TomSka explained

TomSka
Birth Name:Thomas James Ridgewell
Birth Date:27 June 1990
Birth Place:Suffolk, England
Education:University of Lincoln
Partner:Charlie Belle (2016–present; engaged)
Years Active:2002–present
Subscribers:7.33 million (main channel)
million (combined)
Views:2.09 billion (main channel)
billion (combined)
Silver Year:2010 (TomSka)
Gold Year:2012 (TomSka)
Silver Button:yes
Gold Button:yes
Stats Update:4 July 2024

Thomas James Ridgewell (born 27 June 1990), known online as TomSka, is a British YouTuber, filmmaker, vlogger, comedian, actor, musician, and former animator. He is known for writing, directing, producing, and starring in his live-action sketch comedy YouTube videos and animated web series such as asdfmovie, Crash Zoom,[1] and Eddsworld where he both provided the voice and inspired the character of Tom and served as showrunner from 2012 to 2016., his YouTube channel has over 7.33 million subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 2 billion views.[2]

Early life and education

Thomas James Ridgewell was born on 27 June 1990 in Suffolk,[3] England.[4] His would-be twin sister Amelia died prenatally after Ridgewell's mother was injured in a car accident.[5] He was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, in Essex until age 4 and later Cambridge. As a child, Ridgewell made short films using his parents' video camera.[6] Shortly after YouTube was established, Ridgewell created CakeBomb,[7] a website where he posted his projects, including his animated web series asdfmovie and his friend Edd Gould's Eddsworld. Ridgewell graduated from the University of Lincoln[8] where he studied Media Production, and whilst studying created a series of unofficial advertisements for the university which received millions of views and were also featured on the BBC.[9]

Career

As a professional YouTuber, Ridgewell earns money from revenue from his videos on the website.[10] [11] He has been interviewed about this and has had this aspect of his life discussed, especially when the medium of online video was in its infancy. He has appeared as a guest on the BBC's The One Show[12] and created short films for Comedy Central.[13]

In October 2007, Ridgewell created a secondary channel called TomSka & Friends (previously known as DarkSquidge).[14], the channel has over 1.47 million subscribers and over 239 million views.[15] While his main channel consists of sketch comedy and animations, The "TomSka & Friends" channel shows behind-the-scenes footage of TomSka-related projects and videos, as well as vlogging.[16] Ridgewell also engages in social commentary, covering topics like mental health,[17] sexual health, and body positivity. From April 2016 to February 2018, he uploaded weekly vlogs to the channel in a series named Last Week.[18]

In 2012, Ridgewell founded the media production company TurboPunch Ltd., located in London. He currently works there alongside co-writer Eddie Bowley.[19] Ridgewell also became the producer of Eddsworld after the show's creator, Edd Gould, died of leukemia.[20] He left the series in 2016, relinquishing the show to animator Matt Hargreaves.In February 2013, Ridgewell was featured on the cover of Wired UK as part of a feature titled "How YouTube Reinvented the Entertainment Business".[21] In May 2013, he was featured in YouTube's first (and ultimately only) Comedy Week[22] as a guest host for its Geek Week series in August.[23]

In 2014, Ridgewell, in collaboration with video game developer Pixel Spill Studios, created the game KatataK, a side-scrolling shoot 'em up for iOS and Android devices.[24] [25] In September 2014, the BBC announced Ridgewell would appear as a guest presenter on the Dan and Phil Show on BBC Radio 1.[26] [27] [28]

In 2016, Ridgewell filmed several sketches with the BBC for a potential sketch show on BBC Three.[29]

A book titled Sam Kills Christmas, written by Ridgewell and Eddie Bowley with illustrations by Dorina Herdewijn, was released on 8 November 2018.[30] [31]

asdfmovie

In 2008, Ridgewell released the first episode of asdfmovie,[32] an animated sketch comedy series featuring short clips of minimalist characters in surreal and occasionally darkly humorous situations. The "asdf" part of the name originates from the first four characters of the second row of letters on the "QWERTY" keyboard layout. He has since confirmed the backronym autism spectrum disorder friendly movie.[33]

The song "Beep Beep I'm a Sheep" by Canadian musician LilDeuceDeuce with vocals by Ridgewell and Gabriel Brown,[34] released alongside asdfmovie10, was featured in the dance rhythm game Just Dance 2018.[35] A book based on the asdfmovie series, titled Art is Dead: the asdf book, was written by Ridgewell, illustrated by Matt Ley and published by Little Brown on 22 October 2015.[36]

In May 2018, Ridgewell uploaded "The Muffin Song", a spin-off song of his asdfmovie series, in collaboration with Schmoyoho., the video has garnered over 256 million views.[37]

