User:GEbb4/sandbox/Draft of Max Fosh

Fosh was the second child of Matthew Fosh and Helena van der Kun, and has an older sister called Talitha. He attended Arnold House School{{cite magazine |last=Hill |first=John |year=2012 |title=Prize Giving |magazine=Arnold House Magazine |page=33 |url=https://issuu.com/urbanjuice/docs/arnold_house_magazine_2012_redacted |editor1-last=Miller |editor1-first=Stephanie}} before progressing to the prestigious Harrow School - the same school his father attended - and was in Bradbys house from 2008 until 2013.{{cite podcast |url=https://soundcloud.com/user-398414444/ha-podcasts-harrow-generations-matthew-and-max-fosh |title=Harrow Generations - Matthew Fosh & son Max |publisher=Harrow Association |host=Harry Bucknall |access-date=7 November 2022}}

Whilst studying English Literature and Business at Newcastle University, Fosh began presenting at Radio Tyneside. His last show was presented after three years, on 18 May 2018. He has since referred to this as one of his formative public speaking experiences and his first taste of being in the media industry. Whilst at Radio Tyneside, he won gold in the "Best Newcomer" category at the National Hospital Radio Awards in 2017.{{cite web |title=National Hospital Radio Awards - 2017 Winners |url=https://www.hbauk.com/member/awards-page/national-hospital-radio-awards-2017-winners |website=Hospital Broadcasting Association |access-date=8 November 2022}}{{cite web |title=Radio Tyneside upgrade studio with a little help from the Canford Community Fund |url=https://www.canford.co.uk/News/582_Radio-Tyneside-upgrade-studio-with-a-little-help-from-the-Canford-Community-Fund |website=Canford |publisher=Canford Audio Limited |access-date=8 November 2022}}

On Christmas Day 2022 Fosh presented a half-hour "TikTok Takeover" show on BBC Radio 1,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/radio-1-announces-first-ever-tiktok-takeover-on-christmas-day |title=BBC Radio 1 announces first-ever TikTok Takeover on Christmas Day |website=BBC |access-date=25 December 2022 |date=13 December 2022}} following a stunt almost two years earlier which involved printing his CV in large text on the roof of a car, and parking it outside of Broadcasting House in London.{{cite web |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18952089.former-newcastle-student-comes-bizarre-way-grab-attention-bbc-bosses/ |title=Former Newcastle student comes up with bizarre way to grab attention of BBC bosses |last=Scott |first=Jim |date=17 December 2020 |access-date=25 December 2022 |website=The Northern Echo}}{{cite web |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/06/london-mayor-election-2021-who-are-all-the-candidates-14529670/ |title=London Mayor Election 2021: Who are all the candidates? |date=7 May 2021 |access-date=28 December 2022 |website=Metro |last1=Petherick |first1=Sam |last2=Atkin |first2=Elizabeth |last3=Martin |first3=Rachel}}

Fosh's eponymous YouTube channel has amassed more than 1.4 million subscribers, and includes content which he describes as "silly" - pranks and other light-hearted content.{{cite web |url=https://mysteriouswritings.com/six-questions-with-max-fosh-on-the-100000-treasure-hunt-for-the-goldfosh/ |title=Six Questions with Max Fosh on the $100,000 Treasure Hunt for the GoldFosh |last=Kile |first=Jenny |date=9 August 2022 |website=Mysterious Writings |access-date=12 November 2022}} The channel was started on 13 January 2016 and posted its inaugural video on 18 October 2017, which started a series called "StreetSmart" where Fosh would interview people on the streets. As of December 2022, Fosh has released more than 60 episodes of StreetSmart including a UK tour which visited 14 UK universities over Freshers Week 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.maxfosh.co/ |title=Max Fosh |access-date=30 December 2022}}

On 25 June 2019 Fosh incorporated "Fish with an O Limited",{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12069656 |title=FISH WITH AN O LIMITED |website=Companies House |access-date=28 December 2022}} the production company he owns and makes videos with.

