist, a normal television presenter who must constantly foil the plans of Dr Muhahaha, who plans on taking over the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/hounded/ |title=Hounded – CBBC Sitcom |website=British Comedy Guide |access-date=2011-12-27}} In 2015, Hound played Sam Swift in an episode of the ninth series of Doctor Who, titled "The Woman Who Lived", and appeared in the Channel 4 drama series Cucumber as an eccentric character called Rupert.

Hound contributed his vocals to the track "Tazer Beam" by The Skints from their album FM, released in March 2015.

In 2016, Hound played the part of Duncan in the sixth series of the Sky 1 sitcom Trollied.{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/2213/trollied_series_6/|title=Sky 1 orders Trollied Series 6|date=30 August 2016|website=British Comedy Guide}}

In November 2017, Hound temporarily took over hosting responsibilities of Iain Lee's Talkradio show, named The Late Night Alternative as Iain Lee joined the cast of the 2017 series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. Since 2018 he has provided the voice of Waffle on the CBeebies show Waffle the Wonder Dog.

In 2021, Hound participated in the thirteenth series of Dancing on Ice opposite professional partner Robin Johnstone.{{Cite news|date=2020-10-05|title=Dancing on Ice 2021: Rufus Hound completes line-up|work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-54232806|access-date=2020-10-31}} They were forced to withdraw from the competition in week 4 after Hound tested positive for COVID-19.{{Cite news|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/tv/rufus-hound-pulls-out-dancing-19765427.amp |title=Rufus Hound pulls out of Dancing on Ice after positive Covid test|work=Liverpool Echo|date=3 February 2021}} From October to November 2021, Hound appeared in four episodes of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Keith "Starbuck" Dursley.{{cite news |last=Timblick |first=Simon |title='Doctors' spoilers: Al Haskey meets Starbuck! |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/spoilers/doctors-spoilers-al-haskey-meets-starbuck |access-date=28 October 2021 |work=What to Watch |publisher=Future plc}}

Hound made his acting debut in the Direct-to-DVD film Big Fat Gypsy Gangster which was directed by Ricky Grover. He also stars in the 2012 film The Wedding Video.{{cite news |title= The Wedding Video - review |date= 19 August 2012 |work= The Standard |url= https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-wedding-video-review-8056591.html |access-date= 28 February 2025 }}

From October 2012 through February 2013, Hound played the lead role of Francis Henshall in the National Theatre production of One Man, Two Guvnors on a UK tour. Following the end of the tour, he took over the role in the West End production at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 4 February 2013. In summer 2013 he played Roy in Chichester Festival Theatre's revival of Neville's Island by Tim Firth at the Theatre in the Park (a temporary theatre, while the Festival theatre was being refurbished).

In 2014, Hound played the role of Freddie in the West End production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre after out-of-town tryouts in Manchester and Aylesbury.{{cite news |last= Billington |first= Michael |date= 2 April 2014 |title= Dirty Rotten Scoundrels review – 'A throwback to an earlier age' |work= The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/apr/02/dirty-rotten-scoundrels-review-michael-billington |access-date= 29 September 2023 }}

In early 2016 he played the role of Sancho Panza in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Don Quixote, adapted by James Fenton.{{cite news |last= Billington |first= Michael |date= 4 March 2016 |title= Don Quixote review – David Threlfall rides high as Cervantes's ingenious gent |work= The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/mar/04/don-quixote-review-swan-theatre-stratford-rsc-david-threlfall-rufus-hound-james-fenton-sancho-panza-cervantes |access-date= 29 September 2023 }} The production transferred to the Garrick Theatre in London's West End for a limited season from October 2018 to February 2019.

On 23 April 2016, Hound appeared in Shakespeare Live! From The RSC at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon (which was also broadcast live on BBC Two) celebrating the birthday and 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare. He appeared as the Second Gangster opposite Henry Goodman performing 'Brush Up Your Shakespeare' from the musical Kiss Me, Kate.

In late 2016, he played Toad in the world premiere of the new musical, The Wind in the Willows in Plymouth, Salford and Southampton. In June 2017 he reprised the role for a West End transfer at the London Palladium, after playing Dr Prentice in a revival of What The Butler Saw by Joe Orton at the Curve Theatre, Leicester and Theatre Royal Bath in March 2017.

