Dave Thornton
Dave Thornton | |
---|---|
Born |
Geelong, Victoria | 13 December 1979
Education | Design and Art at the Gordon Institute of TAFE |
Occupation |
Television presenter Comedian Radio presenter |
Known for |
Comedy chat show This Week Live 2013-present TV variety show Studio A 2008–2009 |
Dave Thornton (born 13 December 1979) is a stand-up comedian, actor and radio and TV presenter. He has performed stand-up comedy throughout Australia, in Edinburgh, Singapore and New York. He has also appeared on Australian television and radio.[1]
Personal life
Thornton was born in Geelong, Victoria to Ineke and Peter Thornton. He attended Belmont High School and studied Design and Art at the Gordon Institute of TAFE. He now resides in Melbourne.
In July 2015, Thornton announced that he is engaged to girlfriend Nixi.[2]
On Monday 18th April 2016 Dave announced that he and his girlfriend Nixi were expecting their first child together.
Career
Stand-up comedy
Thornton began working in stand-up comedy at the Geelong heats of Raw Comedy in 2002. He debuted his solo hour-long show Euro:mission, which was based on his experiences as a backpacking traveler, at the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where he was nominated for 'Best Newcomer'.[3] Thornton has performed at the MICF every year since,[4][5][6][7][8] and in 2009 debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a new show, Allow Me to Introduce Myself.[9][10]
He has also performed stand-up comedy on TV shows including Good Morning Australia (Network 10) in 2006, Stand Up Australia (Comedy Channel Australia) in 2007 and Rove (Network 10) in 2008.
Radio
In October 2009, Thornton began hosting a Sunday evening show on Nova 100 in Melbourne. He then became a fill-in co-host for Nova nationally on the breakfast shift during December leading up to Christmas hosting with Dylan Lewis and Sophie Monk. In 2010, Thornton co-hosted Nova 106.9 in Brisbane for 6 weeks with Tim Blackwell and Meshel Laurie. In July 2010, he started hosting a Saturday morning breakfast show 'Saturday Sessions' nationally on Nova from 10am – 12pm with comedian Mel Buttle. He was also a regular fill in presenter for Matt Tilley on The Matt and Jo Show on FOX FM.
In September 2013, Thornton began hosting Weekend Breakfast with Sophie Monk on the Today Network.
In November 2013, Southern Cross Austereo announced that Thornton and Fifi Box will co-host Fifi & Dave on FOX FM in 2014. In 2016, Brendan Fevola joined the show and it was renamed Fifi, Dave and Fev.
Television
In 2007 Thornton debuted on Channel 9's Comedy Inc. as a replacement for Jim Russell. This was followed the next year with a role in the ABC television drama Bed of Roses, as Shannon Atherton, an injured 24-year-old AFL player who had found himself in trouble and returned home to the series fictional town Rainbow’s End and to his mum (played by Kerry Armstrong).
He also hosted the first 3 seasons of Studio A, a live chat show produced at RMITV studios. Featuring guests such as Rove McManus, Tony Martin and the former Melbourne Mayor John So, the show won 'Programme of the Year' at the 2009 Channel 31 Antenna Awards.
Since 2008, Thornton has made many guest appearances on Panel shows including Good News Week (Network 10), ADbc (SBS) and Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation (Network 10).
In 2010 he was a regular panelist on The White Room on the Channel 7.
In 2013 Thornton co-hosted This Week Live,[11] an Australian comedy chat show, with Tommy Little,[12] Tom Gleeson[13] and Meshel Laurie.[14]
In 2013 and 2014, Thornton had a recurring role in the ABC comedy series Upper Middle Bogan as Troy Van Winkle.[15][16]
Podcast
From 2011 till 2013, Thornton collaborated on a free weekly podcast, Slapbang Radio with fellow comedian Tommy Little.
Recognition
In his review of the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Tim Hunter of The Age wrote "Dave Thornton is the funniest. He's self-deprecating and engaging, and delivered the biggest laugh of the show: an impersonation of Dave Hughes, which is a worry in itself."[4] Erin White of Australian Stage noted that "Thornton’s performance is quintessentially Australian".[7] Melissa Phillips of East Torrens Messenger wrote of Thornton's A Different Type of Normal, that "Thornton's show has a real soft side and it’s his family stories that hit home with plenty of honesty,"[17] while Melissa Mack of The Independent Weekly' wrote "Thornton tackles an interesting subject which is surprising and at times confronting, but always witty. His show is mostly about family and his very Australian style of comedy also has a deeply personal touch".[18] Rove Daily writes that "Dave Thornton is one of Australia’s most exciting young stand-up comics".[19]
Awards & nominations
- 2005, Search For Funny Bone Winner[20]
- 2005, Angling For a Laugh Winner[20]
- 2006, Campus Comedian of the Year (TREV Awards) Winner[20]
- 2007, Nominated for 'Best Newcomer' at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival[3]
References
- ↑ "Dave Thornton official bio". Comedy Acts. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ↑ Fifi and Dave - Fox FM. "Dave Is Engaged!". Retrieved 2015-07-27.
- 1 2 Martin, Tania (31 July 2007). "Stand-up rolls on". Star News Group. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- 1 2 Hunter, Tim (18 April 2006). "Eye Candy". The Age. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ↑ Ziffer, Daniel (20 March 2008). "Comedy gala". The Age. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ↑ "Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow". Sunshine Coast Daily. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- 1 2 White, Erin (17 May 2008). "2008 Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow". Australian Stage. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ↑ Ziffer, Daniel (12 April 2008). "The winners of the comedy festival are …". The Age. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ↑ Plater, Diana (12 September 2009). "Feel the vibe, follow the buzz of Edinburgh's Fringe". Australian Associated Press. Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ↑ "Aussies shine at Edinburgh". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ↑ http://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/this-week-live/team/dave-thornton
- ↑ http://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/this-week-live/team/tommy-little
- ↑ http://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/this-week-live/team/tom-gleeson
- ↑ http://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/this-week-live/team/meshel-laurie
- ↑ "Upper Middle Bogan: Episode Guide: Series 1". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ↑ "Upper Middle Bogan: Episode Guide: Series 2". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ↑ Phillips, Melissa (11 March 2010). "Fringe Review: Dave Thornton – A Different Type of Normal". East Torrens Messenger. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ↑ Mack, Melissa (9 March 2010). "Fringe review: Dave Thornton". The Independent Weekly. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ↑ "Dave Thornton". Rove Daily. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- 1 2 3 "Dave Thornton bio at Speaker's Bureau". Retrieved 16 May 2010.
External links
- Dave Thornton at the Internet Movie Database
- Official Website
- Comedy Acts
- Australian Stage online
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival homepage