Straitjacket

Award winning comedy duo Straitjacket, otherwise known as Tom Bennett and Ian Todd, formed in 2003 when they began writing and filming sketches in their native North East.

Since forming they have written sketches for BBC Radio One and E4 and completed two successive runs at the Edinburgh Festival in 2005 and 2006. Threeweeks described their screenings as: "a dark and surreal style of their own that comes somewhere near Lee and Herring."

In 2006, they were nominated for the prestigious Talent Circle Short Film Mobile Award and the following year won a 4Laughs competition. In 2007 they won the 4Talent Comedy Award voted for by Channel 4.

Straitjacket were soon discovered by American comedian Bob Odenkirk (Mr Show, Saturday Night Live) who has hailed Straitjacket as "The next great sketch show."

Bob Odenkirk champions their comedy in the States, fronting their video sketches at festivals and screenings, including the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival. Shows have also been screened in New York, LA, San Francisco and Hollywood.

Tom and Ian finished writing a sketch show pilot for TV with Bob Odenkirk in December 2007. Since then they have continued to write and produce comedy sketches, most recently providing exclusive content for Comedy Central’s comedy site, Atom and are currently developing a sitcom influenced by Vlogging and Facebook.

"Would grace any TV sketch show." Henry Normal, Baby Cow

Website: www.straitjacketcomedy.com