Christopher David Addison (born 5 November 1971) is a British comedian, writer, actor, and director. He is perhaps best known for his role as a regular panellist on Mock the Week. He is also known for his lecture-style comedy shows, two of which he later adapted for BBC Radio 4. In addition to stand-up, Addison played Ollie Reeder in the BBC Two satire series The Thick of It and Toby Wright in its spin-off film In the Loop, starred in the Sky Living comedy-drama Trying Again and appeared in three episodes of series 8 of Doctor Who. He also co-created and starred in the BBC Two sitcom Lab Rats. On radio, he previously hosted the weekly comedy news satire show 7 Day Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live from 2009 to 2010. In 2020, he co-created the FX parental comedy series Breeders starring Martin Freeman. Early life Addison was born in Cardiff, Wales, to English parents and moved back with his parents to Worsley, Salford, England, when he was four. On the BBC Radio 4 programme Chain Reaction, he stated that he considers himself a middle class Mancunian. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School, an independent school for boys in Manchester. At MGS rather than playing cricket he played the game podex. This was followed by the University of Birmingham, where he studied English Literature with the original intent of becoming a theatre director. After his directing plans did not work out, he drifted into comedy as an alternative creative outlet. Career Stand-up Addison's first solo show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was in 2003, for which he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Perrier Awards. He continued to bring shows to the Fringe for several years, gaining two Perrier Award nominations – for his 2004 show Civilisation and 2005's Atomicity. In 2005 he won the City Life Comedian of the Year Award, a stand-up competition in the North West of England. Edinburgh Festival Fringe 1998 Chris Addison 1999 Gentleman Scholar Acrobat 2000 Cakes and Ale 2001 Port Out, Starboard Home 2002 The Ape That Got Lucky (later adapted for BBC Radio 4) 2004 Civilization (nominated for Perrier Comedy Award, later adapted for BBC Radio 4) 2005 Atomicity (nominated for Perrier Comedy Award) Radio First broadcast in 2004, Addison co-wrote and co-starred in the political satire The Department, along with John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman. It ran for