TomSka

Thomas James Ridgewell was born on 27 June 1990 in Suffolk, England.{{Cite web |last=Ridgewell |first=Thomas |date=8 August 2023 |title=Last Month I Got Old – Youtube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnqR8CoZ4WQ |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=YouTube |archive-date=18 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918052332/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnqR8CoZ4WQ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|last1=Lewis|first1=Tim|last2=Fox|first2=Killian|last3=Michael|first3=Lizzi|date=6 April 2013|title=YouTube UK: 20 of Britain's most popular online video bloggers|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/apr/07/youtube-uk-20-online-video-bloggers|access-date=13 June 2016|website=The Guardian|archive-date=28 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228041827/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/apr/07/youtube-uk-20-online-video-bloggers|url-status=live}} His twin sister Amelia died prenatally after Ridgewell's mother was injured in a car accident.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46bLFAu0D8I |title=The Complete History of Me (1/3) |date=2016-02-25 |last=TomSka & Friends |access-date=2024-05-23 |via=YouTube}} He was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, in Essex until age 4 and later Cambridge. As a child, Ridgewell made short films using his parents' video camera.{{Cite book|last=Clarkson|first=Stephanie|title=Vlog It!|publisher=Scholastic UK|year=2015|isbn=978-1-4071-6512-7|location=United Kingdom|pages=57}} Shortly after YouTube was established, Ridgewell created CakeBomb,{{Cite web|title=CakeBomb|url=http://www.cakebomb.co.uk/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120043427/http://www.cakebomb.co.uk/|archive-date=20 January 2012|access-date=14 May 2020|website=CakeBomb}} a website where he posted his projects, including his animated web series Asdfmovie and his late friend Edd Gould's Eddsworld. Ridgewell graduated from the University of Lincoln,{{Cite web|last=Cousins|first=Rachael|date=27 August 2014|title=Former University of Lincoln students to guest present on Radio 1|url=http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/University-Lincoln-students-guest-present-Radio-1/story-22836679-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603135330/http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/University-Lincoln-students-guest-present-Radio-1/story-22836679-detail/story.html|archive-date=3 June 2016|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Lincolnshire Echo}} where he studied Media Production having previously studied at Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge,{{Cite web |last=Atkins |first=Paul |date=2024-09-05 |title=Long Road Sixth Form College marks 50 years and wants your memories |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/special-features/long-road-sixth-form-college-29853369 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Cambridgeshire Live |language=en}} and whilst studying created a series of unofficial advertisements for the university, which received millions of views and were also featured on the BBC.{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Sarah|date=18 August 2011|title=Appointment to view: The University of Lincoln goes viral|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/appointment-view-university-lincoln-goes-viral/1085410|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Campaign|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414013354/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/appointment-view-university-lincoln-goes-viral/1085410|url-status=live}}

As a professional YouTuber, Ridgewell earns money from revenue from his videos on the website.{{Cite web|date=12 March 2013|title=The Tom Ridgewell show: the 22-year-old making £10,000 a month from his bedroom on YouTube|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-tom-ridgewell-show-the-22yearold-making-10000-a-month-from-his-bedroom-on-youtube-8530893.html|access-date=13 June 2016|website=Evening Standard|archive-date=30 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630162937/http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-tom-ridgewell-show-the-22yearold-making-10000-a-month-from-his-bedroom-on-youtube-8530893.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Whitworth|first=Dan|date=19 April 2011|title=YouTube star TomSka 'makes thousands' every month|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/13136416/youtube-star-tomska-makes-thousands-every-month|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Newsbeat|archive-date=1 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301105514/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/13136416/youtube-star-tomska-makes-thousands-every-month|url-status=live}} Ridgewell engages in social commentary through his YouTube channel, covering topics such as mental health and personal relationships.{{Cite web|last=Griffin|first=Louise|date=18 February 2019|title=TomSka opens up about the dark side of asdfmovie, repairing relationships, and getting a 'real job'|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/18/tomska-opens-up-about-the-dark-side-of-asdfmovie-repairing-relationships-and-getting-a-real-job-8661502/|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Metro|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216073541/https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/18/tomska-opens-up-about-the-dark-side-of-asdfmovie-repairing-relationships-and-getting-a-real-job-8661502/|url-status=live}} From April 2016 to February 2018, he uploaded weekly vlogs to his second channel, DarkSquidge, now known as TomSka & Friends, in a series named Last Week.{{Cite web |last=O'Dell |first=Liam |date=8 September 2017 |title=TomSka Announces the End of Last Week |url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2017/09/08/tomska-announces-the-end-of-last-week/ |access-date=14 September 2020 |website=TenEighty |archive-date=3 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103182518/https://teneightymagazine.com/2017/09/08/tomska-announces-the-end-of-last-week/ |url-status=live}}