In April 2018, he returned to Chichester Festival Theatre to play Garry Essendine in a revival of Present Laughter by Noël Coward.{{cite news |last= Billington |first= Michael |date= 27 April 2018 |title= Present Laughter review – vulgar Coward revival is an orgy of exaggeration |work= The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/apr/27/present-laughter-review-rufus-hound-chichester-festival-theatre-foley |access-date= 29 September 2023 }} From June 2018 he played Vic Billings / Ray in Dusty - The Dusty Springfield Musical on a UK tour.{{cite news |last= Oldfield |first= Lesley |date= 20 July 2018 |title= Rufus Hound answers 10 Questions before Dusty the Musical in Newcastle |work= Chronicle Live |url= https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/rufus-hound-dusty-newcastle-questions-14832090 |access-date= 29 September 2023 }}

He has played the role of Constant in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of The Provoked Wife by John Vanbrugh{{cite news |last= Billington |first= Michael |date= 13 May 2019 |title= The Provoked Wife review – when wedlock turns to deadlock |work= The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/may/13/the-provoked-wife-review-the-swan-stratford-upon-avon |access-date= 29 September 2023 }} and returned to the RSC for winter 2019 to play Dennis's Dad in the new musical The Boy in the Dress, based on the book by David Walliams.

In March 2020, he was due to play the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle in the West End production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie,{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/rufus-hound-katy-brand-west-end-jamie-musical_50945.html|title=Rufus Hound and Katy Brand to join Everybody's Talking About Jamie in the West End |date=14 February 2020 |publisher=WhatsOnStage.com |access-date=2020-02-14}} prior to the suspension of performances due to COVID-19. During November and December 2020 he portrayed Buttons in the adult pantomime Cinderella: A Socially Distanced Ball at the Turbine Theatre (at the Battersea Power Station), written by Jodie Prenger and Neil Hurst.

In 2021, he played Tom Good in the UK tour of The Good Life based on the BBC sitcom.{{cite news |last= Hughes |first= Tim |date= 6 September 2021 |title= Rufus Hound to bring The Good Life to Oxford Playhouse |work= Oxford Mail |url= https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19562585.rufus-hound-bring-good-life-oxford-playhouse/ |access-date= 29 September 2023 }} He appeared as Abanazar in Aladdin at the New Theatre Peterborough during Christmas of 2021.{{cite news |last= Barnes |first= Brad |date= 27 December 2021 |title= Ruthless Rufus- the Peterborough panto baddie who is also very goodie |work= Peterborough Telegraph |url= https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/ruthless-rufus-the-peterborough-panto-baddie-who-is-also-very-goodie-3498171 |access-date= 29 September 2023 }}

In late 2023, Hound played Pseudolus in Stephen Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Billetterie Lido 2 in Paris.

In late 2024, Hound played Jacob Marley in Mark Gatiss' adaptation of A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story by Charles Dickens at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Hound campaigned for the Liberal Democrats at the 2010 general election. He has subsequently declared his support for the Labour Party. In an episode of The Jonathan Ross Show, which aired on 25 January 2014, Hound announced plans to run as a Member of the European Parliament for the party in the London constituency in the 2014 European Parliament election.{{cite news | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25900089 | title= Rufus Hound in Euro elections NHS bid | work=BBC News | date=26 January 2014 | access-date=26 January 2014}} Hound was the fifth candidate on the National Health Action Party list, which came ninth, receiving 23,253 votes (1.06 per cent of the vote).{{cite news | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu-regions/E15000007 | title= Vote 2014 Results: London | work=BBC News | date=25 May 2014 | access-date=28 May 2014}}

Hound has made critical statements against Conservative Party figures David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt.{{Cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/rufus-hound-obviously-i-don-t-think-hunt-and-cameron-sit-in-a-room-thinking-of-new-ways-to-kill-children-9408152.html |title=Rufus Hound: 'Obviously I don't think Hunt and Cameron sit in a room thinking of new ways to kill children'|date=2014-05-21|work=Evening Standard |access-date=2021-02-02}}

