Editing Chris Morris (satirist)

{{Short description|English comedian (born 1962)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| image       = Chris Morris 2010.jpg
| caption     = Morris in July 2010
| name        = Chris Morris
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1962|6|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Colchester]], [[Essex]], England
| occupation  = {{hlist|Comedian|radio presenter|actor|filmmaker}}
| yearsactive = 1986–present
| children    = 2
| spouse      = Jo Unwin
| relatives   = [[Tom Morris (director)|Tom Morris]] (brother)
}}
'''Christopher J. Morris''' (born 15 June 1962) is an English comedian, radio presenter, actor and filmmaker. Known for his [[deadpan]], [[dark humour]], [[surrealism]] and controversial subject matter, he has been praised by the [[British Film Institute]] for his "uncompromising, moralistic drive".<ref name="screenonline">{{cite web |last=Greaves |first=Ian |title=Morris, Christopher (1963– ) |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1392135/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916104029/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1392135/index.html |archive-date=16 September 2012 |access-date=29 December 2012 |publisher=British Film Institute}}</ref>

Morris teamed up with his radio producer [[Armando Iannucci]] in the early 1990s to create ''[[On the Hour]]'', a satire of news programmes. A television spin off, ''[[The Day Today]]'', launched the career of comedian [[Steve Coogan]] and was hailed as one of the most important satirical shows of the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |author=Elizabeth Day |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/apr/04/disgusting-bliss-chris-morris-biography |title=Disgusting Bliss by Lucian Randall &#124; Book review |work=The Observer |publisher=Guardian |date=4 April 2010 |access-date=18 September 2013 |location=London |archive-date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014233900/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/apr/04/disgusting-bliss-chris-morris-biography |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jan/17/the-day-today-chris-morris-alan-partridge-changed-satire-forever|title='You've lost the news!' How The Day Today changed satire forever|last=Harrison|first=Phil|date=17 January 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 February 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=3 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203094222/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jan/17/the-day-today-chris-morris-alan-partridge-changed-satire-forever|url-status=live}}</ref> Morris further developed the satirical news format with ''[[Brass Eye]]'', which lampooned celebrities whilst focusing on themes such as crime and drugs. For some, the [[apotheosis]] of Morris's career was [[Paedogeddon|a ''Brass Eye'' special]] dealing with the [[moral panic]] surrounding [[paedophilia]]. It became one of the most complained-about programmes in British television history, leading the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' to describe him as "the most loathed man on TV".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Xan |title=Chris Morris: the movie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/feb/21/artsfeatures.television |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=18 January 2020 |date=21 February 2003 |archive-date=10 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310091955/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/feb/21/artsfeatures.television |url-status=live }}</ref>

Morris's similarly controversial [[postmodern]] [[sketch comedy]] and [[ambient music]] radio show ''[[Blue Jam]]'' gained a [[cult following]]. It was adapted into the TV series ''[[Jam (TV series)|Jam]]'', hailed as "the most radical and original television programme broadcast in years",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/the-distorted-world-of-chris-morris-281039.html |title=The distorted world of Chris Morris <nowiki>'</nowiki>''Jam''<nowiki>' |</nowiki> The Independent ® |date=19 April 2000 |quote=in his latest project, ''Jam'', he has created the most radical and original television programme broadcast in years |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=1 October 2016 |archive-date=6 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106162947/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/the-distorted-world-of-chris-morris-281039.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and Morris won the [[BAFTA Award for Best Short Film]] after expanding a ''Blue Jam'' sketch into ''[[My Wrongs 8245–8249 & 117]]'' starring [[Paddy Considine]]. ''[[Nathan Barley]]'', a sitcom written in collaboration with then little-known [[Charlie Brooker]] that satirised [[hipster (contemporary subculture)|hipsters]], had low ratings but success with its DVD release. Morris joined the cast of sitcom ''[[The IT Crowd]]'', his first project in which he did not have writing or producing input.

In 2010, Morris directed his feature-length film, ''[[Four Lions]]'', which satirised [[Islamic terrorism]] through its portrayal of a group of inept [[British Muslim]]s. Reception was largely positive, earning Morris his second [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Film Award]], this time for [[BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer|Outstanding Debut]]. He has directed four episodes of Iannucci's political comedy ''[[Veep (TV series)|Veep]]'' and appeared onscreen in ''[[The Double (2013 film)|The Double]]'' and ''[[Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle]]'' also serving as script-editor for the latter. His second feature-length film, ''[[The Day Shall Come]]'', was released in 2019.

