History Creator / DavidMitchellActor

David James Stuart Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) is a British actor, comedian, and writer ([[JustForFun/IThoughtThatWas though not the same as the novelist of the same name]]) best known for his work with long-time [[DoubleActsAndGroups comedy partner]]; Creator/RobertWebb, particularly on the "Mitchell and Webb" line of {{sketch show}}s; ''That Mitchell and Webb Situation'', ''That Mitchell and Webb Sound'', and ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''. The pair also star in a BlackComedy / CringeComedy BritCom, ''Series/PeepShow'', with Mitchell playing Mark, an uptight, socially-repressed sad sack, to Webb's Jeremy, an aspiring musician with delusions of adequacy. He and Webb were also the dominant writers in short-lived sketch show ''Series/{{Bruiser}}''. The two also appeared in the feature film ''Film/{{Magicians}}'', written by the same writers as ''Peep Show'' and casting the pair as a magician double-act bearing similarities to their characters in the show. They have also appeared together in ''Series/{{Ambassadors}}'' and ''Series/{{Back}}''.

In his own projects, Mitchell is the king of the PanelShow, with numerous recurring appearances on ''Series/{{QI}}'', ''Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou'', ''Series/MockTheWeek'' and ''Series/WouldILieToYou'', the last of which he is a team captain; he also turns up on ''Radio/TheNewsQuiz'' and ''Radio/ImSorryIHaventAClue'' now and again. He is host of the radio show ''Radio/TheUnbelievableTruth'', which requires panellists to discern true facts from false. In 2013 he began hosting a new quotation-based panel show called ''Series/WasItSomethingISaid'', and was also one of the hosts of the news/comedy show ''Series/TenOClockLive''.

* BeardOfSorrow: Judging from his public appearances at least, he appears to be something of a real-life inversion. His public persona, as seen on shows such as ''Series/WouldILieToYou'', was notably spiky and prone to aggressive rants when he was clean-shaven, but after he decided to grow a beard he became notably more relaxed about things (if still prone to comedically exasperated monologues). If his autobiography is to be believed, this may coincide with the periods before his relationship and marriage with Victoria Coren Mitchell, in which he admits to being lonely, insecure, dissatisfied and heartbroken, and after, which cheered him up considerably.

'''David:''' [[https://youtu.be/-8W1qT1F9UI?t=1629 "Comedian David Mitchell has announced he is to split from his long-term comedy partner Robert Webb]] [''Webb starts furiously pounding his buzzer''] in order to concentrate on a solo career."\\
'''Robert Webb:''' ''[visibly upset]'' ''Fake''!\\

* FatAndSkinny: The "chubby" one, at least compared to Webb. He was quite noticeably chubby when he first came to public prominence, but lost weight owing to increased walking he started doing to help ease a back condition.

** The general dynamic of the Mitchell and Webb collaborations, including ''Series/PeepShow''. Quite possibly TruthInTelevision. Ironically, however, behind the scenes it may be inverted to a degree; Webb tends to be cast as the confident, charismatic one while Mitchell is usually the socially awkward dweeb with NoSocialSkills, but according to Webb himself Mitchell is a lot more confident and natural in social settings whereas he tends to be more reserved.

** From the first episode of the Bubble, when Mitchell went on a tangent about how a cat's head found in somebody's bed would not have been sent by the Cat Mafia, but by the Mafia of a species which considered their cats the equivalent of our horses. After a second of silence, Reginald Hunter said:

-->'''David:''' ''[to the audience]'' [[spoiler:What the ''fuck'' makes you think I was gonna do that? This isn't the fucking Generation Game! Fuck off, I'm hired to ''sit here'' and ''be sarcastic'', not dance around like some cunt! [...] The world is ''full'' of people trying to make people who don't want to dance, dance, at weddings and things. "Go on, have a dance, you want to, really." '''No!''' I ''really don't'' want to!]]

