042 September 2015 He’s playedbothstudentandteacher on TV, andnowhe’sgraduatinginto become Britain’sKingofComedy? Class Class film. ButhowdidJackWhitehall war Styling: CarlottaConstant Photography: Pal Hansen Grooming: ClaireWoods Words: MattBlake been sacked from who ownsaplacenearby, hasjust district ofChelsea.JeremyClarkson, near hishomeintheswankyLondon a cold.No–JackWhitehallneedspoo. even panic. Jack Whitehalldoes not have him intoastateofanguish,melancholy, But whenitgetstoJack,canplunge most peoplewouldconsiderittrivial. the victimofanailmentsocommonthat birthday, Whitehallisoutofsorts.He black, nosugar. That’shismedicine. a slightlyfeeblerequestforcoffee: just afewhandshakes andhellos at allsincehearrivedforourinterview; he doesn’t.Infact,hasn’tsaidmuch waiting forhimtosaysomething.But decide whattowearforourshoot.We’re adaptation ofthehitBBCThree sitcom touches tohisfirstmovie,acinema where he’sbeenputtingthefinishing and gracioussortofegg.We crackon. Jack. He’sagoodegg:well-mannered the eyesofsomeonewholoves history teacher. “It’saschool tripthrough stars inasauselesssecondary school Jones Bad Education Bad J burden regardlessof interview downandgonetorelievetheir Most celebritieswouldhaveshutthe is readyandwe’realreadyrunninglate. plot, actually. Ireallyneedapoo. Sorry.” a terriblesecret.“IthinkI’mlosingthe FHM: “Um…Areyoualright?” that interestedincarsandcan’tdrive.” worst Jack: “Idon’tknow. IthinkI’dbethe FHM: “Don’tyou?” Jack: “DoI?” FHM: “You livenearClarkson,don’tyou?” conversation goeslike this: not steppedin.It’sabadstart.Our fun replacement,hadChrisEvans suggesting hemighthavemadea tried towarmJackupwithsmalltalk, It isafineJunedaywhenwemeet Today, threeweeksbeforehis27th Jack isfreshoutoftheeditingsuite But there’snotime.Ourphotographer Jack leansinasifhe’sabouttoshare is standinginhispantstryingto hand andastripytieintheother, ack Whitehall,awhiteshirtinone , Top Gear Top The Goonies The , whichheco-wroteand presenterever. I’mnot Top Gear Top and our our Die Hard Die deadlines. Not . We’ve Indiana Indiana ,” he 043

Blazer, £198, jackwills.com. Shirt, £29.95, tmlewin.co.uk. Trousers, £65, topman.com. Badge, 78p, badgesplus.co.uk. Tie, £35, johnlewis.com. Shoes, £65, Adidas at schuh.co.uk Mail Then helaughsloudly, “Idonotthinkthe ready toshootyoudown.” parapet, peoplearealways you putyourheadabovethe a boldproject,andwhenever but it’sabigprojectand it’s betterthantheTVshow, of itandIgenuinelythink he tellsus.“Imean,I’mproud over thereleaseofthisfilm,” “I amwroughtwithanxiety the room,heisfreakingout. now, ashepacesupanddown paparazzi shots of Jack going out to buy milk. paparazzi shotsofJackgoingouttobuymilk. Education (Sky’s WHITEHALL RISE OFJACK THE RISEAND J in twomajorTVshows( writtenamovie,starred comics couldsaythey’ve comedians couldonlyjoke about.Noother the culminationofacareertodatethatmost swords andCornishterrorists.It’ssuper-sized.” says. “Iwantedexplosionsandhelicopters 044 The Year The 21,000 anightfortheirstand-uparenatour. three yearsrunning,anddrawncrowdsof King ofComedyattheBritishAwards Er, it’sChannel4,mate.” that makes meashamedtopaymylicencefee.’ MailOnline, ‘Thisisjustthekindofbehaviour when acommenterwroteunderstoryon so stupid.Myfavouritepartofthatweekwas gettingsoangryabout something when they’re tells younottoreact,”hesays.“But it’shard Queen” onChannel4’s wine andtradedvile,obscenejokes aboutthe James Corden,JimmyCarrandothers“guzzled Jack, air inapuddleofitsownindignationafter “When the “When It’s atypicallysillyfilm:obscene,funnyand In 2013, that newspaper was left gaspingfor In 2013,thatnewspaperwasleft to self-doubt. Yet right you wouldthinkprone ack Whitehallisnotaman willlike thisfilm.” A League Of Their Own Their Of League A . Cuecomplaints,investigationsand september 2015 ), captainedateamonpanelshow Mail picks a fight with you, everyone picksafightwithyou,everyone Of Quiz Fat Big The Fresh Meat Fresh wearing adinnerjacket.” – everyone,exceptme,was “It wastheposhestbirthever Jack Whitehallisborn 7 July1988 ), beencrowned and scared I’ve ever been” swan. It’s the most “I hadto teabag a Bad Bad Daily Daily it wenttitsup.Itdidn’t.” costume towearincase handed meaDarthVader and farmers. Thelandlord “It wastoafewposhstudents a Marlboroughpub Performs hisfirstgigin Summer 2004 “but it’sentirelymyowndoing.” constantly talkingaboutpoloandprivateschool? to hisperceivedposhness.Isn’thetiredof butt ofthejoke, especially whenitcomes against themantelpieceonfarwall. with growingspeedbeforeleaningrakishly is nowliterallywalkingaroundusincircles with thepressorhislooseningbowels,buthe sure ifit’sthepainfulmemoriesofpastwars he’d hadquitealotofotherwork.” will surelyhaveacertaintypeofcinemagoer done somethingterribletooneofherswans.” hadn’t upsetherenoughalready, Ihavenow thisfilm.OrtheQueen.AsifI again after he reveals.“I’llneverbeallowednearaswan generations ofinbreeding.Hismotherwasan a mouththatdoesn’tcloseproperlydueto got atitleordouble-barrelledsurname Movie bullying andterrorisingswans. like educationandinstitutional he’s tacklingtheBigIssues:things The truthis,Jack’snot “I guessIdogetabitboredofit,”headmits, He’s neverbeenafraidofmakinghimselfthe Jack stillseemsalittleonedge.We aren’t It isoneofmanymomentsinhismoviethat “There isascenein Jack’s grownupsincethen.Now wherebulliesmake meteabagaswan,” he wasquiteafamousswan; to fussbecauseapparently been onset.ButItriednot was themostscaredI’veever it wasactuallyveryangry. It to beawell-trainedswanbut he yelledcut.Itwasmeant hovering aboveit–before very close–Iwasliterally “But thedirectorletmeget animatronic one,”herecalls. they swappeditforan approach arealswanbefore laughing matter. “Ihadto filming thescenewasno in hysterics.ButforJack, Education Bad The that ‘When doIgettheseperks?’” ‘When living atmymum’s,thinking, raucous orgies,andIwasstill these storiesofhimhaving like RussellBrand.’ I’dread “I usedtoget,‘Oh,you’reso Big Mouth Hosts E4’sBigBrother’s June 2008 posh.Hehasn’t