==Early life==
Christopher J. Morris was born on 15 June 1962 in [[Colchester]], [[Essex]],<ref name="Randall2010"/> the son of Rosemary Parrington<ref name="Randall2010">{{cite book|title=Disgusting Bliss: The Brass Eye of Chris Morris|author=Randall, L.|date=2010|publisher=Simon & Schuster UK|isbn=9780857200907|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=idNdAAAAQBAJ|access-date=5 October 2014}}</ref> and Paul Michael Morris.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/7594826/Disgusting-Bliss-the-Brass-Eye-of-ChrisMorris-by-Lucian-Randall-review.html |title=Disgusting Bliss: the Brass Eye of Chris Morris by Lucian Randall: review |newspaper=Telegraph |date=15 April 2010 |access-date=18 September 2013 |location=London |first=Sameer |last=Rahim |archive-date=24 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624050127/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/7594826/Disgusting-Bliss-the-Brass-Eye-of-ChrisMorris-by-Lucian-Randall-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His father was a [[general practitioner|GP]]. Morris has a large red [[birthmark]] almost completely covering the left side of his face and neck, which he disguises with makeup when acting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/feb/21/artsfeatures.television|title = Chris Morris: The movie|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 21 February 2003}}</ref> He grew up in a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] farmhouse in the village of [[Buckden, Cambridgeshire]], which he described as "very dull".<ref>If It Bleeds It Leads 6 June 1994 – By Simon Price – From The Melody Maker</ref> He has two younger brothers, including theatre director [[Tom Morris (director)|Tom Morris]].<ref>Profile: Chris Morris, BBC Radio 4</ref> From an early age, he was a prankster and had a passion for radio. From the age of 10, he was educated at the independent [[Jesuits|Jesuit]] boarding school [[Stonyhurst College]] in [[Stonyhurst|Stonyhurst, Lancashire]].<ref name="bbc_Brass_Neck">{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1460463.stm|title= Chris Morris: Brass Neck|access-date= 23 June 2008|date= 27 July 2001|work= BBC News|quote= The son of two Cambridgeshire GPs, Chris Morris was educated at Stonyhurst College|archive-date= 8 September 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170908182921/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1460463.stm|url-status= live}}</ref> He went to study [[zoology]] at the [[University of Bristol]], where he gained a [[2:1]].<ref name="observer_profile">{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/jul/22/comment.euanferguson|title= The Observer Profile: Chris Morris|access-date= 23 June 2008|last= Ferguson|first= Euan|date= 22 July 2001|work= [[The Observer]]|location= London|archive-date= 10 May 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140510043115/http://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/jul/22/comment.euanferguson|url-status= live}}</ref>

==Career==
===Radio===
On graduating, Morris pursued a career as a musician in various bands, for which he played the bass guitar.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Randall |first=Lucian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=idNdAAAAQBAJ |title=Disgusting Bliss: The Brass Eye of Chris Morris |date=2010-05-13 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-85720-090-7 |language=en}}</ref> He then went to work for Radio West, a local radio station in Bristol. He then took up a news traineeship with [[BBC Radio Cambridgeshire]], where he took advantage of access to editing and recording equipment to create elaborate [[parody|spoofs and parodies]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Andy Beckett |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/prank-master-chris-morriss-announcement-of-the-death-of-michael-heseltine-on-radio-1-was-just-one-among-many-notorious-japes-his-satire-is-big-with-the-media-but-how-popular-is-it-with-listeners-1377835.html |title=Prank master: Chris Morris's announcement of the death of Michael Heseltine on Radio 1 was just one among many notorious japes. His satire is big with the media, but how popul |publisher=Independent.co.uk |date=21 August 1994 |access-date=18 September 2013 |location=London |archive-date=17 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217213451/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/prank-master-chris-morriss-announcement-of-the-death-of-michael-heseltine-on-radio-1-was-just-one-among-many-notorious-japes-his-satire-is-big-with-the-media-but-how-popular-is-it-with-listeners-1377835.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He also spent time in early 1987 hosting a 2–4pm afternoon show and finally ended up presenting Saturday morning show ''I.T.''