In May 2022, Fosh placed a large sign reading "Welcome to Luton" visible from the approach path for Gatwick Airport, to prank arriving travellers into thinking they were instead at Luton Airport.{{cite web |title='Welcome to Luton' prank sign panics Gatwick Airport passengers |last=Coffey |first=Helen |date=23 May 2022 |website=Independent |access-date=17 November 2022 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/gatwick-airport-welcome-luton-prank-sign-b2085406.html}} The letters were each {{convert|8|x|3|m|abbr=on}} and although initially anonymous, Fosh claimed the prank on Justin Dealey's show on BBC Three Counties Radio.{{cite interview |last=Fosh |first=Maximillian |interviewer=Justin Dealey |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0c8gtpf |access-date=19 February 2023 |work=BBC Three Counties Radio |title=YouTuber Max Fosh behind 'Welcome to Luton' prank}} This was well-received by the media and Fosh made several appearances on TV and radio, although some people criticised the prank as having caused undue stress for arriving passengers.{{cite web |title='Welcome to Luton' stunt panics Gatwick Airport arrivals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-61541224 |website=BBC News |access-date=12 November 2022}} Fosh had use of the land on which the sign was placed for six weeks,{{cite web |url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/people/welcome-to-luton-prank-near-gatwick-airport-youtuber-max-fosh-surprises-air-passengers-3704808 |title='Welcome to Luton' prank near Gatwick Airport: YouTuber Max Fosh surprises air passengers |last=Smith |first=Lawrence |date=23 May 2021 |access-date=26 December 2022 |website=Luton Today}} and claimed that renting the land and materials for the sign cost more than £4000.{{cite web |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/20167272.youtuber-max-fosh-claims-responsibility-welcome-luton-sign-gatwick-airport/ |title=YouTuber Max Fosh claims responsibility for ‘Welcome to Luton’ sign at Gatwick airport |last=Fuller |first=Christian |date=26 May 2022 |access-date=26 December 2022 |website=The Argus}}

The following month, BBC Three Counties put a similar sign reading "Welcome to Paradise" under the approach to Luton Airport.{{cite web |title=BBC Three Counties radio rivals 'Welcome to Luton' banner stunt |date=7 June 2022 |website=BBC News |access-date=19 February 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-61633144}}

On 16 May 2021, Fosh posted [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oYYQ5PnUjk&t=3s&ab_channel=MaxFosh a YouTube video] containing the first of three clues to the location of a briefcase containing {{GBPConvert |10000 |year=2021 |showdate=no}}. The hunt for the case lasted 28 days, with Fosh releasing [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77vQvQqjSx4&ab_channel=MaxFosh a video] announcing the conclusion on 13 June.

The following year, on 4 August 2022, Fosh posted [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXzD4p3TR2A&t=1s&ab_channel=MaxFosh another video] launching a second hunt for a treasure dubbed "the Goldfosh" - a golden fish, made from 18ct gold and encrusted with gemstones. The Goldfosh was a bespoke piece created by jeweller Sam Hunter and valued by several experts, including Joanna Hardy, at up to $100,000.{{cite web |url=https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/whats-on-news/max-fosh-goldfish-treasure-hunt-24758326 |title=Ex London mayor candidate sends Londoners crazy over a viral treasure hunt with a £83,000 diamond prize shaped like a goldfish |date=15 August 2022 |last=Alexander |first=Tilly |access-date=28 December 2022 |website=MyLondon}} Fosh announced the hunt was over, and the treasure found, [https://twitter.com/max_fosh/status/1589759020377997312 on Twitter] on 7 November 2022.

Following his YouTube success, in 2021 Fosh wrote and toured the UK with his show "Zocial Butterfly". He then went on to take the show to the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2022, his debut at the festival.{{cite web |title=Meet the TikTok comedians taking over this year's Edinburgh Fringe |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/edinburgh-fringe-lineup-tiktok-comedians-b2133112.html |access-date=13 November 2022 |last=Lewis |first=Isobel |website=Independent}} On 3 November 2022, Fosh played the show in London once again, this time at the London Palladium.

