Phil Ellis

Phil Ellis
Born (1981-10-16) 16 October 1981
Preston, England
OccupationStand-up comedian
Years active2000s–present
Known forTaskmaster (2025)
Notable workPhil Ellis Is Trying

Phillip Michael Ellis (born 16 October 1981) is an English stand-up comedian, actor, and writer.[1][2][3] His TV appearances include Drunk History (2016), The Russell Howard Hour (2017), The Tez O'Clock Show (2019), Roast Battle (2019), and Redknapp's Big Night Out (2021).[4]

In 2023, Ellis's Edinburgh Festival Fringe show Phil Ellis's Excellent Comedy Show won the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality and was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award.[5][6] He competed in the 20th series of Taskmaster in 2025.[7]

Early life

Ellis was born in Preston, Lancashire.[8] He grew up in the Fulwood and Plungington areas of Preston.[9] He attended Archbishop Temple School in Preston, and then Runshaw College in Leyland.[10]

His interest in comedy began as a child when he would ask his mother for comedy VHS tapes, which she would buy from the Asda where she worked, including Bottom, The Young Ones, The League of Gentlemen, and Red Dwarf.[11] Ellis cites Rik Mayall, Bob Mortimer, Sean Lock, Lee Mack, Steve Pemberton, and Reece Shearsmith among his influences.[11][12]

Ellis later attended University of Staffordshire, graduating in 2002,[13] and was awarded a third in media and production. Afterwards, he moved to Sandbach in Cheshire, and worked at an airbag factory for a number of years and at Domino’s as a pizza delivery driver.[11][12][13]

Career

Stand-up

Ellis "started writing down all the silly, funny and absurd thoughts I had", which led to him trying out stand up. His first gig was at the Comedy Balloon in Manchester.[13] Deciding to pursue a career in comedy, Ellis spent most of his twenties "moving from one house share to another" in order to fund his gigs.[13]

In autumn 2025, Ellis announced his show Bath Mat will tour from 9 December 2025 through 26 April 2026, including a 5-night run at the Soho Theatre in London.[14]

Edinburgh Fringe

Ellis has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe every year since 2013.[4] He won the Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel prize in 2014 for Funz and Gamez, a children's game show featuring adult jokes.[15] In his shows, he is known for making up lies about his personal life; a major premise of his 2013 show Phil Ellis: Unplanned Orphan is that his parents told him at 30 he was adopted, and in a later show he claimed to have two children.[16] In 2023, his show Phil Ellis's Excellent Comedy Show won the "Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality" and was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award.[5]

Ellis's 2025 show Soppy Stern won the "Malcolm Hardee Award for Act That Should Make a Million Quid" and was a joint-winner for Best Show for the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards; speaking about winning the award, Ellis said: "Winning one Malcolm Hardee award was a dream, but winning two is overwhelming. It means a lot to have so much support from people".[17][18] Ellis also brought back Funz and Gamez for a two-week run entitled Funz and Gamez Rebootz, which won Best Fringe Kids Show at The List Festival Awards.[19]

Television

In 2016, Ellis appeared as a seaman on series 2 episode 6 of Drunk History, during Joe Lycett's re-telling of the Battle of Trafalgar.[20] In 2017, he performed stand up on an episode of Russell Howard's Good News. In 2019, Ellis appeared in Roast Battle, competing against Johnny Vegas, who ultimately won the episode.[21] Also in 2019, he appeared as himself on Jack & Phil's Power Hour. Ellis featured on an episode of Sunday Brunch in 2025.

In July 2025, Ellis was announced as a contestant of the 20th series of Taskmaster along side Ania Magliano, Maisie Adam, Reece Shearsmith and Sanjeev Bhaskar.[22] He initially tied for first place with Magliano and Adam, but lost a tiebreaker challenge to Adam and ultimately came joint-second.

Radio and podcast

Ellis wrote and starred in three series of his own BBC Radio 4 show, Phil Ellis is Trying, which ran for twelve episodes from 2018 to 2020.[23] He starred as "a man trying – and failing – to make a success of his life".[24] Written by Ellis alongside Fraser Steele, additional cast included Johnny Vegas, Lolly Adefope, Amy Gledhill, Katia Kvinge, Terry Mynott, and Mark Lamarr.[24][25]

In October 2025, Ellis launched his podcast Early Worms with comedian Anna Thomas.[26]

Reception

Ellis's shows at the Edinburgh Fringe have received many positive reviews: he was described by The Guardian as "a helter-skelter hour of fun", by Broadway Baby as "one of the finest and funniest comedians in the UK today", and by The Skinny as a "conductor of chaos".[27][28][29]