In July 1987, he moved on to [[BBC Radio Bristol]] to present his own show, ''No Known Cure'', broadcast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The show was surreal and satirical, with odd interviews conducted with unsuspecting members of the public. He was fired from Bristol in 1990 after "talking over the news bulletins and making silly noises".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-76826109|title=Morris, the Man with a Mission to Cause Offence|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-date=3 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203161451/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-76826109/morris-the-man-with-a-mission-to-cause-offence|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1988 he also joined, from its launch, [[BBC Radio London|Greater London Radio]] (GLR). He presented ''The Chris Morris Show'' on GLR until 1993, when one show got suspended after a sketch was broadcast involving a child "outing" celebrities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pbjmgt.co.uk/artist/chris-morris |title=Chris Morris / Artists / PBJ – THE exclusive UK-based talent agency. Clients include the best performers, presenters, writers, composers, directors and producers |publisher=Pbjmgt.co.uk |access-date=18 September 2013 |archive-date=1 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001105855/http://www.pbjmgt.co.uk/artist/chris-morris |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1991, Morris joined [[Armando Iannucci]]'s spoof news project ''[[On the Hour]]''. Broadcast on [[BBC Radio 4]], it saw him work alongside Iannucci, [[Steve Coogan]], [[Stewart Lee]], [[Richard Herring]] and [[Rebecca Front]].<ref name=":0" /> In 1992, Morris hosted [[Danny Baker]]'s Radio 5 Morning Edition show for a week whilst Baker was on holiday. In 1994, Morris began a weekly evening show, the ''Chris Morris Music Show'', on [[BBC Radio 1]] alongside [[Peter Baynham]] and 'man with a mobile phone' [[Paul Garner (comedian)|Paul Garner]]. In the shows, Morris perfected the spoof interview style that would become a central component of his ''[[Brass Eye]]'' programme. In the same year, Morris teamed up with [[Peter Cook]] (as [[Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling]]) in a series of improvised conversations for [[BBC Radio 3]] entitled ''[[Why Bother? (radio show)|Why Bother?]]''.

===Move into television and film===
{{Quote box
 |quote  = "If you make a joke in an area which is for some reason, normally random, out of bounds, then you might find something out, you might put your finger on something."
 |source = Chris Morris<ref>{{cite news | title=The Last Tempation of Chris | work=The Independent | date=20 April 2000 | author=Hanks, Robert}}</ref>
 |width  = 30%
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In 1994, a [[BBC Two]] television series based on ''On the Hour'' was broadcast under the name ''[[The Day Today]]''. ''The Day Today'' made a star of Morris, and marked the television debut of [[Steve Coogan]]'s [[Alan Partridge]] character. The programme ended on a high after just one series, with Morris winning the 1994 [[National Comedy Awards|British Comedy Award]] for Best Newcomer for his lead role as the [[Jeremy Paxman|Paxmanesque]] news anchor.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1460805.stm |title=UK &#124; Chris Morris: Brass Neck |work=BBC News |date=27 July 2001 |access-date=18 September 2013 |archive-date=12 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312170530/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1460805.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huckmag.com/art-and-culture/tv/remembering-the-day-today-britains-sharpest-satire/|title=An oral history of The Day Today, Britain's sharpest TV satire|date=28 January 2019|website=Huck Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=5 February 2019|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015315/https://www.huckmag.com/art-and-culture/tv/remembering-the-day-today-britains-sharpest-satire/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1996, Morris appeared on the daytime programme ''[[The Time, The Place]]'', posing as an academic, Thurston Lowe, in a discussion entitled "Are British Men Lousy Lovers?", but was found out when a producer alerted the show's host, [[John Stapleton (English journalist)|John Stapleton]].<ref name="bbc"/>

In 1997, the [[black comedy|black humour]] which had featured in ''On the Hour'' and ''The Day Today'' became more prominent in ''[[Brass Eye]]'', another spoof of current affairs television documentary, shown on [[Channel 4]]. All three series satirised and exaggerated issues expected of news shows.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Ess|first=Ramsey|date=17 July 2018|title=Meet Brass Eye, the Original Who Is America?|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/07/a-look-back-at-chris-morriss-comedy-series-brass-eye.html|access-date=8 May 2021|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|language=en-us|quote=Titled “Paedogeddon!”, Morris satirized a rash of moral panic surrounding pedophilia the previous year in England in which the newspaper [[News of the World]] touted a plan to publicly name 150 pedophiles, until it was forced to suspend the campaign after it inadvertently inspired an upswell in vigilante violence.}}</ref> The second episode of ''Brass Eye,'' for example, satirised drugs and the political rhetoric surrounding them.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Stone|first=Jon|date=8 December 2015|title=The MP tricked into condemning a fake drug called 'Cake' has been put in charge of scrutinising drugs policy|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-mp-tricked-into-condemning-a-fake-drug-called-cake-has-been-put-in-charge-of-scrutinising-drugs-policy-a6704671.html|access-date=8 May 2021|website=[[The Independent]]|language=en}}</ref> To help convey the satire, Morris invented a fictional drug by the name of "cake". In the episode, British celebrities and politicians describe the supposed symptoms in detail; [[David Amess]] mentioned the fictional drug at Parliament. In 2001, Morris satirised the moral panic regarding paedophilia in the most controversial episode of ''Brass Eye'', "[[Paedogeddon]]". Channel 4 apologised for the episode after receiving criticism from tabloids and around 3,000 complaints from viewers, which, at the time, was the most for an episode of British television.<ref name=":1" /> 