In August 2015, Hound endorsed Jeremy Corbyn's campaign in the Labour Party leadership election. He tweeted: "Understand your thinking, but Corbyn=alternative. The others =Tory policies inflicted with mea culpa eyes".{{cite web |last=Hound|first=Rufus|url=https://twitter.com/RufusHound/status/633255155035729921|title=Proudly supporting Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour leadership contest|via=Twitter|date=17 August 2015|access-date=15 July 2017}} In July 2016, he also supported Corbyn after mass resignations from his cabinet and a leadership challenge. He performed stand-up at "Keep Corbyn event" in Kentish Town{{cite news |last=Mann|first=Sebastian|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/jubilant-jeremy-corbyn-supporters-explode-with-joy-after-finding-out-leader-will-automatically-make-a3294406.html|title=Jubilant Jeremy Corbyn supporters explode with joy after finding out leader will automatically make ballot|work=London Evening Standard|date=12 July 2016|access-date=15 July 2017}}

In May 2017, Hound wrote a series of tweets concerning the Manchester Arena bombing, in which he implied the attack was a false flag operation designed to help the Conservative Party in the upcoming general election, likening it to the German Reichstag fire of 1933.{{cite news |last=Hooton |first=Christopher |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/rufus-hound-twitter-manchester-attack-explosion-bomb-conspiracy-theory-a7755611.html |title=Manchester attack: Rufus Hound backtracks on 'tin foil hat' conspiracy theory tweet|date=2017-05-25|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-04-21}}{{cite news |last=Hinsliff |first=Gaby |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/26/manchester-attack-theresa-may-conspiracy-theory-rufus-hound-social-media |title=Manchester conspiracy theories reflect the price we pay for social media |access-date=26 May 2017|work=The Guardian |date=26 May 2017}} The comments were widely condemned: he was compared to 9/11 truther conspiracy theorists and accused of insensitivity to the victims of the attack; he later issued an apology via social media.{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/manchester-bomb-comedian-rufus-hound-sorry-after-terror-attack-conspiracy-theory-comments-a3548216.html|title=Rufus Hound 'sorry' over Manchester bomb conspiracy theory tweets|work=Evening Standard|access-date=2018-04-21}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rufus-hound-twitter_uk_59267417e4b062f96a33f37d|title=Rufus Hound Apologises For 'Bonkers' Manchester Bombing Conspiracy Theory|date=2017-05-25|work=HuffPost UK|access-date=2018-04-21}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/news/a15125/rufus-hound-lambasted-for-extremely-stupid-comments-about-the-manchester-terror-attack/|title=Rufus Hound Lambasted For Extremely Stupid Comments About The Manchester Terror Attack|date=2017-05-25|work=Esquire|access-date=2018-04-21}}

Hound lives in Hampton, London.{{Cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/481284/Rufus-Hound-vents-anger-on-Twitter-after-car-stolen|title='Stolen by some *****' Rufus Hound vents anger on Twitter after car stolen|date=2014-06-09|work=Daily Express|access-date=2021-02-02}}

In April 2007, Hound was married at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas Strip, Nevada, to Beth Johnson, whom he had met at the Reading Festival the year before.{{cite web|title=Rufus Hound |work=Dave (TV channel) |date=21 September 2008 |url=http://uktv.co.uk/dave/homepage/sid/7882| access-date = 11 September 2013}} They have two children together Alby & Hilda. They separated as of April 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/10/02/comedian-rufus-hound-splits-from-wife-after-13-years-amid-dancing-on-ice-2021-rumours-13364594/|title=Comedian Rufus Hound splits from wife after 13 years amid Dancing on Ice 2021 rumours|date=2020-10-02|work=Metro|access-date=2021-02-02}}

Rufus has since been linked romantically with actor Sally Hodgkiss.

• Being Rude! (7 November 2011)

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{{Succession box| before = Robert Webb| title = Winner of Let's Dance for Sport Relief | years = 2010| after = Charlie Baker and James Thornton}}

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Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century British comedians

Category:20th-century British male actors

Category:21st-century British comedians

Category:21st-century British male actors

Category:English stand-up comedians

Category:British male film actors

Category:British male radio actors

Category:British male stage actors

Category:British male television actors

Category:National Health Action Party people

Category:Actors educated at Frensham Heights School

Category:Comedians from Essex

Category:Comedians from Surrey

Category:Male actors from Essex

Category:Male actors from Surrey