| Ian Boldsworth | |
| Birth Name: | Richard Ian Boldsworth |
| Birth Date: | 1973 6, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Warrington, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation: | Comedian, actor, podcast host, writer |
| Years Active: | 2002–present |
Richard Ian Boldsworth (27 June 1973, in Warrington, England),[1] previously known by the stage name Ray Peacock, is an English comic performer, best known for The ParaPod, The Peacock and Gamble Podcast and The Ray Peacock Podcast.[2] He came to prominence in the Big and Daft comedy trio.[3]
Boldsworth made his debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002, originally as a brash Yorkshireman character named Ray Peacock who soon became a regular act. In his 2006 show at the Edinburgh Festival, the character was dropped in all but name for a confessional stand-up show called "Out of Character."[4]
In 2007 Boldsworth began presenting the Chortle-hosted Ray Peacock Podcast alongside fellow comedian Ed Gamble and former EastEnders actor Raji James. It was succeeded by The Peacock and Gamble Podcast.[3] Launched on 8 June 2009 and released on Mondays, the show was a comedic insight in the lives and experiences of Peacock and Gamble. Kings Place in London hosted a live version of the show in December 2009 featuring Nick Mohammed in supporting roles. The shows were also notable for their live Twitter take-overs, where Ray and Ed would hack into an audience member's account during the interval. A limited Edinburgh run took place every Sunday of the 2011 Fringe. The Peacock and Gamble Podcast ended with a live episode at Kings Place on 8 December 2011. It returned for daily episodes at the 2012 and 2013 Edinburgh Festivals with a different special guest each day.
Peacock and Gamble also fronted the Emergency Broadcast show at the Fringe in 2011.[5] This show had the concept that a "real" show has been halted so Ray and Ed must fill time. Early examples featured a seance, a guide to world culture, a re-creation of the Stanford prison experiment, a tribute to Sister Act and live Guitar Hero. In 2013, the BBC commissioned a pilot of Emergency Broadcast for BBC Radio 4.[6]
Between 2015 and 2018, Boldsworth made a three-season podcast called The ParaPod with comedian Barry Dodds. Boldsworth and Dodds would explore and debunk conspiracy theories and reports of paranormal activity. He also presented a mental health-themed podcast, The Mental Podcast, for which he won the 2017 Digital Champion award from Mind.[7]
In April 2018 Boldsworth announced the upcoming release of The Parapod Movie in which he and Dodds would travel the UK in a hearse with Dodds attempting to convince Boldsworth of the existence of ghosts. It was the first ever podcast to become a movie.[8] [9]
In September 2013, Boldsworth hosted a three-hour radio show on BBC Radio 4 Extra dedicated to comedy icon Les Dawson.[10]
As an actor he has appeared on Doctor Who, Red Dwarf and Skins.[11]
Boldsworth retired from live comedy in 2017[12] [13] [14] and much of his work now takes place on Patreon.[15]