Hamish Blake

Hamish Donald Blake (born 11 December 1981) is an Australian comedian, actor, and author from Melbourne, Victoria. Since 2003, he has worked with Andy Lee as part of the comedy duo Hamish and Andy. The pair have performed live and on television and radio, most notably with their drive-time radio program Hamish & Andy. As a solo performer, Blake has appeared on various Australian television programs, including the Melbourne International Comedy Festival's televised 2008 Great Debate, and has been a regular guest on Spicks and Specks, Rove and Thank God You're Here. In April 2012, Blake and Lee won a Logie Award for their television program Hamish and Andy's Gap Year. Individually, Blake also won the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.

Hamish Blake
Birth nameHamish Donald Blake
Born (1981-12-11) 11 December 1981
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
MediumStand-up, television, radio
NationalityAustralian
Years active2002–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2012)​
Children2
Websitehttp://www.hamishandandy.com

Early life

Blake grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Waverley. He is a middle child; his older brother, Lachlan, is a solicitor and his sister, Sophie, has completed an arts degree. His parents, Noel and Kerry, separated when Blake was 17, with his father eventually remarrying. As a child, Blake says he was a fan of British comedy such as Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and Blackadder; as a teenager he "worshipped" comedians Tony Martin and Mick Molloy. Blake was a member of the National Boys Choir of Australia during the late 1980s. He attended primary school at Glen Waverley South Primary, high school at Caulfield Grammar School and later at St Leonard's College, graduating in 1999.[1]

After a gap year, Blake enrolled at the University of Melbourne in a Science/Commerce double degree. "I'm interested in artificial intelligence and computer science. That stuff still fascinates me," he says. However, a few weeks into the semester, he met Andy Lee: "That was the turning point. The wheels quickly fell off my academic career." Blake eventually dropped out of university to pursue a career in comedy alongside Lee. Blake's first experience with comedy was when he entered a competition at university. He was broke at the time, and hoped to win the $500 first prize. His stand-up performance earned him third place and qualified him for a statewide universities' final, which he did win.[1]

Career

Hamish and Andy
Main article: Hamish and Andy
Andy Lee (left) and Blake (right) at the 2009 ARIA Awards

Hamish Blake has collaborated with fellow comedian Andy Lee as the duo Hamish and Andy since 2003, when they performed their breakout show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, a stage production about a trip they had taken to North Queensland in Blake's old car. Soon after, they trained with SYN Radio, gaining a drive-time shift, and created a show called Radio Karate for RMITV on community-access television station Channel 31, which they created in collaboration with Ryan Shelton and several other school friends. Radio Karate won an Antenna Award for best comedy program at the inaugural National Community Television Awards in February 2004, and one month later were offered a national comedy program on Australia's Seven Network.[2]

The Hamish and Andy Show premiered on the Seven Network in March 2005, but failed to achieve ratings success and was cancelled after two weeks. Reviewers acknowledged the duo's talent, but criticised the show as "poorly executed".[2] Blake says that while working on the show was a fun experience, they had little control over what happened and the way it went forward.[3] Following the cancellation of The Hamish and Andy Show, they created a short mockumentary titled The Greystone 2800 about a couple who accidentally bought an open display home after failing to read the fine print on a housing purchase. The film won the Melbourne Comedy Festival Short Film competition and attracted the attention of comedian Rove McManus. This led to some small spots on McManus' Network Ten show Rove Live.[2]

McManus's company, Roving Enterprises, also helped the duo develop Real Stories, a mock current affairs show that aired on Network Ten in 2006.[2] Blake says that the experience of creating Real Stories was much more enjoyable than The Hamish and Andy Show because they had greater control over the series. Blake and Lee wrote, acted, directed, filmed and produced the show with input from Ryan Shelton and Tim Bartley.[3]

In 2006, Blake and Lee debuted a national drive-time radio show titled Hamish & Andy on the Today Network. The show quickly gained popularity, finishing 2006 with almost one million Melbourne listeners, ahead of 3AW's popular radio host Derryn Hinch.[2] As of August 2008, Blake and Lee's show was rating number one in four out of Australia's five major capital cities.[4] As of the beginning of 2009, the show is broadcast in all capital cities as well as many regional centres across the country.

In September 2008, it was announced that they would make a guest appearance on Ten's Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?, which is hosted by Rove McManus.[5] In the same year they also made a guest appearance on the Australian soap opera Neighbours.[6]

On Wednesday 19 November at 7.30 pm, 2008, Hamish and Andy aired their own one time episode, brought to you by Rove: Hamish & Andy Re-Gifted: A Very Early Christmas Special. This was to re-present everything they had accomplished in 2008 on Rove.