Personal life

Ellis briefly moved back into his parents house in Preston in his early thirties, but eventually moved back out again and rented a flat with five other people in Finsbury Park.[13]

In 2026, Ellis had a hair transplant.[30]

Awards and nominations

Ellis has been nominated for, and won, several awards including:[31][32][33]

  • 2014: Winner – Edinburgh Comedy Awards Panel Prize (Funz and Gamez)[34][35]
  • 2019: Nominee – BBC Audio Awards (Phil Ellis is Trying)[36]
  • 2023: Nominee – Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Show[37]
  • 2023: Winner – The Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality[38]
  • 2025: Winner – Best Compere - The Chortle Awards[39]
  • 2025: Winner – The List’s Best Fringe Kids Show (Funz and Gamez)[40]
  • 2025: Winner – The ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Show (award shared with Mark Forward)[41]
  • 2025: Winner – The Malcolm Hardee Award Act That Should Make a Million Quid[42]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Note
2018 Eaten By Lions Ice Cream Man [43]

Television

Year Title Role Note
2010 Phil's III Writer [20]
2012 The Tape Face Tapes Various BBC Comedy Feeds, pilot[44]
2015 Funz and Gamez Writer, host, and associate producer BBC Comedy Feeds, pilot[20]
2016 Drunk History Second English Seaman[45] One episode[20]
2017 The Russell Howard Hour Himself One episode[46]
Born Silly Writer [20]
2018 Life Lessons Phil One episode[20]
2019 The Tez O'Clock Show Ensemble Two episodes [4]
Jack & Phil's Power Hour Himself One-off comedy special
Roast Battle Himself One episode
2020 There She Goes Captain Banana Crackers One episode[20]
2021 Redknapp's Big Night Out Hooligan One episode[47]
2025 Tell Me When You're Bored from Rob Copland Ensemble [48]
Sunday Brunch Himself
Taskmaster Himself Contestant; series 20[7][22]

Radio

Year Title Role Notes
2018–2020 Phil Ellis Is Trying Phil 3 series, BBC Radio 4
2021 Backchat Hans BBC Radio 4
2023 Where To, Mate? Phil BBC Radio 4
2024–2025 Icklewick FM Mayor Stanley Power BBC Radio 4
2025 Humanwatch Roving Reporter BBC Radio 4
2025 Loose Ends Himself BBC Radio 4

Edinburgh Fringe shows

Year Title Notes
2008 Phil Ellis: Why I Bathe In Ajax [49][50]
2011 Comx [49][51]
2013 Phil Ellis: Unplanned Orphan [49][52]
2014 Funz and Gamez [49][53]
2015 Funz and Gamez Tooz [49][54]
2016 Phil Ellis Is Alone Together (But Mostly Alone) [49][55]
2017 Phil Ellis Has Been On Ice [49][56]
Funz and Gamez: Flogging A Dead Horze [4]
2018 Phil Ellis Is Ready For The Big Time [49][57]
2019 Phil Ellis: An Revoir [49][58]
2022 Phil Ellis: Hedgehog [49][59]
2023 Phil Ellis's Excellent Comedy Show [49][60]
2024 Funz and Gamez - Returnz [4]
Phil Ellis: Come On And Take The Rest Of Me [49][61]
2025 Funz and Gamez rebootz [4]
Phil Ellis: Soppy Stern [49][62]

