The Pin (comedy act)

The Pin

Alex Owen (left) and Ben Ashenden (right)
Medium Theatre; Radio; Television
Nationality British
Years active 2013 – present
Genres Double-act; sketch comedy; surreal humour
Influences The Mighty Boosh, Lee and Herring, Fry and Laurie, Cowards, The Office, Mitchell and Webb, Morecambe and Wise, Reeves and Mortimer, Chris Morris, Armando Iannucci, Big Train
Website http://www.thepincomedy.com

The Pin is a comedy double-act composed of Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen.[1]

They write and star in their BBC Radio 4 show of the same name.[2]

Background

The double act met at the University of Cambridge, where they joined the Cambridge Footlights. Whilst members they co-wrote and performed in two international tour shows: 2010's 'Good For You,'[3] directed by Liam Williams and Daran Johnson, and 2011's 'Pretty Little Panic'[4] directed by Keith Akushie and James Moran.

The Pin was formed when the pair left Cambridge in 2012, initially alongside fellow Footlights member Mark Fiddaman. In 2013 the act became a duo, and Ashenden and Owen started developing shows at the Invisible Dot comedy club[5][6][7] to take to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Works

Their shows at Edinburgh have garnered great critical acclaim from the likes of The Guardian,[8][9] The Sunday Times,[10][11] The Daily Telegraph,[12][13][14] and more.[15][16][17][18][19][20]

In 2015 the pair's debut BBC Radio 4 series aired, attracting praise from the likes of David Walliams,[21] Ben Stiller,[22] and Arthur Matthews.[23]

In February 2016 the BBC announced that the "highly acclaimed"[24] show would be returning for a second series.

In August 2016 they announced that the "much-loved"[25] show would return for a third series, and this time in the 6.30 pm slot, and with half-an-hour long episodes.

Awards

The Pin were the 2013 winners of London Sketchfest's prize for 'Best Act,'[26][27] and the first series of their Radio 4 show won them the award for 'Best Comedy' at the 2016 BBC radio awards.[28]

Alex Owen and producer Sam Bryant at the BBC radio awards

References

  1. ↑ "The Pin introduce their Edinburgh fringe show". The Guardian. 12 August 2014. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  2. ↑ Guide, British Comedy. "The Pin – Radio 4 Sketch Show". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  3. ↑ "Edinburgh Review: Footlights in Good For You". 16 August 2010. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  4. ↑ "Theatre: Pretty Little Panic". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  5. ↑ "The Invisible Dot: How has one of the country's smallest comedy venues". 11 June 2013. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  6. ↑ Developpando. "The Invisible Dot Ltd – Archive Events – id:151 The Pin". www.theinvisibledot.com. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  7. ↑ Logan, Brian (27 May 2013). "The Invisible Dot: a hand up for standup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  8. ↑ Logan, Brian (24 August 2015). "The Pin at Edinburgh festival review – clever-clever sketch-bending". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  9. ↑ Logan, Brian (20 August 2014). "Edinburgh comedy awards 2014 shortlist: why Liam Williams should win". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  10. ↑ "Edinburgh: This woman works | The Sunday Times". www.thesundaytimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  11. ↑ "Crowning glories | The Sunday Times". www.thesundaytimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  12. ↑ "Edinburgh comedy 2014: what to see". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  13. ↑ "Edinburgh comedy 2015: what to see". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  14. ↑ "Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2014: 'quirky and unpredictable'". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  15. ↑ "The Pin – Edinburgh Fringe review". 18 August 2013. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  16. ↑ "The Pin". 11 August 2013. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  17. ↑ "The Pin at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh | The Times". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  18. ↑ "The Pin". 5 August 2014. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  19. ↑ Solutions, Powder Blue Internet Business. "The Pin: Ten Seconds with The Pin's description : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  20. ↑ "The Pin: Ten Seconds With The Pin". 24 August 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  21. ↑ "David Walliams on Twitter". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  22. ↑ "Ben Stiller on Twitter". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  23. ↑ "Arthur Mathews on Twitter". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  24. ↑ "BBC – Radio 4's Comedy Commissioner announces a raft of new commissions – Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  25. ↑ "BBC – From rising stars to leading lights: BBC Radio 4 raises the curtain on new comedy commissions – Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  26. ↑ "London Sketchfest, Victorian Vaults, review". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  27. ↑ "London Sketchfest Archive". www.londonsketchfest.com. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  28. ↑ ""Everyone" wins Gold at the BBC Radio Awards". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
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