In 2019, Ridgewell developed a card game based on asdfmovie in collaboration with Big Potato Games called Muffin Time: The Random Card Game.[38] He raised over £1,000,000 for the game on Kickstarter.[39]

Personal life

He was raised a Jehovah's Witness but no longer practices this faith.[40] Despite this, he has expressed belief in a higher power.[41]

Though not primarily a musician by trade, Ridgewell has played bass guitar in multiple videos, including "Guitar Warfare"[42] and "Mine Turtle" as a featured artist with LilDeuceDeuce.[43]

Ridgewell is very open about his struggles with grief and depression following the death of Edd Gould in 2012. He was diagnosed with severe depression in 2013.[44] A lot of the dark humour in Ridgewell's work is influenced by this. In 2016, Ridgewell uploaded an autobiographical comic onto his tumblr blog titled "Tomska is Sad: The Cycle", which dramatises previous events in his life, alongside his dependency on alcohol.[45]

In 2021, he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.[46]

On 26 December 2023, Charlie Belle, his long-term partner, announced via Instagram that they had become engaged.[47] [48] Ridgewell later revealed that he had proposed on Christmas Day.

Filmography

Web series

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005–2016EddsworldTomAlso showrunner, writer, director, producer, and composer
2008–presentasdfmovieVarious rolesAlso creator, writer, director, and producer
2012Dick FiguresMashEpisode 39, "The Fart Knight Rises"
2013Project: LibraryYoung Troy Bennet (Episode 2, "Dinosaur")Also executive producer
2014–2016Don't Hug Me I'm ScaredMagnet (Episode 6)Also executive producer (Episodes 3, 4, 5, and 6)
2015–presentCrash Zoom BenAlso creator, writer, director, and producer
2015–2021Cyanide & Happiness ShortsAgent 73 Episodes
2016WhippedJeff
2016YouTube Rewind: The Ultimate 2016 ChallengeHimself
2016–2018, 2019, 2020Last WeekAlso creator
2017YouTube Rewind: The Shape of 2017
2018–2019, 2023–2024Last MonthAlso creator
2018–2020, 2021–present
  1. CONTENT
2021–presentTryHardsAlso co-creator
2024Battle for Dream IslandPineappleSeason 2; Episode 10, "Taste the Sweetness"[49]

Short films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012Ellie HeartN/AExecutive producer, special thanks
2015Primitive CorrectnessUghAlso writer and director
2016AwayN/AExecutive Producer
2016Friend Like MeJirard the Pizza Guy
2017Self-Conscious ComputerN/ASpecial thanks
2021The Last Union

Feature films

Year Title Director Producer Writer Other Role Notes
2013 French Cop (voice)
2015 Dude Bro Party Massacre III Chaz Noodlemen (voice)
2020

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014KatataKCreator
2018FrostpunkVarious Roles
2021MADNESS: Project NexusSpecial thanks