In 2012, Ridgewell founded the media production company TurboPunch Ltd., located in London. He currently works there alongside co-writer Eddie Bowley.{{cite web|title=TURBOPUNCH LIMITED|url=http://www.datalog.co.uk/browse/detail.php/CompanyNumber/07912863/CompanyName/TURBOPUNCH+LIMITED|access-date=21 October 2018|website=Datalog|archive-date=21 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021233930/http://www.datalog.co.uk/browse/detail.php/CompanyNumber/07912863/CompanyName/TURBOPUNCH+LIMITED|url-status=live}} Ridgewell also became the producer of Eddsworld after the show's creator, Edd Gould, died of leukemia.{{Cite web|last=Gutelle|first=Sam|date=23 March 2016|title=TomSka's New Documentary Explains How Eddsworld Survived Its Creator's Death|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2016/03/23/tom-ska-eddsworld-documentary/|access-date=11 February 2020|website=Tubefilter|archive-date=6 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306105349/https://www.tubefilter.com/2016/03/23/tom-ska-eddsworld-documentary/|url-status=live}} He left the series in 2016, relinquishing the show to animator Matt Hargreaves.

In February 2013, Ridgewell was featured on the cover of Wired UK as part of a feature titled "How YouTube Reinvented the Entertainment Business".{{Cite magazine|last=Cheshire|first=Tom|date=7 February 2013|title=Talent Tube: how Britain's new YouTube superstars built a global fanbase|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2013/02/features/talent-tube|access-date=13 June 2016|magazine=Wired UK|archive-date=15 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515011036/http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2013/02/features/talent-tube|url-status=live}} In May 2013, he was featured in YouTube's first and only Comedy Week{{Cite web|title=YouTube's Comedy Week shows how much comedy has changed|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedy-news/10068492/YouTubes-Comedy-Week-shows-how-much-comedy-has-changed.html|access-date=13 June 2016|website=Telegraph.co.uk|date=19 May 2013|archive-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603181014/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedy-news/10068492/YouTubes-Comedy-Week-shows-how-much-comedy-has-changed.html|url-status=live}} as a guest host for its Geek Week series in August.{{Cite web|last=Vincent|first=James|date=25 July 2013|title=YouTube Launches 'Geek Week', Nerds Left in the Shade|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/youtube-launches-geek-week-nerds-left-in-the-shade-8730464.html|access-date=14 September 2020|website=The Independent|archive-date=5 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105011548/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/youtube-launches-geek-week-nerds-left-in-the-shade-8730464.html|url-status=live}}

In 2016, Ridgewell filmed several sketches with the BBC for a potential sketch show on BBC Three.{{Cite web|last=Fitzgerald|first=Claire|date=3 December 2015|title=Tom Ridgewell Working with BBC Comedy|url=http://teneightymagazine.com/2015/12/03/tom-ridgewell-working-with-bbc-comedy/|access-date=4 October 2017|website=TenEighty|archive-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050633/http://teneightymagazine.com/2015/12/03/tom-ridgewell-working-with-bbc-comedy/|url-status=live}}