References

  1. ^ "Phil Ellis: Come On and Take The Rest of Me – Squirrel Comedy". 16 August 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Phil Ellis: Top 10 Edinburgh Festival survival tips". British Comedy Guide. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  3. ^ Copstick, Kate (4 August 2024). "Phil Ellis: Short on Wikipedia, Long on Fun". Entertainment Now.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Phil Ellis". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Malcolm Hardee Awards 2023 winners". British Comedy Guide. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  6. ^ Peel, Adrian (15 February 2024). "Phil Ellis: 'Stand-up is quite a social job, which is probably why it breeds so many alcoholics'". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Who's in Taskmaster Series 20". Chortle. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Preston comedian Phil Ellis to appear in new season of Taskmaster". Blog Preston. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Preston comedian Phil Ellis to appear in new season of Taskmaster". Blog Preston. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  10. ^ Adam Rowe, Dan Nightingale (14 September 2025). "Phil Ellis | Have A Word Podcast #346" (Podcast). Event occurs at 01:20:00. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Murray, Andy (7 June 2024). "'If you get a laugh, then it's working' Comedian Phil Ellis talks to Northern Soul". Northern Soul. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  12. ^ a b "An Interview with Comedian, Phil Ellis". Yorkshire Theatre Guide. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d e "My London rent is only £400 a month - but I'm 42 and live with 5 other people". Metro. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  14. ^ Hough, Chris (14 August 2025). "Star of Taskmaster Series 20 Phil Ellis Announces New Tour: Bath Mat". Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  15. ^ Logan, Brian (26 August 2023). "Phil Ellis's Excellent Comedy Show review – helter-skelter hour of fun". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  16. ^ Richard Herring (4 August 2024). Phil Ellis on Unplanned Orphan, and always having a twist in his shows - from RHLSTP 517. Retrieved 13 July 2025 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "Malcolm Hardee Awards 2025 winners". British Comedy Guide. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Phil Ellis and Mark Forward win ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025". British Comedy Guide. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Winners unveiled for The List Festival Awards 2025". The List. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g "Phil Ellis | Actor, Writer, Producer". IMDb. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  21. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Post Roast: Phil Ellis & Johnny Vegas - Roast Battle". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  22. ^ a b "Taskmaster season 20 cast confirmed with Inside No. 9 and Unforgotten stars | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Phil Ellis". Avalon. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  24. ^ a b Guide, British Comedy. "Phil Ellis Is Trying - Radio 4 sitcom". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  25. ^ Bennett, Steve. "Phil Ellis Is Trying - series 3 : Reviews 2020 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  26. ^ "Taskmaster Star Phil Ellis Launches Early Worms Podcast". Beyond The Joke. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  27. ^ Logan, Brian (26 August 2023). "Phil Ellis's Excellent Comedy Show review – helter-skelter hour of fun". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  28. ^ "Edinburgh Fringe review: Phil Ellis @ Monkey Barrel - The Skinny". www.theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  29. ^ "Phil Ellis's Excellent Comedy Show: 5 star review by James Macfarlane". broadwaybaby.com. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  30. ^ Bennett, Steve. "Phil Ellis: I'm getting a hair transplant : News 2026 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  31. ^ "Phil Ellis - Avalon". 12 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  32. ^ "Phil Ellis - Sue Terry Voices". 12 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  33. ^ Bennett, Steve. "Phil Ellis wins two North West Comedy Awards : News 2024 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  34. ^ "Phil Ellis - Manford's Comedy Club". manfordscomedyclub.com. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  35. ^ Premier. "2014 Winner - Funz and Gamez - Panel Prize". Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  36. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - BBC Audio Drama Awards - Audio Drama Awards 2020 – The Finalists". BBC. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  37. ^ Bennett, Steve. "Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2023 nominees announced : News 2023 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  38. ^ Guide, British Comedy (27 August 2023). "Malcolm Hardee Awards 2023 winners". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  39. ^ Chortle, Chortle (27 February 2025). "Chortle Awards Winners and Nominees". Chortle. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  40. ^ "Winners unveiled for The List Festival Awards 2025". list.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  41. ^ Bennett, Steve. "Phil Ellis and Mark Forward share top ISH comedy award : News 2025 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  42. ^ Guide, British Comedy (23 August 2025). "Malcolm Hardee Awards 2025 winners". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  43. ^ Eaten by Lions (2018) ⭐ 6.1 | Comedy. Retrieved 14 August 2025 – via m.imdb.com.
  44. ^ "BBC Three - Comedy Feeds, Series 1, The Tapeface Tapes". BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  45. ^ "Drunk History: Series 2, Episode 6". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  46. ^ "The Russell Howard Hour: Series 1, Episode 4". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  47. ^ "Redknapp's Big Night Out: Series 1, Episode 3". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  48. ^ "Tell Me When You're Bored from Rob Copland - Channel 4 Comedy Playground". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  49. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Phil Ellis, comedian tour dates : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  50. ^ "Phil Ellis: Why I Bathe In Ajax : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  51. ^ "Comx : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  52. ^ "Phil Ellis: Unplanned Orphan : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  53. ^ "Funz And Gamez : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  54. ^ "Funz and Gamez Tooz : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  55. ^ "Phil Ellis is Alone Together (But Mostly Alone) : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  56. ^ "Phil Ellis Has Been on Ice : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  57. ^ "Phil Ellis Is Ready for the Big Time : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  58. ^ "Phil Ellis: Au Revoir : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  59. ^ "Phil Ellis: Hedgehog : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  60. ^ "Phil Ellis's Excellent Comedy Show : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  61. ^ "Phil Ellis: Come On and Take The Rest of Me : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  62. ^ "Phil Ellis: Soppy Stern : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
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