* NotSoAboveItAll: In 2009's ''Big Fat Quiz of the Year'', following a short clip of [[Music/LadyGaga Lady Gaga's "Poker Face"]][[note]]'''Ross''': So what'd you think? '''Mitchell''': It's alright. ''[{{beat}}]'' I'm not sorry it's stopped.[[/note]], he and his teammate Creator/CharlieBrooker were greeted with incredulity by the other teams (particularly Jonathan Ross and Creator/RussellBrand) when he said he felt no want or desire to dance to the music. Disbelieving them, the producers started up "Poker Face" again, focused the cameras on David, the audience cheered...[[spoiler: and David proceeded to sit completely immobile until the music stopped]].

He is married to presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell, of ''Series/OnlyConnect'' fame, and they have two children together.

He is married to presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell, of ''Series/OnlyConnect'' fame, and they have a child together.

David James Stuart Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) is a British actor, comedian, and writer ([[JustForFun/IThoughtThatWas though not the same as the novelist of the same name]]) best known for his work with long-time [[DoubleActsAndGroups comedy partner; Robert Webb]], particularly on the "Mitchell and Webb" line of {{sketch show}}s; ''That Mitchell and Webb Situation'', ''That Mitchell and Webb Sound'', and ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''. The pair also star in a BlackComedy / CringeComedy BritCom, ''Series/PeepShow'', with Mitchell playing Mark, an uptight, socially-repressed sad sack, to Webb's Jeremy, an aspiring musician with delusions of adequacy. He and Webb were also the dominant writers in short-lived sketch show ''Series/{{Bruiser}}''. The two also appeared in the feature film ''Film/{{Magicians}}'', written by the same writers as ''Peep Show'' and casting the pair as a magician double-act bearing similarities to their characters in the show. They have also appeared together in ''Series/{{Ambassadors}}'' and ''Series/{{Back}}''.

David James Stuart Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) is a British actor, comedian, and writer ([[JustForFun/IThoughtThatWas though not the same as the novelist of the same name]]) best known for his work with long-time [[DoubleActsAndGroups comedy partner; Robert Webb]], particularly on the "Mitchell and Webb" line of {{sketch show}}s; ''That Mitchell and Webb Situation'', ''That Mitchell and Webb Sound'', and ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''. The pair also star in a BlackComedy / CringeComedy BritCom, ''Series/PeepShow'', with Mitchell playing Mark, an uptight, socially-repressed sad sack, to Webb's Jeremy, an aspiring musician with delusions of adequacy. He and Webb were also the dominant writers in short-lived sketch show ''Series/{{Bruiser}}''. The two also appeared in the feature film ''Film/{{Magicians}}'', written by the same writers as ''Peep Show'' and casting the pair as a magician double-act bearing similarities to their characters in the show. They have also appeared together in ''Series/{{Ambassadors}}'' and ''Series/{{Back}}''

He is married to presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell, of Series/OnlyConnect fame, and they have a child together.

David James Stuart Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) is a British actor, comedian, and writer ([[JustForFun/IThoughtThatWas though not the same as the novelist of the same name]]) best known for his work with long-time [[DoubleActsAndGroups comedy partner; Robert Webb]], particularly on the "Mitchell and Webb" line of {{sketch show}}s; ''That Mitchell and Webb Situation'', ''That Mitchell and Webb Sound'', and ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''. The pair also star in a BlackComedy / CringeComedy BritCom, ''Series/PeepShow'', with Mitchell playing Mark, an uptight, socially-repressed sad sack, to Webb's Jeremy, an aspiring musician with delusions of adequacy. He and Webb were the also the dominant writers in short-lived sketch show ''Series/{{Bruiser}}''. The two also appeared in the feature film ''Film/{{Magicians}}'', written by the same writers as ''Peep Show'' and casting the pair as a magician double-act bearing similarities to their characters in the show. They have also appeared together in ''Series/{{Ambassadors}}'' and ''Series/{{Back}}''

Mitchell's comedic style is characterized by witty, intelligent barbed commentary on the illogical nature of the world, which almost [[RantInducingSlight inevitably erupts]] in a [[CharacterFilibuster ranting monologue]] which has the audience (and often the target) [[RantComedy in stitches]]. He is the most likely spiritual successor to Creator/StephenFry, though he would be the first to deny it. Mitchell often seems self-conscious about his own success, presenting an occasionally shy face to the world at odds with his rapid-fire delivery when frustrated or annoyed, as when he claimed he would have liked to succeed Creator/DavidTennant as the Doctor on ''Series/DoctorWho'' but doubted he would be attractive enough[[note]]Just look at that picture, though. It screams "the Doctor."[[/note]].

