British Comedy Award winner Jack Whitehall hopes to educate America
HAVING won the top gong at the British Comedy Awards for the second year running Jack Whitehall has now set his sights on cracking America.
The 25-year-old, who reclaimed his King Of Comedy title on Thursday night, is aiming to follow in the footsteps of fellow Brit Ricky Gervais by establishing himself across the Atlantic in an American version of his popular BBC sitcom Bad Education. He has been asked by US television bosses to reprise his role as hapless teacher Alfie Wickers, while the rest of the UK cast will be replaced.
“I’m just playing exactly the same part,” he tells Day & Night. “A lot of the producers and writers are going but just me as an actor.
“I am sure they are changing the role a bit but it is quite flattering to be going out there to be me. It’s a real privilege.”
Well-spoken Jack, who is also one of the show’s writers, assures us “there will be no American accent” and insists he will not be relocating permanently. “I’d miss London too much and my parents would kill me if I moved out there,” he explains.
Jack is currently co-hosting BBC Three chat show Backchat alongside his father Michael, a high-powered agent who has managed the likes of Dame Judi Dench and Colin Firth.