Nick Helm

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Nick Helm
Birth nameNicholas Tristan Phillip Helm
Born (1980-10-01) 1 October 1980 (age 43)
West Smithfield, England
Medium
  • Television
  • stand-up
  • music
NationalityBritish
Years active2005–present
Subject(s)
Notable works and roles
Websitenick-helm.co.uk

Nicholas Tristan Phillip Helm (born 1 October 1980) is an English comedian, actor and rock musician known for his comedic confrontational delivery.[1] His routines have been described as "brash and bullish".[2] Many of his performances begin with him acting calmly and see him gradually getting more and more enraged about what he is talking about. He came to prominence following the success of his 2010 Edinburgh Fringe show Keep Hold of the Gold. In 2014, Helm made his main acting debut as lead character Andy in the BBC Three sitcom Uncle.

Early life[edit]

Helm was born in Barts Hospital in West Smithfield, London, and raised in Finsbury Park, until the age of 8 when he then moved to St Albans, Hertfordshire.[3] He attended Cunningham Hill Primary School, after which he graduated to Sandringham Secondary School.[4] Following this he attended the University of Winchester.

While at secondary school Helm began writing and performing. In 1997, when he was in the sixth form, his drama teacher Louise Howes brought the school's production of Romeo and Juliet to the Edinburgh Festival.[5] Helm played the part of Prince Escalus.[3]

Career[edit]

With friends, Helm began taking shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the early 2000s with increasing levels of success.[6]

By 2007, Helm began performing solo stand-up, but also maintained his theatrical work with a 2008 Fringe show called I Think You Stink, which gained critical acclaim. Comedian Richard Herring called it a "lovely little hidden gem... funny, silly and slightly chilling... something very new and special".

Helm has worked closely with his friends on the stand-up circuit, performing mixed bill stand-up shows at the Fringe before his first fully solo show, Keep Hold of the Gold, in 2010.

In 2011, the follow-up, Dare to Dream, saw him nominated for the Fosters best comedy show[7] and a joke lifted from the show won Dave's award for the funniest joke of the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe: "I needed a password eight characters long so I picked Snow White and the Seven Dwarves".[8]

In 2012 Helm appeared regularly on the BBC Three series Live at the Electric performing songs with backing band, The Helmettes. There were further TV appearances on 8 Out of 10 Cats (including as Santa in the 2012 Christmas Special) and its spin-off 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (on which he has a recurring bit where he repeatedly fails to woo the show's lexicographer, Susie Dent),[9] The Boyle Variety Performance, Russell Howard's Good News and a new show for Edinburgh, This Means War.

His 2013 Edinburgh Fringe show, One Man Mega Myth, strongly referenced Evel Knievel, and he was again nominated for Best Show in the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, losing out to Bridget Christie.[10]

Helm won the South Bank Sky Arts "The Times Breakthrough Award" on 27 January 2014.[11]

Helm also plays guitar and sings. He has so far released three solo albums. His latest album is called Hot 'n' Heavy, released on 10 May 2013.[12] He performed "He Makes You Look Fat", one of the tracks from his album, when he appeared as the stand-up guest on Russell Howard's Good News.[13]

In 2014 Helm started playing the lead role of Andy in the BBC Three sitcom Uncle.[14] The show was written by Oliver Refson, and featured songs written and performed by Helm and his band. The third and final series of Uncle was screened in January–February 2017.

Helm's comedy/music show Nick Helm's Heavy Entertainment broadcast on BBC Three in May–June 2015.

In 2015 Helm co-wrote and co-starred with Esther Smith in an episode of the BBC Three online series of short stories, Funny Valentines. The episode, titled "Elephant",[15] was nominated for a Short Film BAFTA Award in 2016.[16]

In mid-2017 Helm starred in the sitcom Loaded (Channel 4), about a group of IT entrepreneurs who become millionaires when their company is bought out, and in the food comedic documentary Eat Your Heart Out with Nick Helm (Dave). He also performed Work in Progress shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, he starred in the online comedy series Angry Quiz Guy.

In August 2021, he starred as a guest on the Cheapshow podcast with fellow comedian Nathaniel Metcalfe.

