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Jesse Armstrong

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Jesse Armstrong
Armstrong in 2023
Born
Jesse David Armstrong

(1970-12-13) 13 December 1970 (age 53)
Oswestry, Shropshire, England
EducationUniversity of Manchester
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, producer
Years active2000–present
Children2

Jesse David Armstrong (born 13 December 1970) is a British screenwriter and producer. He is known for writing for a string of several critically acclaimed British comedy series as well as satirical dramas. He has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and seven Primetime Emmy Awards as well as a nomination for an Academy Award.

He first gained prominence co-creating the British comedy shows Peep Show (2003–2015) and Fresh Meat (2011–2016) with his writing partner Sam Bain. During this time he wrote for the political satire series The Thick of It (2005–2009) and co-wrote In the Loop (2009), the latter of which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He also co-wrote the films Four Lions (2010), and Downhill (2020).

He gained acclaim for creating the HBO comedy-drama series Succession (2018–2023) earning four consecutive wins of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for writing episodes of the first, second, third and fourth seasons of Succession.

Early life and education

Armstrong was born in Oswestry in Shropshire.[1] on 13 December 1970.[2] His father was a further education teacher who became a crime novelist in the 1990s, while his mother worked in nursery schools. He attended a comprehensive school in Oswestry before studying American Studies at the University of Manchester, spending a year abroad in Massachusetts.[3] In 1995, he began to work as a researcher for the Labour MP Doug Henderson, initially without payment.[4] At the same time, he acted as a consultant on politics for Rory Bremner's production company. He subsequently worked as a painter and decorator.[5]

Career

2000–2015: Peep Show and The Thick of It

Armstrong met his writing partner Sam Bain while at the University of Manchester,[6] living with him in his final year. They began writing together after they graduated, when they had both moved to London.[5] At the beginning of their writing career, Armstrong and Bain wrote for the Channel 4 sketch show Smack the Pony and the children's shows The Queen's Nose and My Parents Are Aliens.[7] They went on to create and write Peep Show, BBC One sitcom The Old Guys, and Channel 4 comedy dramas Fresh Meat and Babylon. They also wrote for the BBC Radio 4 sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Sound, starring Peep Show's two main actors David Mitchell and Robert Webb, and its BBC Two adaptation That Mitchell and Webb Look. Peep Show has won several writing awards,[8] including a BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy in 2008.[9]

To date, Armstrong and Bain have written two films together – the 2007 comedy Magicians, and, alongside Chris Morris, the 2010 terrorism satire Four Lions. Armstrong and Bain received the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award at the British Comedy Awards 2010. In 2012 both Armstrong and Bain were featured on the TV industry journal Broadcast's 'Hot 100' list, highlighting the most successful people in UK television.[10] In 2012, Armstrong and Bain wrote the Channel 4 comedy pilot Bad Sugar, a spoof of Dynasty-style soap operas, which stars Olivia Colman, Julia Davis and Sharon Horgan, all of whom also co-conceived the show.[11] In 2014, Armstrong, with Danny Boyle, Robert Jones and Sam Bain, co-created the Channel 4 comedy drama Babylon. Armstrong wrote the first and last of the six initial episodes and co-wrote the pilot with Sam Bain.

Alongside Armando Iannucci, Simon Blackwell and Tony Roche, Armstrong wrote for the first three series[12] of the BAFTA-winning BBC Four comedy The Thick of It, and its 2009 film spin-off In the Loop. In The Loop was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2009, and won Best British Screenplay at the 2009 Evening Standard British Film Awards. Alongside The Thick of It's writing team, Armstrong wrote one episode of the first season of HBO comedy series Veep, set in the office of the American vice-president.