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Klein. Jessica. 17 August 2014. Between Comedies, TomSka Also Educates His YouTube Fans – VideoInk. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603135328/http://www.thevideoink.com/features/comedies-tomska-wants-better-youtube-fans/. 3 June 2016. 14 September 2020. VideoInk, Inc..
  2. Web site: TomSka's YouTube Stats. 6 July 2023. Social Blade. 8 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230608160703/https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/tomska. live.
  3. Web site: Ridgewell . Thomas . 8 August 2023 . Last Month I Got Old – Youtube . 8 August 2023 . . 18 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230918052332/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnqR8CoZ4WQ . live .
  4. Web site: Lewis. Tim. Fox. Killian. Michael. Lizzi. 6 April 2013. YouTube UK: 20 of Britain's most popular online video bloggers. 13 June 2016. The Guardian. 28 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140228041827/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/apr/07/youtube-uk-20-online-video-bloggers. live.
  5. The Complete History of Me (1/3) . 2016-02-25 . TomSka & Friends . 2024-05-23 . YouTube.
  6. Book: Clarkson, Stephanie. Vlog It!. Scholastic UK. 2015. 978-1-4071-6512-7. United Kingdom. 57.
  7. Web site: CakeBomb. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120120043427/http://www.cakebomb.co.uk/. 20 January 2012. 14 May 2020. CakeBomb.
  8. Web site: Cousins. Rachael. 27 August 2014. Former University of Lincoln students to guest present on Radio 1. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603135330/http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/University-Lincoln-students-guest-present-Radio-1/story-22836679-detail/story.html. 3 June 2016. 14 September 2020. Lincolnshire Echo.
  9. Web site: Johnson. Sarah. 18 August 2011. Appointment to view: The University of Lincoln goes viral. 14 September 2020. Campaign. 14 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414013354/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/appointment-view-university-lincoln-goes-viral/1085410. live.
  10. Web site: 12 March 2013. The Tom Ridgewell show: the 22-year-old making £10,000 a month from his bedroom on YouTube. 13 June 2016. Evening Standard. 30 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150630162937/http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-tom-ridgewell-show-the-22yearold-making-10000-a-month-from-his-bedroom-on-youtube-8530893.html. live.
  11. Web site: Whitworth. Dan. 19 April 2011. YouTube star TomSka 'makes thousands' every month. 14 September 2020. Newsbeat. 1 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200301105514/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/13136416/youtube-star-tomska-makes-thousands-every-month. live.
  12. Web site: thepod96. 23 November 2011. TomSka and Bing on The One Show – BBC One. YouTube. The One Show. BBC. 28 November 2016. 5 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161205143924/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-hLCjzjOvs. live.
  13. Web site: 16 December 2014. YouTube Sensation TomSka Takes Over Comedycentral.co.uk. 14 September 2020. ViacomCBS. 6 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210306163448/http://www.vimn.com/press/comedycentral/content/youtube-sensation-tomska-takes-over-comedycentralcouk. dead.
  14. Web site: DarkSquidge – YouTube. 14 September 2020. YouTube. 13 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200313111949/https://www.youtube.com/user/DarkSquidge/about. live.
  15. Web site: DarkSquidge's YouTube Stats. 10 April 2022. Social Blade. 8 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230608160659/https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/darksquidge. live.
  16. Web site: TomSka & Friends - YouTube . 2024-01-19 . YouTube.
  17. Web site: Griffin. Louise. 18 February 2019. TomSka opens up about the dark side of asdfmovie, repairing relationships, and getting a 'real job'. 14 September 2020. Metro. 16 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216073541/https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/18/tomska-opens-up-about-the-dark-side-of-asdfmovie-repairing-relationships-and-getting-a-real-job-8661502/. live.
  18. Web site: O'Dell. Liam. 8 September 2017. TomSka Announces the End of Last Week. 14 September 2020. TenEighty. 3 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200103182518/https://teneightymagazine.com/2017/09/08/tomska-announces-the-end-of-last-week/. live.
  19. Web site: TURBOPUNCH LIMITED. 21 October 2018. Datalog. 21 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181021233930/http://www.datalog.co.uk/browse/detail.php/CompanyNumber/07912863/CompanyName/TURBOPUNCH+LIMITED. live.
  20. Web site: Gutelle. Sam. 23 March 2016. TomSka's New Documentary Explains How Eddsworld Survived Its Creator's Death. 11 February 2020. Tubefilter. 6 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200306105349/https://www.tubefilter.com/2016/03/23/tom-ska-eddsworld-documentary/. live.
  21. Cheshire. Tom. 7 February 2013. Talent Tube: how Britain's new YouTube superstars built a global fanbase. 13 June 2016. Wired UK. 15 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160515011036/http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2013/02/features/talent-tube. live.
  22. Web site: YouTube's Comedy Week shows how much comedy has changed. 13 June 2016. Telegraph.co.uk. 19 May 2013. 3 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603181014/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedy-news/10068492/YouTubes-Comedy-Week-shows-how-much-comedy-has-changed.html. live.
  23. Web site: Vincent. James. 25 July 2013. YouTube Launches 'Geek Week', Nerds Left in the Shade. 14 September 2020. The Independent. 5 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191105011548/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/youtube-launches-geek-week-nerds-left-in-the-shade-8730464.html. live.
  24. Web site: KatataK. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150717140549/http://www.katatakgame.com/about. 17 July 2015. 27 February 2016. KatataK.