From 1997 to 1999, Morris created ''[[Blue Jam]]'' for [[BBC Radio 1]], a surreal, taboo-breaking radio show set to an ambient soundtrack.<ref name="screenonline"/> In 2000, this was followed by ''[[Jam (TV series)|Jam]]'', a television reworking.<ref name="screenonline"/> Morris released a 'remix' version of this, entitled ''Jaaaaam''.<ref name="screenonline"/>

In 2002, Morris ventured into film, directing the [[short film|short]] ''[[My Wrongs 8245–8249 & 117|My Wrongs #8245–8249 & 117]]'', adapted from a ''Blue Jam'' monologue about a man led astray by a sinister talking dog. It was the first film project of [[Warp Films]], a branch of [[Warp Records]]. In 2002 it won the [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] for best short film.<ref name="bafta_2002"/> In 2005 Morris worked on a sitcom entitled ''[[Nathan Barley]]'', based on the character created by [[Charlie Brooker]] for his website [[TVGoHome]] (Morris had contributed to TVGoHome on occasion, under the pseudonym 'Sid Peach'<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brooker|first1=Charlie|title=FULL SESSION - The Alternative MacTaggart: Charlie Brooker|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK8i2mRxX3s|website=YouTube|date=31 August 2012 |publisher=Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=12 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512120756/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK8i2mRxX3s|url-status=live}}</ref>). Co-written by Brooker and Morris, the series was broadcast on [[Channel 4]] in early 2005.

===''The IT Crowd'' and ''Comedy Vehicle''===
Morris appeared in ''[[The IT Crowd]]'', a [[Channel 4]] sitcom which focuses on the information technology department of the fictional company Reynholm Industries. The series was written and directed by [[Graham Linehan]] (with whom Morris collaborated on ''The Day Today'', ''Brass Eye'' and ''Jam'') and produced by [[Ash Atalla]]. Morris played Denholm Reynholm, the eccentric managing director of the company. This marked the first time Morris had acted in a substantial role in a project which he has not developed himself. Morris's character was killed off during episode two of the second series. His character made a brief return in the first episode of the third series.

In November 2007, Morris wrote an article for ''[[The Observer]]'' in response to [[Ronan Bennett]]'s article published six days earlier in ''[[The Guardian]]''. Bennett's article, "Shame on us", accused the novelist [[Martin Amis]] of racism. Morris's response, "The absurd world of Martin Amis", was also highly critical of Amis; although he did not accede to Bennett's accusation of racism, Morris likened Amis to the Muslim cleric [[Abu Hamza al-Masri|Abu Hamza]] (who was jailed for [[inciting racial hatred]] in 2006), suggesting that both men employ "mock erudition, vitriol and decontextualised quotes from the Qu'ran" to incite hatred.<ref>{{cite news |last=Morris |first=Chris |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/nov/25/bookscomment.religion |title=The absurd world of Martin Amis |newspaper=The Observer |date=25 November 2007 |access-date=22 June 2008 |quote=Last week Amis was called a racist. I saw him speak at the ICA last month. Was his negativity about Islam technically racist? I don't know. What I can tell you is that Martin Amis is the new Abu Hamza. [...] Like Hamza, Amis could only make his nonsense stand up with mock erudition, vitriol and decontextualised quotes from the Koran. |location=London |archive-date=1 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901021653/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/nov/25/bookscomment.religion |url-status=live }}</ref>

Morris served as script editor for the 2009 series ''[[Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle]]'', working with former colleagues [[Stewart Lee]], [[Kevin Eldon]] and [[Armando Iannucci]]. He maintained this role for the second (2011) and third series (2014), also appearing as a mock interviewer dubbed the "hostile interrogator" in the third and fourth series.