A book titled Sam Kills Christmas, written by Ridgewell and Eddie Bowley with illustrations by Dorina Herdewijn, was released on 8 November 2018.{{cite web|last=Weiss|first=Geoff|date=24 September 2018|title=U.K. YouTube Vet TomSka Has Written A Kids' Book Called 'Sam Kills Christmas'|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/09/24/tomska-sam-kills-christmas-book/|access-date=21 October 2018|website=Tubefilter|archive-date=24 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924224845/https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/09/24/tomska-sam-kills-christmas-book/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Griffin|first=Louise|date=7 November 2018|title=TomSka is ready to 'take down' Christmas with his new book, and we're not mad|url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/11/07/tomska-is-ready-to-take-down-christmas-with-his-new-book-and-were-not-even-mad-8110242/|access-date=18 February 2020|website=Metro|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218080324/https://metro.co.uk/2018/11/07/tomska-is-ready-to-take-down-christmas-with-his-new-book-and-were-not-even-mad-8110242/|url-status=live}}

In 2008, Ridgewell released the first episode of Asdfmovie, an animated sketch comedy series featuring short clips of minimalist characters in surreal and occasionally darkly humorous situations.{{Cite web|last=Dillon|first=Poppy|date=12 August 2015|title=Tom Ridgewell to Release asdf Comic Book|url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2015/08/12/tom-ridgewell-to-release-asdf-comic-book/|access-date=14 September 2020|website=TenEighty|archive-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220044140/https://teneightymagazine.com/2015/08/12/tom-ridgewell-to-release-asdf-comic-book/|url-status=live}}

In October 2015, Ridgewell released his book based on the Asdfmovie series, Art is Dead: the asdf book, illustrated by Matt Ley and published by Little Brown 5.

In 2017, His song "Beep Beep I'm a Sheep" by Canadian musician LilDeuceDeuce, with vocals by Ridgewell and Gabriel Brown,{{Cite web|url=https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/regina-musicians-latest-video-racking-up-millions-of-views-on-youtube/|title=Regina musician's latest video racking up millions of views on YouTube|last=Melnychuk|first=Mark|date=7 April 2017|website=Regina Leader-post|access-date=9 March 2020|archive-date=31 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031125242/https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/regina-musicians-latest-video-racking-up-millions-of-views-on-youtube|url-status=live}} was featured in the dance rhythm game Just Dance 2018.{{cite web|last=Sounders|first=Mike|date=23 August 2017|title=Random time: Beep beep like a sheep in Just Dance 2018|url=https://www.destructoid.com/random-time-beep-beep-like-a-sheep-in-just-dance-2018-456534.phtml|access-date=21 October 2018|website=Destructoid|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032927/https://www.destructoid.com/random-time-beep-beep-like-a-sheep-in-just-dance-2018-456534.phtml|url-status=live}}

In May 2018, Ridgewell uploaded "The Muffin Song", a spin-off song of his Asdfmovie series, in collaboration with Schmoyoho. {{As of|2024|December}}, the video has garnered over 263 million views.{{Cite web|title=TomSka's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) – Social Blade|url=https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/tomska/videos|access-date=29 October 2021|website=Social Blade|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029153442/https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/tomska/videos|url-status=live}}

In 2019, Ridgewell developed a card game based on Asdfmovie in collaboration with Big Potato Games called Muffin Time: The Random Card Game.{{Cite web|last=O'Dell|first=Liam|date=14 August 2019|title=TomSka Announces asdfmovie Card Game|url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2019/08/14/tomska-announces-asdfmovie-card-game/|access-date=18 February 2020|website=TenEighty|archive-date=15 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215000755/https://teneightymagazine.com/2019/08/14/tomska-announces-asdfmovie-card-game/|url-status=live}} He raised over £1,000,000 for the game on Kickstarter.{{Cite web|last=Hutchins|first=Robert|date=16 September 2019|title=Big Potato and Turbo Punch join £1m club on Kickstarter with Muffin Time success|url=https://www.toynews-online.biz/2019/09/16/big-potato-and-turbo-punch-join-1m-club-on-kickstarter-with-muffin-time-success/|access-date=18 February 2020|website=ToyNews|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218080328/https://www.toynews-online.biz/2019/09/16/big-potato-and-turbo-punch-join-1m-club-on-kickstarter-with-muffin-time-success/|url-status=dead}} A second game, Don't Press That Mine Turtle, raised over £300,000 on Kickstarter.{{Cite web |last=@thetomska |date=3 July 2024 |title=Good news, everyone! |url=https://x.com/thetomska/status/1808535255642485090 |access-date=30 December 2024 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}