  25. Web site: Saylor. Jacob. 29 December 2014. KatataK Is Now Out for iOS and Android. 18 February 2020. Gameranx. 18 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200218080327/https://gameranx.com/updates/id/25828/article/katatak-is-now-out-for-ios-and-android/. live.
  26. Web site: 22 August 2014. New youth presenters for Radio 1. 13 June 2016. BBC. 25 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140825025717/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/r1-youth-presenters. live.
  27. Web site: Lewis. Tim. 6 April 2013. YouTube superstars: the generation taking on TV – and winning. 13 June 2016. The Guardian. 3 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603181023/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/apr/07/youtube-superstars-new-generation-bloggers. live.
  28. Web site: Burrell. Ian. 22 August 2014. Radio 1 to hire 'YouTube-famous' vloggers to broadcast online. 13 June 2016. The Independent. 25 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925094659/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/radio-1-to-hire-youtubefamous-vloggers-to-broadcast-online-9686208.html. live.
  29. Web site: Fitzgerald. Claire. 3 December 2015. Tom Ridgewell Working with BBC Comedy. 4 October 2017. TenEighty. 5 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050633/http://teneightymagazine.com/2015/12/03/tom-ridgewell-working-with-bbc-comedy/. live.
  30. Web site: Weiss. Geoff. 24 September 2018. U.K. YouTube Vet TomSka Has Written A Kids' Book Called 'Sam Kills Christmas'. 21 October 2018. Tubefilter. 24 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180924224845/https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/09/24/tomska-sam-kills-christmas-book/. live.
  31. Web site: Griffin. Louise. 7 November 2018. TomSka is ready to 'take down' Christmas with his new book, and we're not mad. 18 February 2020. Metro. 18 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200218080324/https://metro.co.uk/2018/11/07/tomska-is-ready-to-take-down-christmas-with-his-new-book-and-were-not-even-mad-8110242/. live.
  32. Web site: Dillon. Poppy. 12 August 2015. Tom Ridgewell to Release asdf Comic Book. 14 September 2020. TenEighty. 20 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200220044140/https://teneightymagazine.com/2015/08/12/tom-ridgewell-to-release-asdf-comic-book/. live.
  33. Web site: it's "friendly" not "funny" but yea. twitter.com. Thomas Ridgewell. November 18, 2023.
  34. Web site: Regina musician's latest video racking up millions of views on YouTube. Melnychuk. Mark. 7 April 2017. Regina Leader-post. 9 March 2020. 31 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191031125242/https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/regina-musicians-latest-video-racking-up-millions-of-views-on-youtube. live.
  35. Web site: Sounders. Mike. 23 August 2017. Random time: Beep beep like a sheep in Just Dance 2018. 21 October 2018. Destructoid. 12 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032927/https://www.destructoid.com/random-time-beep-beep-like-a-sheep-in-just-dance-2018-456534.phtml. live.
  36. Web site: Dillon. Poppy. 12 August 2015. Tom Ridgewell to Release asdf Comic Book. 20 February 2020. TenEighty. 20 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200220044140/https://teneightymagazine.com/2015/08/12/tom-ridgewell-to-release-asdf-comic-book/. live.
  37. Web site: TomSka's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) – Social Blade. 29 October 2021. Social Blade. 29 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211029153442/https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/tomska/videos. live.
  38. Web site: O'Dell. Liam. 14 August 2019. TomSka Announces asdfmovie Card Game. 18 February 2020. TenEighty. 15 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200215000755/https://teneightymagazine.com/2019/08/14/tomska-announces-asdfmovie-card-game/. live.
  39. Web site: Hutchins. Robert. 16 September 2019. Big Potato and Turbo Punch join £1m club on Kickstarter with Muffin Time success. 18 February 2020. ToyNews. 18 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200218080328/https://www.toynews-online.biz/2019/09/16/big-potato-and-turbo-punch-join-1m-club-on-kickstarter-with-muffin-time-success/. dead.
  40. Web site: DarkSquidge. 7 October 2015. The Day My Faith Died. 14 September 2020. YouTube. 19 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201119235712/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXRK76x_D8Q. live.
  41. Web site: DarkSquidge. 28 January 2013. 7 Facts About TomSka. 14 September 2020. YouTube. 27 July 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130727154322/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ2wwLh1dhU. live.
  42. Web site: Page. Justin. 20 May 2013. Guitar Warfare, An Explosive Guitar Battle Between Good and Evil. 18 February 2020. Laughing Squid. 18 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200218005716/https://laughingsquid.com/guitar-warfare-an-explosive-guitar-battle-between-good-and-evil/. live.
  43. Web site: TomSka. 22 June 2012. MINE TURTLE (asdfmovie song). 14 September 2020. YouTube. 7 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107231123/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI5_sQ8O-7Y. live.
  44. I Am Depressed . en . 2024-05-09 . www.youtube.com.
  45. Web site: So I wrote a comic... . 2024-05-09 . Tumblr . April 2017 . en-US.
  46. Web site: Oh yeah, I have ADHD. I only mentioned this in passing once but I was finally diagnosed in 2021, surprising absolutely no one. If I ever find myself vlogging again, I'll go into more detail. Either that or you'll have to wait for The Complete History of Me 4 (2027) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. twitter.com. Thomas Ridgewell. 17 November 2022.
  47. Web site: said no, obviously x. Charlie Belle. 2023-12-27 . Instagram.
  48. Web site: Last Month I Proposed. YouTube. 19 January 2024. Thomas Ridgewell.
  49. Web site: Haha thank you he's beautiful. Lemme know if you need an extra voice actor for BFDIA 10 ;D. twitter.com. Thomas Ridgewell. February 2, 2024.
  50. Web site: The TomSka Iceberg Explained #CONTENT . . 30 November 2021 . 2 February 2023 . 2 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202161104/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ7pBUHQ0us . live .

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