Hamish and Andy have also appeared on Channel Ten's Good News Week and The 7PM Project several times.

He is a founding member of Rock-Insult band, Coolboys and the Frontman, along with Andy Lee and Jack Post.

Solo work

Blake has appeared on various Australian television series, including Spicks and Specks, Thank God You're Here, Twentysomething, Australia's Brainiest Comedian, The Librarians, The Panel, Rove, Talkin' 'bout your Generation and The Footy Show.[1] He has also featured in the British version of Thank God You're Here.[7] In 2008 he was a speaker for the negative team in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival's annual televised Great Debate.[8]

He has a monthly column in the Australian women's magazine Cosmopolitan. He was also the winner of the TV Fugly Award for Spunkiest Male TV Personality in 2008.[9] Hamish Blake was voted the comedian of the year in 2007 by the Eather corporation. His compatriot Andy Lee was placed 14th for 2007. Blake also came first in 'Television's most powerful celebrity' for 2009, Lee came 19th.

On 20 January 2010 it was announced Hamish would be writing a column for the Herald Sun.

Hamish, along with Zoe Foster, has written a book on dating called "Textbook Romance".[10]

After retiring from his daily radio show, Hamish has taken on several side projects. In 2011, Blake made an appearance in the ABC comedy, Twentysomething, starring real life best friends Jess Harris and Josh Schmidt.[11] He also co-starred in his first feature film with Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords, Two Little Boys, shot in New Zealand[12] Hamish jokes: "I don't feel comfortable about cheating on Andy but now it's all out there. We've always had an open comedic relationship, but it was for one-night stands only, no exchange of phone numbers. I've heard them [Andy and Jemaine Clement, Bret's comedic partner] whispering on the phone, plotting to do their own movie to release on the same day to sink ours."[13]

Personal life

Blake has five tattoos on his upper left arm. One is of a small anchor to symbolise his and Lee's trip on a tall ship to Tasmania, which was modified by placing the letters 'FR' to the left of the anchor producing the phonetic sound 'Franchor' in honour of Frank Stallone's Birthday. During the Perth show of the Thank You Tour Blake revealed the letters TH situated above the anchor to produce the phonetic sound "Thanchor" in thanks to the listeners of the show for the past five years. Another of a frog smoking a joint on a skateboard, which was designed and tattooed by Pink,[14] as well as the Olympic rings to symbolise the Bi-Bi-Tri-Bi-athlon. The fourth tattoo is THURS 8:30 (the time-slot of his show, Hamish and Andy's Gap Year) which utilises the TH previously tattooed.[15] In November, 2016, he received his final tattoo, two crossed drumsticks to commemorate his tour with band, Coolboys and the Frontman, each drumstick was tattooed by a fellow member of the band. Blake is an avid supporter of the Melbourne Football Club.[16] Blake was selected as one of the entrants to the Who's Who in Australia 2011 edition.[17]

On 3 January 2012, Blake announced that he was engaged to his girlfriend of eighteen months, Zoe Foster.[18] Hamish and Zoe married on 11 December 2012, Blake's 31st birthday.[19] On 1 November 2013, Blake announced he and Foster Blake were expecting their first child.[20] Sonny Donald Blake was born 10 May 2014.[21] The couple announced they were expecting their second child on 3 February 2017.[22] Rudy Hazel Blake was born on 19 July 2017.[23]

Filmography

Actor
YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Real StoriesVarious8 episodes
2008NeighboursFred1 episode
2009The LibrariansJake Jackson1 episode
2010I Love You TooPatrick
2012Two Little BoysDeano
2011-2013TwentysomethingBilly12 episodes
2015Now Add HoneyAlex Kilstein
2016MollyTelevision CrewTV miniseries
The Wrong GirlHamilton
2018Ralph Breaks the InternetPyro (voice)