* RantInducingSlight: Any [[BerserkButton number of things]] can trigger a burst of, as Stephen Fry put it, his "relentless, urgent, and slightly worried logic."

He also made a series of soapbox rants on [[https://www.youtube.com/user/davidmitchellsoapbox Youtube]], a column in [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/davidmitchell The Observer]] and has written an autobiography "Back Story". His current venture for the BBC is the sitcom ''Series/UpstartCrow'', part of their 'Shakespeare 400' season, in which he plays Creator/WilliamShakespeare trying to break into theatrical writing but who is woefully unappreciated by the prosaic [[UsefulNotes/TheWestMidlands Brummie-accented people]] he grew up with, who cannot understand his vision and [[TallPoppySyndrome think he's got too many big ideas in his head]].

* ArtifactTitle: His "Soapbox" was originally a pun on the fact that it was sponsored by a brand of cosmetics - since the third series, it's been sponsored by Dell, and much less prominently, but the title remains.
* BeardOfSorrow: Judging from his public appearances at least, he appears to be something of a real-life inversion. His public persona, as seen on shows such as ''Series/WouldILieToYou'', was notably spiky and prone to aggressive rants when he was clean-shaven, but after he decided to grow a beard he became notably more relaxed about things (if still prone to comedically exasperated monologues). If his autobiography is to be believed, this may coincide with the periods before his relationship and marriage with Victoria Coren, in which he admits to being lonely, insecure, dissatisfied and heartbroken, and after, which cheered him up considerably.
* BerserkButton: Gosh, so many things. Sausage rolls, bread and milk somehow being poisonous, Russians, being forced to dance, Americanized [[note]]Well, that's irony in action[[/note]] spelling, tea that's too hot, [[IncrediblyLamePun The British Cheese Board]], the list goes on... His [[https://www.youtube.com/user/davidmitchellsoapbox YouTube channel]] is basically a long list of his many {{Berserk Button}}s.
* BitingTheHandHumor: On top of the frequent jokes about Creator/TheBBC, one of his Website/YouTube "Soapbox" monologues is on the subject of [[ShavingIsScience male grooming]], including specific references to the series' sponsor "[[RatedMForManly Bulldog]]"[[note]]Though you can't help but feel that if he had his way he'd have gone on to mock the use of the phrases "natural" and "essential oils"...[[/note]]. After he mocked them again in another Soapbox, Bulldog got its own back by calling him "Donny Michaels" in TheTag.

* ILoveTheDead: {{Discussed}} in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B_Yw-JAnuw one of his Soapbox videos]], where he opines that it's pretty much a victimless crime, as the "victim" isn't exactly in a position to take offense, and finishes by suggesting a novel concept.
-->So all it would take is an extra box to tick on the Organ Donor card. "Once we've taken out your kidneys, liver, and lungs, and stuffed the resulting space with sawdust, do you or do you not have any objections to a couple of perverts having a go on you while you're fresh?"
* LimitedWardrobe: Not in his regular television appearances, but in his weekly webcast ''David Mitchell's Soap Box'' he wears the same red shirt and black slacks every week. In September 2010 he appeared in a blue shirt in answer to viewer comments. He claimed the red shirt was simply for convenience but that being able to operate on a real LimitedWardrobe policy would be fine by him, since it would free him from having to decide what to wear every day.

* OrwellianRetcon: The removal of the Bulldog tags from the first two series of ''Soapbox'', despite references to them in the videos themselves, and the parody tags done when he and Webb briefly superseded them to promote their book.