Right: Shirt, £20, topman.com. Shirt, £18, next.com. Tie, £8, asos.com. Hat, £20, starterblacklabel.co.uk. Hoodie, £18, asos.com. Glasses, £6, asos.com. Jumper, £75, bensherman.com barely speak.” I wassostarstruck,could his tablewasmyhighlight. “Meeting PaulChuckleat Variety Performance Performs attheRoyal December 2010 in thefuture,I’dlike tofindmorehonestyinmy a characteronstage[but]Ithinkatsomepoint deal withitistoembraceandmockit.Iplay ponders. “But I’ve decidedthattheonlywayto in thecountry. two ofthemostprestigiousacademicinstitutions Harrodian SchoolandMarlboroughCollege, good. Sogood,infact,thatJackattendedthe actress andhisfatherwasatheatreagentmade “I’m upper-middleclassreally, Ithink,” he from a foampartywhereDrKarl time youweretherewasfor filming inabarwhenthelast student anditisquitebizarre “I wasinManchesterasa on Channel4’sFreshMeat Makes hisactingdebut September 2011 Neighbours wasDJing.” country,” Jacksays.“InAmericathere ismore should rhymewith‘horrid’? went toorwhethernottheythink‘forehead’ need todefineeachotherbytheschoolsthey and charmingly, throughoutourinterview. laughing athimself:whichhedoes,regularly deeper.” Mostly, though,hejustseems toenjoy stand-up, starttearinglayersawayandsearching “We aretotallyobsessedwithclassinthis Is partofhissuccessdowntoBritishpeople’s religion. Icallit‘Redknapping’.” the crotchsoyoucanseehis Jamie likesitcutverytightin his tailortogetasuitrecently. “Jamie Redknappsentmeto A LeagueOfTheirOwn on Sky1sportsquizshow Becomes regularpanellist June 2012 045 to have had the “poshest offered me a Darth Vader costume to put on in So, after a stint studying history of art at the birth that ever happened”. case it didn’t go well.” He was relieved when he University of Manchester, Jack turned to the life Jack was born on 7 didn’t need the costume; not after the scars left of a freelance comedian. Cue awards, TV shows, July 1988 in the Portland by the last time he was forced into fancy dress. sell-out tours and the kind of fame that has private hospital in central “I was 11 on a school trip to Hampton Court given him the chance to rub shoulders with London, surrounded by men where you can dress up in Tudor outfits,” he some of the most important funnymen in comedy. in black tie. “My dad got recalls mournfully. “It was meant to be fun and There was one chance encounter that will drunk, my godfather turned they had a male and a female outfit. But it was remain in his heart until its final beat. “I was up in a dinner jacket because an all-boys school. And someone had to wear at the Royal Variety Show when I saw him,” he had been out, and then the the Anne Boleyn outfit.” remembers Jack, his eyes lighting up. “Paul gynaecologist also turned up in No prizes for guessing who was pushed Chuckle. I was so starstruck. I don’t think a dinner jacket because he was to the front of the queue. “I’ve got this photo he knew who I was but I asked him about the on the way to a gynaecological somewhere of me and Patrick Chuckle Brothers and about dinner convention,” he tells us. Ward, who got to be the man, Barry and got him to sign “It was all very Downton Abbey.” and I look so sad in it – my eyes a photo. It’s my most prized Jack’s first brush with are completely blank, dressed “I’m bored possession, framed above stardom didn’t quite work out in this corset and flowing dress. my toilet next to my 20m as his mother had hoped. He I was Patrick Ward’s pretty of talking swimming certificate.” was 12 when a casting agent little Tudor queen. I never We tracked Paul down to for the firstHarry Potter film forgave him for it.” Has he seen about an internet cafe in Greece, came to the Harrodian School him since? “No,” Jack replies. where he was on holiday. “Of to hold open auditions for the “I cut him off. The bastard.” poshness course I knew who he was,” title role. “I remember going Jack turned to comedy as a he says. “I meant to go over to the audition and being told defence mechanism, he says all the time. and say