===''Four Lions'', ''Veep'', and other appearances===
{{quote box |width=30% |align=right |quote="I don't really see the point of comedy unless there's something underpinning it. I mean, what are you doing? Are you doing some kind of exotic display for the court, to be patted on the head by the court, or are you trying to change something?" |source=— Morris discussing the motives behind his comedy<ref>{{cite web |title=Chris Morris on satire in the Trump era and his new film 'The Day Shall Come' |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liV5wKAihh8&t=338s | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211123/liV5wKAihh8| archive-date=2021-11-23 | url-status=live|website=YouTube |publisher=Channel 4 |date=2 October 2019 |access-date=12 May 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}

Morris completed his debut feature film ''[[Four Lions]]'' in late 2009, a satire based on a group of Islamist terrorists in Sheffield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2009/07/17/set-shot-from-chris-morris-four-lions/|title=Set shot from Chris Morris's Four Lions|date=17 July 2009|publisher=Bleeding Cool.com|access-date=26 July 2009|archive-date=18 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718100313/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2009/07/17/set-shot-from-chris-morris-four-lions/|url-status=live}}</ref>
It premiered at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] in January 2010 and was short-listed for the festival's World Cinema Narrative prize.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://festival.sundance.org/2010/press_industry/releases/2010_sundance_film_festival_announces_films_in_competition/ |title=2010 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FILMS IN COMPETITION &#124; Sundance Festival 2010 |publisher=Festival.sundance.org |access-date=20 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404133049/http://festival.sundance.org/2010/press_industry/releases/2010_sundance_film_festival_announces_films_in_competition/ |archive-date=4 April 2010 }}</ref> The film (working title ''Boilerhouse'') was picked up by [[Film Four]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/wannabe-suicide-bombers-beware-chris-morris-movie-gets-goahead-1228152.html |title=Wannabe suicide bombers beware: Chris Morris movie gets go-ahead |first=Geneviève |last=Roberts |date=6 January 2009 |access-date=20 May 2009 |work=The Independent |location=London |archive-date=31 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331203045/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/wannabe-suicide-bombers-beware-chris-morris-movie-gets-goahead-1228152.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Morris told ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' that the film sought to do for Islamic terrorism what ''[[Dad's Army]]'', the classic BBC comedy, did for the [[Nazism|Nazis]] by showing them as "scary but also ridiculous".<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Richard |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article3177654.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615145142/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article3177654.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2011 |title=Satirist turns terrorists into Dad's Army |newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=13 January 2008 |access-date=13 January 2008 | location=London}} </ref>

In 2012, Morris directed the seventh and penultimate episode of the first season of ''[[Veep (TV series)|Veep]]'', an Armando Iannucci-devised American version of ''[[The Thick of It]]''.<ref>{{Citation | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2161219/ | title=Veep: Season 1, Episode 7 Full Disclosure (3 Jun. 2012) | publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] | access-date=23 May 2012 | archive-date=29 April 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429082252/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2161219/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2013, he returned to direct two episodes for the second season of ''Veep'', and a further episode for season three in 2014.

In 2013, Morris appeared briefly in [[Richard Ayoade]]'s [[The Double (2013 film)|''The Double'']], a black comedy film based on the [[Fyodor Dostoyevsky]] [[The Double (Fyodor Dostoyevsky novel)|novella of the same name]]. Morris had previously worked with Ayoade on ''Nathan Barley'' and ''The IT Crowd''.

In February 2014, Morris made a surprise appearance at the beginning of a [[Stewart Lee]] live show, introducing the comedian with fictional anecdotes about their work together.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chortle|title=Chris Morris, live on stage|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2014/02/16/19608/chris_morris,_live_on_stage?rss|publisher=Chortle|access-date=17 February 2014|archive-date=1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001154834/https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2014/02/16/19608/chris_morris,_live_on_stage?rss|url-status=live}}</ref> The following month, Morris appeared in the third series of ''Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle'' as a "hostile interrogator",<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Stewart|title=The material is cooking with gas|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/features/2014/02/19/19633/the_material_is_cooking_with_gas|publisher=Chortle|access-date=19 February 2014|archive-date=25 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225173706/http://www.chortle.co.uk/features/2014/02/19/19633/the_material_is_cooking_with_gas|url-status=live}}</ref> a role previously occupied by Armando Iannucci.

