Jonathan Ross

### Alma mater

Southampton College of ArtSchool of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies, London
University College London

### Occupation(s)

BroadcasterFilm critic
Comedian
Actor
Writer
Producer

## Extras

### No. of appearances

2

**Jonathan Stephen Ross** OBE is an English broadcaster, film critic, comedian, actor, writer, and producer. In *Extras*, he portrays a fictionalised version of himself in the second season episode 'Jonathan Ross', reprising this role in the Christmas Special episode 'The Extra Special Series Finale'.

Ross presented the BBC One chat show *Friday Night with Jonathan Ross* during the 2000s, hosted his own radio show on BBC Radio 2 from 1999 to 2010, and served as film critic and presenter of the *Film* programme. After leaving the BBC in 2011, Ross began hosting his comedy chat show *The Jonathan Ross Show* on ITV*.* Other regular roles have included being a panellist on the comedy sports quiz *They Think It's All Over* (1999–2005), being a presenter of the British Comedy Awards (1991–2007, 2009–2014), and being a judge on the musical competition show *The Masked Singer* (2020–present) and its spin-off series *The Masked Dancer* (2021–present).

Ross began his television career as a programme researcher, before debuting as a television presenter for *The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross* on Channel 4 in 1987. Over the next decade, he had several radio and television roles, many through his own production company, Channel X. In 1995, he sold his stake in Channel X, and embarked on a career with the BBC. In 1999, Ross took over presenting the *Film* programme from Barry Norman, and also began presenting his own radio show, while two years later he began hosting *Friday Night with Jonathan Ross*. For the chat show, Ross won three BAFTA awards for Best Entertainment Performance, in 2004, 2006 and 2007. By 2006, he was believed to be the BBC's highest-paid star.

In 2005, Ross was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting. Ross has been involved in controversies throughout his broadcasting career. As a result, in 2008, he wrote a semi-autobiographical work titled *Why Do I Say These Things?*, detailing some of his life experiences. He has also written his own comic books, *Turf* and *America's Got Powers*.

## Personality

Jonathan Ross is at the prime of his British television stardom, hosting his own chat show *Friday Night with Jonathan Ross* on BBC One. He has invited rising star Andy Millman on as a guest, and they have a congenial live interview on-screen. Afterwards backstage, Jonathan cordially invites Andy to an afterparty with the other guests who appeared on his show that night (including actor Robert Lindsay). At the party, Jonathan and Andy build up a great rapport and affinity for one another, bonding over various common interests; Jonathan shows Andy a remote-control car of his, one of many in his collection.

Due to their newfound friendship, Andy begins to favour hanging out with Jonathan over his longtime friend Maggie, which disheartens her. Andy spends time at Jonathan's country house, and the two play like children with water guns and have a picnic on the grass. Andy's relationship with Jonathan strengthens his position of fame through networking and takes his career to another level.

Jonathan Ross is very friendly to Andy, and vice versa, which leads to an immediate bond forming between the two and starts a strong friendship. Jonathan seems to bring out an otherwise rarely seen side of Andy's personality: childish, fun-loving, and possessing a general enthusiasm about life.

## Trivia

* Jonathan Ross is the only guest star in the series to appear in more than one episode.
* Shaun Pye, who plays Greg Lindley-Jones in *Extras*, has also served as a writer on Jonathan Ross' chat show *Friday Night with Jonathan Ross*.