hello myself but was beforehand by my mum that – always the fool in class with busy talking to the Dowager I was Harry Potter so I would a talent for making boys laugh. But it’s my Lady Westbury CBE. But I definitely get the part,” he “I was quite odd at school, didn’t know he was nervous; remembers. “She dressed me actually,” he says. “I mean, own doing” I thought he’d got early up in round spectacles and a I wasn’t a weird loner; I wasn’t Parkinson’s or the like. He blazer and would’ve scarred torturing animals on my own. was a gent and I’ve followed my forehead if she could, but But while everyone else was playing sports his career ever since. In fact, I’ve got a photo of I completely cocked it up.” or smoking weed, I was writing sketches, when we met that night framed on my wall next Looking back, he says, that putting on plays and drawing cartoons.” to a photo of me and Barry receiving our Bafta.” agent did the world a favour With comedy still a sideline, Jack needed Jack is beginning to fidget and pace more than in casting Daniel Radcliffe a profession. So, after his A-levels, he enrolled ever. There’s only so much coffee and questions of an obsession with race whereas over here, instead. “I’d have been a horrible Harry,” he at Chelsea School of Art. “I basically doodled a man’s descending colon can take. We have one our race is class, which is the issue that people says. “It’s too much pressure to carry that film; caricatures the whole time so when they came last enquiry: what’s the one thing you can tell feel interested in and defined by. The depictions I’d have ruined it for everybody.” to assess me after three months, they dismissed us about yourself that nobody else knows? of posh people in this country seem like cartoons. it,” he says. “Then they came to this guy called “Listen, I’ve got the perfect answer, you’ll love Look at Made In Chelsea: it’s ridiculous. But t the age of 16, Jack went to Marlborough Kybor who had plastered a load of homosexual this,” he says, through gritted teeth, “but I’ve the same can be said for the working classes College (future queen of England Kate pornography on a wall and then hung dildos got to pop to the loo first.” He scurries off along on TV; Benefits Street felt so opportunistic and A Middleton went there, too) where he from the roof. You looked through another the corridor. He does not come back. damaging to people’s perceptions.” performed his first gig to “a couple of posh dildo like a telescope to see the porn and they Still, he admits he can’t feel too hard done students and some local farmers” in a pub. “Just thought that was amazing. That was the point The Bad Education Movie is in cinemas from by. After all, this comes from a man who claims before I went on stage,” he says, “the compere that I thought maybe art school wasn’t for me.” 21 August

August 2012 November 2013 December 2013 December 2014 August 2015 Bad Education airs Stars in BBC comedy Embarks on a nationwide Wins third consecutive The Bad Education Movie on BBC Three chat show Backchat stand-up tour to audiences King of Comedy title at hits cinemas “I write it with my best mate, with dad Michael of 21,000 the British Comedy Awards “It starts with a crazy Freddy Syborn. We were at “I’m so bored of talking about “The brand of comedy I do “It was a huge honour to me sequence where I get spiked school together and hated my dad so it won’t happen requires confidence to sell it, to have won, especially for the with magic mushrooms. I steal each other at first. But he again. I don’t want to give but right up until the moment third time in a row. My father, a waxwork model of Anne was on my wavelength.” him any more publicity.” I step on stage there is no not so much. He said he voted Frank and am chased through jective productions, ndove productions, jective

confidence – I’m shitting it.” for Lee Mack.” the streets of Amsterdam.” searle/ amanda rex, photography: o b

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