** Funnily enough Victoria Coren, his future wife, laughed at that put-down and was sitting right next to him.

David James Stuart Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) is a British actor, comedian, and writer (though not the same as the novelist of the same name) best known for his work with long-time [[DoubleActsAndGroups comedy partner Robert Webb]] on the "Mitchell and Webb" {{sketch show}}s, most notably ''That Mitchell and Webb Situation'', ''That Mitchell and Webb Sound'', and ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''. (He and Webb were the also the dominant writers in short-lived sketch show ''Series/{{Bruiser}}''). The pair also star in a BlackComedy / CringeComedy BritCom, ''Series/PeepShow'', with Mitchell playing Mark, an uptight, socially-repressed sad sack, to Webb's Jeremy, an aspiring musician with delusions of adequacy. The two also appeared in the feature film ''Film/{{Magicians}}'', written by the same writers as ''Peep Show'' and casting the pair as a magician double-act bearing similarities to their characters in the show. They have also appeared together in ''Series/{{Ambassadors}}'' and ''Series/{{Back}}''

In his own projects Mitchell is the king of the PanelShow, with numerous appearances on ''Series/{{QI}}'', ''Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou'', ''Series/MockTheWeek'' and ''Series/WouldILieToYou'', on which he is a team captain; he also turns up on ''Radio/TheNewsQuiz'' and ''Radio/ImSorryIHaventAClue'' now and again. He is host of the radio show ''Radio/TheUnbelievableTruth'', which requires panelists to discern true facts from false; he was also host of ''The Bubble'', a televised panel game, during its single-series run. In 2013 he began hosting a new quotation-based panel show called ''Series/WasItSomethingISaid'' on Channel 4. He has been featured in an episode of ''Series/WhoDoYouThinkYouAre''. He was also one of the hosts of the news/comedy show ''Series/TenOClockLive''.

Mitchell's comedic style is characterized by witty, intelligent barbed commentary on the illogic of the world, which almost [[RantInducingSlight inevitably erupts]] in a [[CharacterFilibuster ranting monologue]] which has the audience (and often the target) in stitches. He is the most likely spiritual successor to Creator/StephenFry, though he would be the first to deny it. Mitchell often seems self-conscious about his own success, presenting an occasionally shy face to the world at odds with his rapid-fire delivery when frustrated or annoyed, as when he claimed he would have liked to succeed Creator/DavidTennant as the Doctor on ''Series/DoctorWho'' but doubted he would be attractive enough[[note]]Just look at that picture, though. It screams "the Doctor."[[/note]].

He also maintains a series of soapbox rants on [[https://www.youtube.com/user/davidmitchellsoapbox Youtube]], a column in [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/davidmitchell The Observer]] and has written an autobiography "Back Story". His current venture for the BBC is the sitcom ''Series/UpstartCrow'', part of their 'Shakespeare 400' season, in which he plays Creator/WilliamShakespeare trying to break into theatrical writing but who is woefully unappreciated by the prosaic [[UsefulNotes/TheWestMidlands Brummie-accented people]] he grew up with, who cannot understand his vision and [[TallPoppySyndrome think he's got too many big ideas in his head]].

He is married to presenter [[Series/OnlyConnect Victoria Coren]] and they have a child together.

Not the same as the Creator/{{David Mitchell|Author}} who wrote ''Literature/CloudAtlas''.

David James Stuart Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) is a British actor, comedian, and writer (though not the same as the novelist of the same name) best known for his work with long-time [[DoubleActsAndGroups comedy partner Robert Webb]] on the "Mitchell and Webb" {{sketch show}}s, most notably ''That Mitchell and Webb Situation'', ''That Mitchell and Webb Sound'', and ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''. (He and Webb were the also the dominant writers in short-lived sketch show ''Series/{{Bruiser}}''). The pair also star in a BlackComedy / CringeComedy BritCom, ''Series/PeepShow'', with Mitchell playing Mark, an uptight, socially-repressed sad sack, to Webb's Jeremy, an aspiring musician with delusions of adequacy. The two also appeared in the feature film ''Film/{{Magicians}}'', written by the same writers as ''Peep Show'' and casting the pair as a magician double-act bearing similarities to their characters in the show.