In the run-up to the 2010 UK general election, Armstrong wrote a column in The Guardian – 'Malcolm Tucker's election briefing – as dictated to Jesse Armstrong'.[13] He previously wrote a similar column for New Statesman, entitled 'Tactical Briefing'.[14] In 2010, Armstrong's currently-unproduced screenplay Murdoch, a drama in which Rupert Murdoch and his family disagree over who should have control of his company, received attention after it appeared on The Black List, a list of unproduced screenplays most liked by Hollywood industry figures.[15] In the wake of the 2011 phone hacking scandal involving newspapers owned by Murdoch it was rumoured[16][17] that the script was being developed by Channel 4, but Armstrong dismissed these claims.[18]

In 2010 it was reported that Armstrong was developing a biopic of the Republican Party strategist Lee Atwater, with Chris Henchy and Adam McKay.[19][20] In October 2011 it was reported that Armstrong's film adaptation of Richard DiLello's book The Longest Cocktail Party, charting the founding of The Beatles' record company Apple Records and the recording of their final album Let It Be,[21] was to be directed by Michael Winterbottom.[22] In February 2016 it was reported that Winterbottom had withdrawn from the project and the film's future was uncertain.[citation needed]

Armstrong wrote one episode of Charlie Brooker's anthology series Black Mirror, entitled "The Entire History of You". Robert Downey Jr. has since bought the rights to adapt the script for a forthcoming film.[23] Armstrong's first novel, Love, Sex and Other Foreign Policy Goals, was released in April 2015.[24]

2017–2024: Succession and acclaim

In 2017, Armstrong's American drama series Succession, executive produced by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, was picked up to series by HBO.[25] The series starred Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Matthew Macfadyen and Brian Cox. The series ran from 2018 to 2023 and received numerous accolades including three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series. During this time he co-wrote the screenplay for the comedy-drama film Downhill with Jim Rash and Nat Faxon. The film was based on the 2014 Ruben Östlund film Force Majeure and starred Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Personal life

Armstrong is married and has two children. His wife works for the National Health Service.[5] He supports Fulham FC football club.[26]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Notes
2007 Magicians Yes Also associate producer
2009 In the Loop Yes
2010 Four Lions Yes
2013 No Kaddish in Carmarthen Yes Yes Short film
2019 The Day Shall Come Yes
2020 Downhill Yes
TBA Jonty Yes

Television

Year Title Writer Executive
Producer 		Creator Notes
2000 My Parents Are Aliens Yes Episode: "El Presidente"
2000–2001 Smack the Pony Yes Additional material
2001 2DTV Yes
2001–2002 TV to Go Yes
2001–2003 The Queen's Nose Yes 6 episodes
2002 Seriously Weird Yes
Ed Stone Is Dead Yes
2003 The Story of Tracy Beaker Yes 2 episodes
Bedsitcom Yes
2003–2015 Peep Show Yes Yes Yes
2005–2009 The Thick of It Yes 15 episodes
2006 The Secret Policeman's Ball Yes TV special
2006–2009 That Mitchell and Webb Look Yes 6 episodes
2007 Dogface Yes 5 episodes
2009–2010 The Old Guys Yes Yes Yes
2011 Black Mirror Yes Episode "The Entire History of You"
2011–2016 Fresh Meat Yes Yes Yes
2012 Veep Yes Episode "Tears"
Bad Sugar Yes TV pilot
2014 Babylon Yes Yes Yes
2018–2023 Succession Yes Yes Yes

Other credits

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Christmas University Challenge Contestant 2 episodes[27]
2017 Back Story consultant