In December 2014, it was announced that a short radio collaboration with [[Noel Fielding]] and Richard Ayoade would be broadcast on BBC Radio 6.<ref>{{cite web|last1=BBC|title=Chris Morris Exclusive|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04tm3qb|website=www.bbc.co.uk/programmes|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 December 2014|archive-date=4 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204154029/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04tm3qb|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Fielding, the work had been in progress since around 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Noel Fielding: Radio Past and Future|url=http://thevelvetonion.com/2011/11/03/radio-past-and-future/|website=thevelvetonion.com/|date=3 November 2011|publisher=The Velvet Onion|access-date=1 December 2014|archive-date=21 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821100100/http://thevelvetonion.com/2011/11/03/radio-past-and-future/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in January 2015 it was decided, 'in consultation with [Morris]', that the project was not yet complete, and so the intended broadcast did not go ahead.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Chris Morris sketch 'not ready yet'|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2014/12/08/21449/new_chris_morris_sketch_not_ready_yet|website=www.chortle.co.uk|publisher=Chortle|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=11 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511012207/http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2014/12/08/21449/new_chris_morris_sketch_not_ready_yet|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''The Day Shall Come''===
A statement released by [[Film4]] in February 2016 made reference to funding what would be Morris's second feature film.<ref>{{cite web|title=Channel 4 announces major increase to Film4 funding'|url=http://blog.film4.com/channel-4-announces-major-increase-to-film4-funding|website=www.film4.co.uk|publisher=Film4|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-date=13 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213140151/http://blog.film4.com/channel-4-announces-major-increase-to-film4-funding/|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2017 it was reported that Morris had shot the movie, starring [[Anna Kendrick]], in the [[Dominican Republic]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/chris-morris-film-2018-new-four-lions-brass-eye-anna-kendrick-a8079696.html|title=Brass Eye's Chris Morris has secretly shot a film in the Caribbean starring Anna Kendrick|date=28 November 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=3 December 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=4 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061226/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/chris-morris-film-2018-new-four-lions-brass-eye-anna-kendrick-a8079696.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but the title was not made public. It was later reported in January 2018 that [[Jim Gaffigan]] and [[Rupert Friend]] had joined the cast of the still-untitled film, and that the plot would revolve around an FBI hostage situation gone wrong.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rupert Friend and Jim Gaffigan join Chris Morris film |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2018/01/08/38827/rupert_friend_and_jim_gaffigan_join_chris_morris_film |website=[[Chortle]] |access-date=14 March 2019 |archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127110419/https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2018/01/08/38827/rupert_friend_and_jim_gaffigan_join_chris_morris_film |url-status=live }}</ref> The completed film, titled ''[[The Day Shall Come]]'', had its world premiere at [[South by Southwest]] on 11 March 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/olivia-wilde-seth-rogen-matthew-mcconaughey-added-sxsw-film-fest-lineup-1176656|title=SXSW: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey to Premiere New Work|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Gregg|last=Kilday|date=16 January 2019|access-date=16 January 2019|archive-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328065451/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/olivia-wilde-seth-rogen-matthew-mcconaughey-added-sxsw-film-fest-lineup-1176656|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Music===
Morris often co-writes and performs incidental music for his television shows, notably with ''Jam'' and the 'extended remix' version, ''Jaaaaam''. In the early 1990s Morris contributed a [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]] parody track entitled "Motherbanger" to a [[Flexi disc|flexi-disc]] given away with an edition of [[select magazine|Select]] music magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQqzF7NdoXI|title=Chris Morris – Mother Banger (Pixies Parody)|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=27 November 2016|archive-date=15 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515082617/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQqzF7NdoXI|url-status=live}}</ref> Morris supplied sketches for British band [[Saint Etienne (band)|Saint Etienne]]'s 1993 single "[[You're in a Bad Way]]" (the sketch 'Spongbake' appears at the end of the 4th track on the CD single).

In 2000, Morris collaborated by mail with [[Amon Tobin]] to create the track "Bad Sex", which was released as a B-side on the Tobin single "Slowly".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Amon-Tobin-Slowly/release/29172 |title=Amon Tobin (feat. Chris Morris) at Discogs |publisher=Discogs.com |date=21 May 2002 |access-date=20 August 2010 |archive-date=18 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418082957/http://www.discogs.com/Amon-Tobin-Slowly/release/29172 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Anglo-French band [[Stereolab]]'s song "Nothing to Do with Me" from their 2001 album ''[[Sound-Dust]]'' featured various lines from Chris Morris sketches as lyrics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/stereolab/8265 |title=Stereolab's 'Jam' Session |work=[[NME]] |date=21 June 2001 |access-date=20 May 2009 |archive-date=4 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804224245/http://www.nme.com/news/stereolab/8265 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Style ==
Ramsey Ess of ''[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]]'' described Morris's comedy style as "crass" and "shocking", but noted an "underlying morality" and integrity, as well as the humour being Morris's priority.<ref name=":1" />