As himself
YearTitleNotes
2004Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal 2004TV movie documentary
2004Hamish & Andy6 episodes
2005Australia's Brainiest Kid1 episode
2006Dancing with the Stars1 episode
2006The 20th Annual ARIA AwardsHost
2007The 2007 TV Week Movie AwardsHost
2007Live EarthDocumentary
2007'Little Britain' Down Under
2007The Panel1 episode
2008Thank God You're Here2 episodes, UK TV series
2008The 50th Annual TV Week Logie Awards
2008The Footy Show1 episode
2009Australia Unites: The Victorian Bushfire Appeal
2006-2009Thank God You're Here10 episodes
2009The Chaser's War on Everything1 episode
2009The Making of 'The Librarians'Video documentary short
2009The Jay Leno Show2 episodes
2005-2009Rove Live40 episodes
2010Sleuth 1011 episode
201050th Annual TV Week Logie Awards
2010Good News Week1 episode
2010The Graham Norton Show1 episode
2009-2010Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation3 episodes
2009-2010The Project20 episodes
2011Hamish & Andy's Gap Year20 Episodes
2005-2011Spicks & Specks53 episodes
2012Fashion News Live1 episode
2012Adam Hills Tonight1 episode
2012The 54th Annual TV Week Logie AwardCo-host
2012The Silic & Lee Show at the Logies: Red Carpet Special 2012
2012Hamish & Andy's Euro Gap Year7 episodes
2012Today1 episode
2009-2012Hamish & Andy's Caravan of Courage4 episodes, 4 part series
2013The Ryzza Mae Show1 episode, uncredited
2013Hamish & Andy's Asian Gap Year6 episodes
2014Hamish & Andy's Gap Year South America6 episodes
2017-18True Story with Hamish & Andy20 episodes
2019Hamish and Andy's "Perfect" Holiday3 episodes
2019-presentLego Masters AustraliaHost

Writer
YearTitleEpisode/s Written
2004Hamish & Andy6
2006Real Stories8
2005-2009Rove Live40
2011Hamish & Andy's Gap Year10
2012Hamish & Andy's Euro Gap Year7
2009-2012Caravan of Courage4
2013Hamish & Andy's Gap Year Asia6
2014Hamish & Andy's Gap Year South America6

EJ Whitten Legends match

In 2008 and 2009, Blake and working partner Lee played in the EJ Whittens Legends Game. Lee played for Victoria and Blake played for the All Stars. Blake scored the winning goal for the All Stars in 2008, and two goals in 2009.

Mr. New York State 2011

As part of a stunt for the TV series Hamish and Andy's Gap Year, Andy entered Hamish into the Mr. New York State bodybuilding competition in the Heavyweight division. Due to a technicality in which Blake was the only contestant over 200 pounds (the minimum requirement for a Heavyweight contender), he was awarded the title of Mr. New York State 2011 in the Heavyweight division.[24]

Year Award Category Result
2011 Mr. New York State Heavyweight division Won[25]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Result
2012 Logie Awards Most Popular Personality on TV Won[26]
2013 Logie Awards Most Popular Personality on TV Nominated

See also

References
  1. Fynes-Clinton, Matthew (10 November 2007). "Hamish Blake, boy wonder". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  2. Nancarrow, Cate (2 April 2007). "Hamish & Andy". The Age. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  3. AAP (14 August 2006). "Comics Hamish and Andy back on the box". The Age. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  4. Hogan, Jesse (26 August 2008). "Austereo confident that radio advertising will grow". The Age. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  5. Mercado, Andrew (5 September 2008). "Show that's in a class of its own". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  6. Knox, David (10 August 2008). "Hamish & Andy on Ramsay". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  7. Staff writer (17 January 2008). "Hamish Blake is a hit in UK show Thank God You're Here". Perth Now. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  8. Ziffer, Daniel (31 March 2008). "Stars 'turn' on TV and win over fans". The Age. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  9. "2008 Results – TV Fugly Awards – We love bad telly!". TV Fugly Awards. Archived from the original on 6 March 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
  10. "Textbook Romance - Penguin Books Australia".
  11. "Hamish acts up with his mates". www.heraldsun.com.au. 10 December 2010.
  12. "Hamish takes a Kiwi flight with Bret". www.heraldsun.com.au. 9 December 2010.
  13. AU, POPSUGAR Celebrity. "Hamish Watch: He's Turned Actor and Heading to the Movies!".
  14. "Fox FM".
  15. Andy, Hamish &. "Tattoos don't hurt - Hamish & Andy".
  16. "Dob in a Demon". MelbourneFC.com.au. Bigpond. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  17. "Who's Who pack now boasts Siddle, Hamish and Andy and the Masterchef judges". Herald Sun. 9 December 2010.
  18. Winslow, Elouise (3 January 2012). "Hamish Blake engaged to Zoe Foster". Herald Sun. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  19. Casamento, Jo (14 December 2012). "Move over, Andy: It's Hamish and Zoe now". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  20. Mills, David (1 November 2013). "Hamish Blake and Zoe Foster Blake announce they are expecting a baby". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  21. Lee-Longhetti, Chloe (11 May 2014). "Zoe Foster Blake and husband Hamish welcome baby boy Sonny in time for Mother's Day". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  22. "Zoe Foster Blake and Hamish Blake having second baby, share news 'Beyonce style'". News.com.au. 3 February 2017.
  23. "Brace yourself for cuteness, another Foster-Blake baby has arrived". NewsComAu. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w86vPvXu75I
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDMEgG50Qk4
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