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated Work Result Ref.
2009 Academy Awards Best Adapted Screenplay In the Loop Nominated [28]
2022 Astra TV Awards Best Writing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama Succession (Episode: "All the Bells Say") Nominated [29]
2023 Succession (Episode: "Connor's Wedding") Won [30]
2009 British Academy Film Awards Best Adapted Screenplay In the Loop Nominated [31]
Outstanding British Film Nominated
2006 British Academy Television Awards Best Situation Comedy Peep Show Nominated [32]
2008 Won [33]
2009 Nominated [34]
2010 Nominated [35]
2011 Nominated [36]
2012 Fresh Meat Nominated [37]
2016 Best Scripted Comedy Peep Show Nominated [38]
2009 British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer Nominated [39]
2010 The Thick of It Nominated [40]
2014 Best Writer: Comedy Fresh Meat Nominated [41]
2016 Peep Show Nominated [42]
2020 Best Writer: Drama Succession Won [43]
2022 Nominated [44]
2009 British Comedy Awards Best TV Comedy Peep Show Nominated [45]
2010 Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award — Won [46]
2011 Best Sitcom Peep Show Nominated [47]
Best Comedy Drama Fresh Meat Nominated
Best British TV Comedy Won
2009 British Independent Film Awards Best Screenplay In the Loop Won [48]
2010 Four Lions Nominated [49]
2006 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards Writer's Award The Thick of It Won [50]
2010 Won [51]
2012 Best Comedy/Entertainment Fresh Meat Nominated [52]
2013 Best Entertainment/Comedy Nominated [53]
2010 Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards Best Original Screenplay Four Lions Nominated [54]
2009 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Adapted Screenplay In the Loop Nominated [55]
2010 Best Original Screenplay Four Lions Nominated
2009 Chlotrudis Awards Best Original Screenplay In the Loop Won [56]
2019 Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Drama Succession Won [57]
2021 Won
2023 Won
2009 Houston Film Critics Society Awards Best Screenplay In the Loop Nominated [58]
2009 International Cinephile Society Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Runner-up [59]
2010 International Emmy Awards Best Comedy Series Peep Show Nominated [60]
2023 Founders Award — Won [61]
2009 London Film Critics' Circle Awards Screenwriter of the Year In the Loop Won [62]
2010 Four Lions Nominated [63]
2009 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Best Screenplay In the Loop Runner-up [64]
2009 New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Screenplay Won [65]
2009 Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated [66]
2012 Best Writing in a Comedy Series Veep Nominated [67]
2009 Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Adapted Screenplay In the Loop Nominated [68]
2019 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series Succession Nominated [69]
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Succession (Episode: "Nobody Is Ever Missing") Won
2020 Outstanding Drama Series Succession Won
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Succession (Episode: "This Is Not for Tears") Won
2022 Outstanding Drama Series Succession Won
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series] Succession (Episode: "All the Bells Say") Won
2023 Outstanding Drama Series Succession Won
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Succession (Episode: "Connor's Wedding") Won
2019 Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Drama Succession Won [70]
2021 Won [71]
2023 Won [72]
2005 Royal Television Society Awards Situation Comedy & Comedy Drama Peep Show Nominated [73]
Writer – Comedy Nominated
2006 Situation Comedy & Comedy Drama Nominated [74]
Writer – Comedy Won
2009 Scripted Comedy Nominated [75]
Writer – Comedy Won
2011 Nominated [76]
2012 Scripted Comedy Fresh Meat Won [77]
Writer – Comedy Won
2010 San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Original Screenplay Four Lions Won [78]
2012 Writers Guild of America Awards New Series Veep Nominated [79]
2018 Drama Series Succession Nominated [80]
New Series Nominated
2019 What We Do in the Shadows Nominated [81]
Drama Series Succession Won
2021 Won [82]
2023 Won [83]

Bibliography

Fiction
  • Armstrong, Jesse (2015). Love, Sex and Other Foreign Policy Goals. Vintage. ISBN 9780399184208.

References

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  2. ^ "Jesse David Armstrong – Personal Appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Sex, slugs and showers that caught fire: Fresh Meat's writers relive their toga-party student days". The Guardian. 22 February 2016. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  4. ^ "The Commons touch". The Guardian. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  5. ^ a b c "Jesse Armstrong on power, politics and the return of Succession". New Statesman. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Interview: Fresh Meat writers Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong". The Sunday Telegraph. 21 September 2011. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  7. ^ "The secret of good comedy writing". The Independent. 6 November 2006. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  8. ^ Peep Show (British TV series)#Awards and honours
  9. ^ "Television Awards 2008". 26 April 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  10. ^ "Benedict Cumberbatch, Reggie Yates make 'Broadcast' Hot 100 list". Digital Spy. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Channel 4 commissions Bad Sugar by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong". 1 December 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  12. ^ "The Thick of It returns to BBC Two for new series". BBC Media Centre. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012. Armstrong is not listed among the writers for the fourth series.
  13. ^ "Malcolm Tucker's election briefing". The Guardian. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  14. ^ "Articles by Jesse Armstrong". New Statesman. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  15. ^ "Hollywood's 'Black List' of best unproduced scripts". The Guardian. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  16. ^ "Channel 4 lines up drama about Murdoch family crisis". The Guardian. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
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