==Recognition==
In 2003, Morris was listed in ''[[The Observer]]'' as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,1101525,00.html |title=The A-Z of laughter (part two) |newspaper=The Observer |date=7 December 2003 |access-date=13 January 2008 |location=London |archive-date=27 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127124724/http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,1101525,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2005, [[Channel 4]] aired a show called ''The Comedian's Comedian'' in which foremost writers and performers of comedy ranked their 50 favourite acts. Morris was at number eleven.<ref name="bbc_comedians">{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4141019.stm|title= Cook voted 'comedians' comedian'|access-date= 23 June 2008|date= 2 January 2005|work= BBC News|quote= Modern TV satirist Chris Morris was in 11th, followed by Tony Hancock, Bill Hicks, Peter Sellers and Steve Martin.|archive-date= 15 December 2006|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061215065840/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4141019.stm|url-status= live}}</ref> Morris won the BAFTA for outstanding debut with his film ''Four Lions''. Adeel Akhtar and Nigel Lindsay collected the award in his absence.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12432378 | work=BBC News | title=King's Speech reigns over Bafta awards | date=14 February 2011 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-date=13 February 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213093656/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12432378 | url-status=live }}</ref> Lindsay stated that Morris had sent him a text message before they collected the award reading, 'Doused in petrol, [[Zippo]] at the ready'.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/feb/13/baftas-2011-the-kings-speech| work=The Guardian| title=Baftas 2011: The King's Speech sweeps the board| date=14 February 2011| location=London| first=Mark| last=Brown| access-date=11 December 2016| archive-date=6 October 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006055613/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/feb/13/baftas-2011-the-kings-speech| url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2012 Morris was placed at number 16 in the Top 100 People in UK Comedy.<ref name="Clark">{{cite news|url=http://www.suchsmallportions.com/feature/top-100-most-influential-people-comedy-20-1|title=The Top 100 most influential people in comedy: 20 – 1|last=Clark|first=Tim|date=22 June 2012|publisher=Such Small Portions|access-date=23 August 2012|archive-date=10 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110235939/http://www.suchsmallportions.com/feature/top-100-most-influential-people-comedy-20-1|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2010, a biography, ''Disgusting Bliss: The Brass Eye of Chris Morris'', was published. Written by Lucian Randall, the book depicted Morris as "brilliant but uncompromising", and a "frantic-minded perfectionist".<ref name="Day">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/apr/04/disgusting-bliss-chris-morris-biography|title=Disgusting Bliss by Lucian Randall|last=Day|first=Elizabeth|date=4 June 2010|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=7 April 2014|archive-date=14 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014233900/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/apr/04/disgusting-bliss-chris-morris-biography|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2014, [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]] broadcast a three-hour retrospective of Morris's radio career called 'Raw Meat Radio', which was presented by [[Mary Anne Hobbs]] and featured interviews with [[Armando Iannucci]], [[Peter Baynham]], [[Paul Garner (comedian)|Paul Garner]], and others.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Black|first1=Sophie|title=BBC - Raw Meat Radio|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2014/48/raw-meat-radio|website=www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre|access-date=29 November 2014|archive-date=19 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119044651/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2014/48/raw-meat-radio|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Awards===
Morris won the [[British Comedy Awards winners|Best TV Comedy Newcomer]] award from the British Comedy Awards in 1994 for his performance in ''[[The Day Today]]''.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/1994.aspx |title=British Comedy Awards: 1994 winners |access-date=23 June 2008 |archive-date=28 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428174338/http://britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/1994.aspx |url-status=live }}
</ref> He has won two [[BAFTA]] awards: the [[BAFTA Award for Best Short Film]] in 2002 for ''[[My Wrongs 8245–8249 & 117|My Wrongs #8245–8249 & 117]]'',<ref name="bafta_2002">
{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/nominations/?year=2002 |title=BAFTA: Film Nominations 2002 |access-date=23 June 2008 |archive-date=21 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921081630/http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/nominations/?year=2002 |url-status=live }}
</ref> and the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British director, writer or producer in 2011 for ''[[Four Lions]]''.<ref name="bafta_2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=2010&category=Film&award=Outstanding+Debut+By+A+British+Writer,+Director+Or+Producer |title=Awards database |access-date=8 March 2011 |archive-date=14 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614034049/http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=2010&category=Film&award=Outstanding+Debut+By+A+British+Writer,+Director+Or+Producer |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Morris and his wife, actress-turned-literary agent Jo Unwin, live in the [[Brixton]] district of [[London]].<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news|last=Maher|first=Kevin|title=The return of the most hated man in Britain|newspaper=The Times|date=3 April 2012}}</ref> The pair met in 1984 at the [[List of Edinburgh festivals|Edinburgh Festival]], when he was playing bass guitar for the [[Footlights|Cambridge Footlights]] Revue and she was in a comedy troupe called the Millies.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> They have two sons.<ref name=autogenerated2 />