Filmography[edit]

Television[edit]

As actor
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Big Babies Major Moustache (voice) 13 episodes
2012–2017 Uncle Andy 20 episodes
2013 The Day They Came to Suck Out Our Brains! Ringer 1.10 "Mankind Strikes Back"
2014 Santageddon Nick Pliskin Short film
2014 The Milkman Customer Short film
2015 Funny Valentines: Elephant Him Short film; also writer
2015 The Girl in the Dress Rob Short film
2016 Hell's Garden Spade Man Short film
2017 Loaded Watto 8 episodes
2018 Nick Helm: The Killing Machine Sam Miller Short film
2018 The Reluctant Landlord Lemon 13 episodes
2018 Roast Battle Santa Claus 2.06 "Christmas Special"
2021 Intelligence Fin 1 episode
2024 EastEnders Ostrich Man 1 episode
As himself
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Russell Howard's Good News Himself 3.07 "Episode: 2 December 2010"
2011 Show & Tell Himself 1.03 "Maeve Higgins, Elis James and Nick Helm"
1.05 "Diane Morgan, Josh Widdicombe and Nick Helm"
2011 So This Is Christmas! Himself Television special
2012–2013 8 Out of 10 Cats Himself / Santa Claus 6 episodes
2012 Live at the Electric Himself 8 episodes
2012 Nick Helm Solid Gold Super Hits Himself Television miniseries
2012 The Boyle Variety Performance Himself Television special
2012 The 50 Funniest Moments of 2012 Himself Television special
2013 '8 Out of 10 Cats' Does 'Deal or No Deal' Himself Television special
2013–2021 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Dictionary Corner Guest / Himself 8 episodes
2013 BBC Comedy Feeds Himself 2.02 "Nick Helm's Heavy Entertainment"
2014,
2017–2018,
2024		 Sunday Brunch Himself (guest) 1.96 "Episode: 26 January 2014",
7 episodes (2017-2018),
Episode: 21 January 2024[17]
2014 Sweat the Small Stuff Himself 2 episodes
2015 30 Greatest Disaster Movies Himself Television documentary
2015 Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled Himself (panelist) 3.01
2015 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Himself Television documentary
2015 Live at the Apollo Himself 11.06 "Episode: 14 December 2015"
2015 Mastermind Himself (contestant) Celebrity Mastermind 2015/16: "Episode 6"
2016 Drunk History Himself 2.09 "Episode Nine"
2018 Roast Battle Himself 1.02 "Episode: 16 January 2018"
2018 How The Young Ones Changed Comedy Himself Television documentary
2021 Question Team Guest Question Setter Episode 1.02:[18] 1 November 2021

Video games[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2005 X3: Reunion Additional voices

Discography[edit]

Year Title[19][20] Label Format
2011 Keep Hold of the Gold Laughing Stock Productions CD, Download
2012 Dare to Dream Redbush Entertainment
2013 Hot 'n' Heavy Download
Glorious Management CD
Uncle: The Songs Baby Cow Productions CD, Download
2015 Nick Helm's Single For Christmas Redbush Entertainment
2016 Nick Helm is Fucking Amazing Glorious Management
2023 Hot 'n' Heavy Fancy Pants LP

References[edit]

  1. ^ Challis, Chris (22 June 2011). "Nick Helm: Dare To Dream". The Argus. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  2. ^ Hall, Julian (4 February 2011). "Nick Helm: Keep Hold of the Gold". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  3. ^ a b Guide, British Comedy. "RHLSTP 45 - Nick Helm - RHLSTP with Richard Herring". British Comedy Guide.
  4. ^ Dakin, Melanie (24 May 2012). "Comedian owes career to Sandringham School". Watford Observer. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Interview, Nick Helm, comedian". The Scotsman. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  6. ^ Gilbert, Gerard (12 January 2014). "Nick Helm: Loud, aggressive – and a big pussycat off stage". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2013 – Best Comedy Show". Comedyawards.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  8. ^ Murphy, Niall (26 August 2011). "The 10 Best Jokes of the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe". Broadsheet.ie. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  9. ^ "WEIRDEST 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown Romance?! | Best of Dictionary Corner Pt. 1". YouTube. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  10. ^ Brocklehurst, Steven (24 August 2013). "Bridget Christie wins Foster's Edinburgh comedy award". BBC News. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  11. ^ "South Bank Sky Arts Winners 2014". Sky.com. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Hot 'n' Heavy by Nick Helm on Spotify". Open.spotify.com. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  13. ^ "nick helm he make you look fat". YouTube. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  14. ^ "BBC3 orders comedy starring stand up Nick Helm". The Stage. 29 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Nick Helm: Elephant". BBC Three website. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  16. ^ "BBC News - Entertainment - 2016 BAFTA Awards Nominations". BBC. 8 January 2016.
  17. ^ https://www.channel4.com/programmes/sunday-brunch/on-demand/75052-050
  18. ^ "Question Team Series 1, Episode 2". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  19. ^ https://www.discogs.com/artist/3528478-Nick-Helm?superFilter=Releases
  20. ^ https://www.last.fm/music/Nick+Helm/+albums

External links[edit]

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