In his own projects Mitchell is the king of the PanelShow, with numerous appearances on ''Series/{{QI}}'', ''Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou'', ''Series/MockTheWeek'' and ''Series/WouldILieToYou'', on which he is a team captain; he also turns up on ''Radio/TheNewsQuiz'' and ''Radio/ImSorryIHaventAClue'' now and again. He is host of the radio show ''Radio/TheUnbelievableTruth'', which requires panelists to discern true facts from false; he was also host of ''The Bubble'', a televised panel game, during its single-series run. In 2013 he began hosting a new quotation-based panel show called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Was_It_Something_I_Said%3F_(TV_series) Was It Something I Said?]]'' on Channel 4. He has been featured in an episode of ''Series/WhoDoYouThinkYouAre''. Currently he is one of the hosts of the news/comedy show ''Series/TenOClockLive''.

* ShoutOut: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjG9JcyLYbw The backdrop to this rant]] takes this trope UpToEleven.

-->'''Creator/StephenFry''' ''I've missed your angry logic, David.''

-->'''[[Series/{{QI}} Stephen Fry:]]''' ''I've missed your angry logic, David.''

'''David:''' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QNUvPEVxc0 "Comedian David Mitchell has announced he is to split from his long-term comedy partner Robert Webb]] [''Webb starts furiously pounding his buzzer''] in order to concentrate on a solo career."\\

** The general dynamic of the Mitchell and Webb collaborations, including ''Series/PeepShow''. Quite possibly TruthInTelevision.

* BeardOfSorrow: Judging from his public appearances at least, he appears to be something of a real-life inversion. His public persona, as seen on shows such as ''Series/WouldILieToYou'', was notably spiky and prone to aggressive rants when he was clean-shaven, but after he decided to grow a beard he became notably more relaxed about things (if still prone to comedically exasperated monologues. If his autobiography is to be believed, this may coincide with the periods before his relationship and marriage with Victoria Coren, in which he admits to being lonely, insecure, dissatisfied and heartbroken, and after, which cheered him up considerably.

* OddCouple: The general dynamic of the Mitchell and Webb collaborations, including ''Series/PeepShow''. Quite possibly TruthInTelevision.

* NeatFreak: He is, in his own words, a little bit OCD. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zyp8RF-Fyw Here's an excellent example.]]

He also maintains a series of soapbox rants on [[https://www.youtube.com/user/davidmitchellsoapbox Youtube]], a column in [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/davidmitchell The Observer]] and has written an autobiography "Back Story". His current venture for the BBC is the sitcom ''UpstartCrow'', part of their 'Shakespeare 400' season, in which he plays Creator/WilliamShakespeare trying to break into theatrical writing but who is woefully unappreciated by the prosaic [[UsefulNotes/TheWestMidlands Brummie-accented people]] he grew up with, who cannot understand his vision and [[TallPoppySyndrome think he's got too many big ideas in his head]].

He is married to presenter [[Series/Only Connect Victoria Coren]] and they have a child together.

He is married to presenter Victoria Coren and they have a child together.

* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Robert Webb.
** Shown especially in an episode of ''The Bubble''. The other guests, Miranda Hart and Shappi Khorsandi were [[ShipperOnDeck shipping the hell out of David and Robert]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucZm1iD5Vy4 the whole episode]]).
--->'''Miranda Hart:''' He [Robert] keeps talking about this "Abby" he's married to, but you know, we all know that "Abby" is David.
** When Webb apppeared on "Was It Something I Said?", Mitchell introduced him as "[his] reluctant life partner." Later in the episode, Webb related the rather cute story of his first kiss and Mitchell said "I wish that had ever happened to me," to which Webb replied "I wish you had been her."

** From the first episode of the Bubble, following a tangent about how a cat's head found in somebody's bed would not have been sent by the Cat Mafia, but by the Mafia of a species which considered their cats the equivalent of our horses.
--->'''Reginald D. Hunter:''' After this show, let's get you a girlfriend.
** HilariousInHindsight due to Victoria Coren, his future wife, laughing at the joke and the put down right beside Reginald.

* BerserkButton: Gosh, so many thing. Sausage rolls, bread and milk somehow being poisonous, Russians, being forced to dance, Americanized [[note]]Well, that's irony in action[[/note]] spelling, tea that's too hot, [[IncrediblyLamePun The British Cheese Board]], the list goes on... His [[http://www.youtube.com/user/davidmitchellsoapbox YouTube channel]] is basically a long list of his many {{Berserk Button}}s.

Not the same as the David Mitchell who wrote ''Literature/CloudAtlas''.