==Works==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;"
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Title
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="5" scope="col" | Functioned as
! rowspan="2" scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
! scope="col" | Director
! scope="col" | Writer
! scope="col" | Producer
! scope="col" | Appeared
! scope="col" | Role
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[My Wrongs 8245–8249 & 117|My Wrongs #8245–8249 & 117]]''
| 2002
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| 
| {{yes}}
| Rothko (voice)
| Short film; also composer and sound designer
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Four Lions]]''
| 2010
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| 
| {{yes}}
| Commentator on end credits (voice)
| 
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[The Double (2013 film)|The Double]]''
| 2013
| 
| 
| 
| {{yes}}
| Workers' Services Executive
| 
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[The Day Shall Come]]''
| 2019
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;"
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Title
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="5" scope="col" | Functioned as
! rowspan="2" scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
! scope="col" | Director
! scope="col" | Writer
! scope="col" | Producer
! scope="col" | Appeared
! scope="col" | Role
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Spitting Image]]''
| 1984
| 
| {{yes}}
| 
| 
| 
| Episode: "#1.11"
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Galaxy (UK TV channel)#Up Yer News|Up Yer News]]''
| 1990
| 
| {{yes}}
| 
| {{yes}}
| 
| 
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[The Day Today]]''
| 1994
| 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Christopher Morris / Ted Maul / Various characters
| 6 episodes; also creator and composer
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[I'm Alan Partridge]]''
| 1997
| 
| 
|
| {{yes}}
| Peter Baxendale Thomas
| Episode: "Watership Alan"
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Brass Eye]]''
| 1997, 2001
| 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Christopher Morris / Ted Maul / Various characters
| 7 episodes; also creator and composer
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Big Train]]''
| 1998
| {{yes|Additional}}
| 
| 
| {{yes}}
| Narrator of Jockey Doco (voice)
| Episode: "Episode #1.2"
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Jam (TV series)|Jam]]''
| 2000
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Chris / Various characters 
| 6 episodes; also creator and composer
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Nathan Barley]]''
| 2005
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| 
| {{yes}}
| Place VO (voice) 
| 6 episodes; also creator and composer
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[The IT Crowd]]''
| 2006–2008
| 
| 
| 
| {{yes}}
| Denholm Reynholm
| 7 episodes
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle]]''
| 2009–2016
| 
| {{yes}}
| 
| {{yes}}
| Interviewer
| Script editor
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Veep]]''
| 2012–2014
| {{yes}}
| 
| {{yes|Consulting}}
| {{yes}}
| Newsreader (voice)
| Directed four episodes, appeared in episode: "Full Disclosure"
|-
|}

===Other===
* Various works at [[BBC Radio Cambridgeshire]] (1986–1987) (presenter)
* ''No Known Cure'' (July 1987 – March 1990, [[BBC Radio Bristol]]) (presenter)
* ''Chris Morris'' (1988–1993, [[BBC London 94.9|BBC GLR]]) (presenter)
* ''Morning Edition'' (July 1990, BBC Radio 5) (guest presenter)
* ''The Chris Morris Christmas Show'' (25 December 1990, [[BBC Radio 1]])
* ''[[On the Hour]]'' (1991–1992, BBC Radio 4) (co-writer, performer)
* ''It's Only TV'' (September 1992, [[LWT]]) (unbroadcast pilot)
* ''[[Why Bother? (radio show)|Why Bother?]]'' (1994, [[BBC Radio 3]]) (performer, editor)
* ''[[The Chris Morris Music Show]]'' (1994, BBC Radio 1) (presenter)
* ''[[Blue Jam]]'' (1997–1999, BBC Radio 1) (writer, director, performer, editor)
* ''[[Second Class Male/Time To Go]]'' (1999, satirical newspaper column for ''[[The Observer]]'')
* ''The Smokehammer'' (2002, website)
* ''Absolute Atrocity Special'' (2002, newspaper pullout for ''[[The Observer]]'')

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Chris Morris}}
* {{British Comedy Guide|people|chris_morris}}
* {{IMDb name|0606439}}

{{Christopher Morris}}
{{BAFTA Outstanding Debut Award}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Chris}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol]]
[[Category:Comedians from Essex]]
[[Category:English film directors]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male screenwriters]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English radio DJs]]
[[Category:English radio writers]]
[[Category:English satirists]]
[[Category:English screenwriters]]
[[Category:Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer BAFTA Award winners]]
[[Category:People educated at Stonyhurst College]]
[[Category:People from Buckden, Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:People from Colchester]]
[[Category:Television show creators]]
[[Category:English columnists]]
[[Category:British satirical columnists]]
[[Category:British humourous columnists]]