{{further|2021 London mayoral election}}

Max Fosh was an independent candidate in the 2021 London Mayoral election which was eventually won by the incumbent, Sadiq Khan. He admitted to running simply to "wind up" fellow former Harrovian Laurence Fox, who was running as a right-wing candidate for the Reclaim Party which Fox had recently founded.{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/who-20-candidates-london-mayor-2021-sadiq-khan-shaun-bailey-niko-omilana-b928031.html |title=London mayoral election 2021: who are the candidates in the race to become London mayor? |last=Strick |first=Katie |website=Evening Standard |date=7 May 2021 |access-date=26 December 2022}} Fosh aimed to get more votes than Fox,{{cite web |title=Who are the candidates standing for mayor of London this year? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/london-mayor-election-2021-candidates-b1838216.html |last=Wyatt |first=Tim |date=6 May 2021 |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=Independent}} as well as increase youth turnout.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-56773655 |title=Max Fosh: ‘I want to engage young voters and beat Fox’ |date=19 April 2021 |people=Max Fosh |website=BBC}}

Fosh launched his campaign in a YouTube video on 12 March 2021,{{cite web |url=https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14799895/max-fosh-london-mayor-elections-2021-who-sadiq-khan/ |title=Who is Max Fosh and why is he running to be Mayor of London? |last=Gamp |first=Joseph |date=29 April 2021 |access-date=26 December 2022 |website=The Sun}} although did not expect to win and even encouraged people not to vote for him, claiming "I would make a terrible mayor".{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/30/how-youtubers-turned-running-for-london-mayor-into-content |title=How YouTubers turned running for London mayor into content |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=30 April 2021 |access-date=26 December 2022 |website=The Guardian}} His jovial policies included putting a seed in every cigarette butt, providing every household with a cow so they know when it is going to rain, and carpeting the M25 to make it "the smoothest motorway in the world";{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgxxgn/youtuber-max-fosh-rates-london-mayoral-candidates |title=We Asked a YouTuber Running for London Mayor to Review Every Candidate |last=Doherty |first=Simon |date=5 May 2021 |access-date=28 December 2022 |website=Vice}}{{cite web |url=https://laurencefox.org/max-fosh |title=Max Fosh |access-date=28 December 2021}} he also said he would replace all police sirens with Fox's song "The Distance" which he quipped would make people move out of the way 23% faster. Given this election was held in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fosh also said "I would listen to all of the scientists and people from industry to try and get us the best solution to get us out of Covid-19", which was in direct contrast to Fox who had been a vaccine skeptic.

On 30 March 2021 Fosh appeared at Fox's campaign launch.{{cite tweet |last=Harwood |first=Tom |user=tomhfh |number=1376830610061287424 |title=Spotted: YouTuber (and mayoral candidate) Max Fosh has turned up.}} Fox arrived on a classic London Routemaster bus, emblazoned with his campaign messaging. Fosh had been tipped off about this and pulled up alongside in a small red car, printed with the slogan "Don't believe everything you see on a bus".{{cite instagram |postid=CNCq5doBzSe |user=max.fosh |last=Fosh |first=Max |date=30 March 2021 |title=Great to see my Mayoral rival this morning... vid coming soon}} After Fox agreed to a policy debate against Fosh, on 28 April 2021 Fosh arrived outside Fox's campaign headquarters with two lecterns, but Fox did not show.{{cite web |url=https://metro.co.uk/video/laurence-fox-stands-rival-mayoral-candidate-max-fosh-debate-2408240/ |title=Video: Laurence Fox stands up rival mayoral candidate Max Fosh at debate |website=Metro |access-date=28 December 2022}}{{cite tweet |last=Fosh |first=Max |user=max_fosh |number=1387333994660913154 |title=Ready and waiting @LozzaFox Let’s debate}}

After polling around 1% for the duration of the campaign, Fosh finished in 19th place out of 20 with 6,309 (0.2 per cent) of the votes.{{cite web |url=https://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/election-results/results-2021 |title=Results 2021 |website=London Elects}} He does not intend to return to politics.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-57177138 |title=Meet the YouTubers who stood for mayor of London |date=20 May 2021 |access-date=28 December 2022 |last=Moreland |first=Jamie |time=03:38 |quote=I have retired as a disgraced politician.}}

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