Reece Shearsmith named Yorkshire Patron
Reece Shearsmith has been named an official 'Yorkshire Patron'. He joins the likes of Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Michael Parkinson as someone hand-picked by the Welcome to Yorkshire organisation to act as an ambassador for the region.
The comedy writer and actor was born and grew up in Hull. He rose to stardom with The League of Gentlemen, the sketch group he formed with Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Jeremy Dyson having graduated from Bretton Hall in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
The group scooped the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1997, before going on to make a series for BBC Radio 4. It was the BBC Two version of The League of Gentlemen, which premiered in 1999, that turned the group into stars. The show went on to win multiple awards, including a BAFTA and the Golden Rose of Montreux.
Shearsmith's comedy projects since then include writing and starring in BBC Two's Psychoville with Steve Pemberton, and the critically acclaimed new anthology series Inside No. 9. Shearsmith and Pemberton are due to begin filming the second series of the show shortly.
The comedy star has also turned to acting in prime-time drama series recently. He will be seen in the lead role of ITV's new detective series Chasing Shadows, which begins at 9pm on 4th September.
Talking about becoming a Yorkshire Patron, Reece Shearsmith says: "I'm very proud to be named a Yorkshire Patron. My family still live in Hull and I retain strong links with the area. From the origins of The League of Gentlemen through to being given an honorary degree from the University of Hull last year, Yorkshire's played a big role in my career."
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, explains: "It's a genuine pleasure to recognise Reece's achievements and his proud promotion of his home county in the process. His talents have seen him grace both TV and cinema screens and the next 12 months promise to be even more exciting with his role in the new Ben Wheatley film alongside the likes of Sienna Miller and Jeremy Irons."
Below is a classic clip from The League of Gentlemen in which Shearsmith plays shop owner Edward:
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