He was raised a Jehovah's Witness but no longer practices this faith.{{Cite web|last=DarkSquidge|date=7 October 2015|title=The Day My Faith Died|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXRK76x_D8Q|access-date=14 September 2020|website=YouTube|archive-date=19 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119235712/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXRK76x_D8Q|url-status=live}} Despite this, he has expressed belief in a higher power.{{Cite web|last=DarkSquidge|date=28 January 2013|title=7 Facts About TomSka|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ2wwLh1dhU|access-date=14 September 2020|website=YouTube|archive-date=27 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727154322/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ2wwLh1dhU|url-status=live}}

Ridgewell has been open about his struggles with grief, following the death of Edd Gould in 2012, and was diagnosed with depression in 2013.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds8sSeJtwYs |title=I Am Depressed |language=en |access-date=2024-05-09 |via=www.youtube.com}}

He endorsed the Labour Party in the 2017 United Kingdom general election{{Cite tweet |last=Ridgewell |first=Thomas |user=thetomska |title=Over the past few weeks Corbyn has really won me over – I'll definitely be voting Labour next week. |number=870707678078574592 |access-date=2020-09-14}} and expressed his opposition to both Brexit{{Cite magazine|last=Lawrence|first=Derek|date=27 June 2016|title=VidCon: TomSka compares Brexit to zombie apocalypse|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/06/27/vidcon-tomska-brexit/|access-date=9 March 2020|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} and the Conservative Party.{{Cite tweet |last=Ridgewell |first=Thomas |user=thetomska |title=Look. I don't want Brexit. I don't want the Tories in power anymore. |number=1199434176421879808 |access-date=2020-09-14}}

In 2021, he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/thetomska/status/1593288756743872512%3Flang%3Den&ved=2ahUKEwjQpMGI6NiCAxVtLxAIHQMlCP4QFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2KLc0p88kfUI6iykz-8dFQ|title=Oh yeah, I have ADHD. I only mentioned this in passing once but I was finally diagnosed in 2021, surprising absolutely no one. If I ever find myself vlogging again, I'll go into more detail. Either that or you'll have to wait for The Complete History of Me 4 (2027) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯|website=twitter.com|author=Thomas Ridgewell|date=17 November 2022}}

On 26 December 2023, Charlie Belle, his long-term partner, announced via Instagram that they had become engaged.{{Cite web |title=said no, obviously x

|author=Charlie Belle

|url=https://www.instagram.com/magician_belle/p/C1UtH0qNMyQ/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=Instagram}}{{cite web|url=https://youtube.com/watch?si=nM06XNBBm-msvYq2&v=ZMh89n6IHsE&feature=youtu.be|title=Last Month I Proposed|website=YouTube|date=19 January 2024|author=Thomas Ridgewell}} Ridgewell later revealed he had proposed on Christmas.

• {{Cite book |last=Ridgewell |first=Thomas |title=Asdfbook |year=2010}}{{cite web |date=30 November 2021 |title=The TomSka Iceberg Explained #CONTENT |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ7pBUHQ0us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202161104/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ7pBUHQ0us |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=YouTube}}
• {{Cite book |last=Ridgewell |first=Thomas |title=Zack Comic |year=2010–2011}}
• {{Cite book |last=Ridgewell |first=Thomas |title=Art Is Dead, the asdf book |publisher=Little Brown Book Group |year=2015 |isbn=9780751563047}}
• {{Cite book |last=Ridgewell |first=Thomas |title=Sam Kills Christmas |publisher=Little Brown Book Group |year=2018 |isbn=9780751563054}}

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Category:1990 births

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