Heydon Prowse Explained

Heydon Prowse
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:London, England
Medium:Stand-up, television, film, radio
Active:1993–present
Genre:Topical comedy/satire
Subject:Politics, current affairs
Education:King Alfred School, London
Alma Mater:University of Sussex

Heydon Prowse (born February 1981) is a British activist, journalist, satirist, director and comedian. He is best known for writing and performing in BBC Three's Bafta-winning The Revolution Will Be Televised alongside Jolyon Rubinstein.[2] [3] As part of that show he gave George Osborne a GCSE maths text book, a stunt that featured on the front cover of The Daily Telegraph and other publications.[4] [5]

In May 2023, Prowse traveled to Brazil where he was ambushed alongside activist Txai Suruí by local tribesmen in Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau.[6] [7]

Early life

Prowse was educated at King Alfred School, London and the University of Sussex where he studied philosophy, graduating in 2004.[8] As a schoolboy he played Colin Craven in the 1993 film The Secret Garden.[9] [10] Prowse made national news in the UK in 2009 when a secret recording he made of Conservative politician Alan Duncan in the Houses of Parliament resulted in Duncan's dismissal from the opposition front bench.[11] [12] [13] [14]

Revolting

Heydon Prowse and Jolyon Rubinstein created and starred in Revolting on BBC2 in 2017, a short-lived satire show which garnered controversy through sketches including "The Real Housewives of ISIS".[15] [16]

Don't Panic

Prowse is director and talent with the viral creative agency Don't Panic[17] for whom he has created a number of award winning films. In 2013, Prowse directed his first VICE show, presented by Nimrod Kamer at the Venice Film Festival.[18]

Michael Green

For the 2015 United Kingdom general election, Prowse changed his name to Michael Green via deed poll to stand as an independent candidate against Grant Shapps in the Welwyn Hatfield constituency.[19] [20] The name Michael Green is a pseudonym of Shapps which has attracted controversy. He secured 216 votes in the election, placing sixth out of seven candidates.[21]

Presenting

Prowse also acted as the presenter for the BBC documentary show The Town That Took on the Taxman shown in January 2016, where businesses in the small Welsh town Crickhowell attempted to minimise their tax burden using the same methods as large corporations.[22] [23]

Prank calls

Prowse is known for prank calling notable figures in politics and entertainment. In February 2017, he duped Number 10 Downing Street claiming the US President wanted to send Theresa May her favourite bouquet as a special gift.[24] In May 2017, he called Jeremy Corbyn who mistook Prowse for Stormzy and discussed making a grime video together.[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Heydon PROWSE . . 29 November 2019.
  2. Web site: BBC3 announces new entertainment commissions. Televisual. 16 May 2014. 4 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160204220910/http://www.televisual.com/news-detail/BBC3-announces-new-entertainment-commissions_nid-4199.html. live.
  3. Web site: Heydon Prowse. Financial Times. en-GB. 2018-09-02. 3 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180903045739/https://www.ft.com/stream/7f7d5378-b26c-3953-bbd2-7e6368470775. live.
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/shortcuts/2012/aug/21/pranksters-george-osborne-gcse The pranksters who gave George Osborne a GCSE maths book
  5. News: Heydon Prowse & Jolyon Rubinstein: 'We do The Revolution Will Be. The Independent. 2018-09-07. en-GB. 7 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180907225853/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/heydon-prowse-jolyon-rubinstein-we-do-the-revolution-will-be-televised-because-were-super-intense-10071779.html. live.
  6. Web site: 2023-05-20 . UK director, Indigenous group ambushed in Brazil: activists . 2024-09-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230520201814/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/uk-director-indigenous-group-ambushed-192258042.html . 20 May 2023 .
  7. Web site: Farias . Elaíze . 2023-05-16 . Neidinha, artista Mundano e indígenas sofrem emboscada no Burareiro . 2024-09-07 . Amazônia Real . pt-BR . 20 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230520203827/https://amazoniareal.com.br/neidinha-artista-mundano-e-indigenas-sofrem-emboscada-no-burareiro/ . live .
  8. News: From angel to activist: Heydon Prowse. Evening Standard. 2018-09-07. en-GB. 7 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180907225939/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/from-angel-to-activist-heydon-prowse-6732226.html. live.
  9. Web site: Secret Garden actor turns into a green campaigner. London Evening Standard. 12 April 2012 . 16 May 2014.
  10. Web site: 'Some of the things we do are brazen. I would punch us'. Samadder. Rhik. 2014-10-06. the Guardian. en. 2018-09-07.
  11. News: Alan Duncan's exchange with Heydon Prowse. 2009-08-13. 2018-09-07. en-GB. 0307-1235.
  12. News: How Alan Duncan's olive branch to YouTube prankster Heydon Prowse backfired. Bingham. John. 2009-08-13. 2018-09-07. en-GB. 0307-1235. 8 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180908015710/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/6017456/How-Alan-Duncans-olive-branch-to-YouTube-prankster-Heydon-Prowse-backfired.html. live.
  13. Web site: From angel to activist: Heydon Prowse. London Evening Standard. 12 April 2012 . 16 May 2014.
  14. Web site: The pranksters who gave George Osborne a GCSE maths book. The Guardian. 21 August 2012 . 16 May 2014.
  15. News: Interview: Heydon Prowse on politics, controversy and the future. 2017-02-03. The Cambridge Student. 2018-09-07. en. 7 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180907221401/https://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/interviews/0036652-interview-heydon-prowse-on-politics-controversy-and-the-future.html. live.
  16. Web site: Heydon Prowse Archives. Huck Magazine. 27 May 2017. en-US. 2019-10-03. 16 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220816171547/https://www.huckmag.com/topics/heydon-prowse/. live.
  17. Web site: Heydon Prowse Contributors. www.dontpaniconline.com. en. 2018-09-02.
  18. Web site: Best Ever VICE Series - Nimrod Kamer. Nimrod. Kamer. 14 November 2016. Medium. 25 June 2019. 3 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180903013416/https://medium.com/@nnimrodd/my-best-vice-series-e8140619bef6. live.
  19. Web site: Burke. Dave. Satire show comic is standing against Grant Shapps after changing name to Michael Green. Welwyn Hatfield Times. 29 April 2015. 29 April 2015. 2 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150502060315/http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/exclusive_satire_show_comic_is_standing_against_grant_shapps_after_changing_name_to_michael_green_1_4052913. live.
  20. Web site: A la Recherche du Shapps Perdu … or anyone seen Grant Shapps? . 29 April 2015 . 1 May 2015 . The Guardian . John . Crace.
  21. Web site: General Election 2015: Welwyn Hatfield result . Neil . Metcalfe . 9 May 2015 . 8 May 2015 . Welwyn Hatfield Times.
  22. Web site: The Town That Took on the Taxman, BBC Two, review: 'disappointing'. Rupert. Hawksley. 20 January 2016. 25 June 2019. www.telegraph.co.uk. 20 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170620150747/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/12111336/The-Town-That-Took-on-the-Taxman-BBC-Two-review.html. live.
  23. Web site: BBC Two - The Town That Took on the Taxman. BBC. 25 June 2019.
  24. Web site: Downing Street Fooled by Valentine's Day Prank. News18. 14 February 2017 .
  25. Jeremy Corbyn mistakes prankster for Stormzy and discusses making a grime video with him. www.independent.co.uk. 11 May 2017 .

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