Damon Beesley

**Damon Beesley** is a supporting character in the television series *Extras*. He appears as a guest in the first season and in a recurring role in the second season of the show. He is portrayed by English actor Martin Savage.

Damon is an extremely camp comedy script writer for the BBC who is assigned to assist Andy Millman with the creation and production of his sitcom *When the Whistle Blows*.

## Biography

### Background

Prior to 2005, Damon has been working at the BBC for a while, making his way up the hierarchy to become one of the top comedy script writers working at the network. He has a strong working relationship and friendship with BBC Head of Comedy Iain Morris. He is openly homosexual.

### Season 1

Damon is first introduced in the first season finale 'Patrick Stewart', when he is assigned by Iain Morris to work with Andy on the script for his sitcom *When the Whistle Blows*, which has recently been adopted by the BBC.

As the pair work on the script and general ideas for the show, their working relationship lacks chemistry; Whilst Damon loves the idea of Andy's sitcom and finds it hilarious, Andy finds Damon's camp personality oblivious and irritating. Andy later complains to Maggie that Damon is "too gay", which, when told to Damon by Maggie, comes off as a homophobic comment.

Andy is summoned to Iain's office to discuss the ordeal. Andy states that the comment was made as a joke and he is not a homophobe, however Damon is unconvinced and storms out of the room. When Iain reveals to Andy that he is also gay, it is made apparent to Andy that he needs to be more open-minded in order for production of his sitcom to continue. In a later meeting, Andy sincerely apologises to Damon, who accepts the apology and hugs him.

As Damon and Andy are working on the script, Damon becomes fascinated by the potential catchphrase of Andy's character Ray Stokes, "Are you 'avin a laugh?" He finds it hilarious and insists that it be implemented in the script, despite Andy being opposed to using catchphrases in his sitcom.

### Season 2

Damon appears various times throughout the second season on the set of *When the Whistle Blows,* usually onlooking with Iain. He is responsible for Ray Stoke's iconic costume, with a curly-haired wig and large red spectacles, despite Andy's protests. Damon supports Iain when Andy stands up to his authority, demanding more creative control in the sitcom; Andy has to back down for the sake of continuing the program.

When the show is nominated for a BAFTA award, Damon attends the 2007 BAFTA TV Awards ceremony with Andy, Darren, and Maggie.

In his final appearance, Damon attends the premiere of Ian McKellen's play *A Month of Summers*, in which Andy has a starring role.

## Appearances

### Season 2

* 'Orlando Bloom'
* 'Chris Martin'
* 'Sir Ian McKellen'

## Personality

Damon is camp and cheerful, and is enthusiastic about script writing, particularly for Andy's sitcom *When the Whistle Blows* which he finds hilarious. He is fairly tolerant of Andy's polar-opposite apathetic attitude when around him, not letting this dampen his spirits. However, when he hears of Andy making an apparent homophobic comment about him behind his back, Damon is outraged. He complains to Iain, and is initially reluctant to accept Andy's half-hearted apology. Later, when he delivers an apology more sincere, Damon forgivingly decides to move on, valuing a continued working relationship with Andy due to Damon's keenness with the project.

## Trivia

* Damon Beesley is the name of a real life British screenwriter, whose work includes *The Inbetweeners*, *Flight of the Conchords*, and *White Gold*. He has a successful writing partnership with Iain Morris, also the name of an *Extras* character, although the character is not a writer.
	+ Ricky Gervais is real-life frenemies with Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, having known each other since Gervais entered the industry. Gervais, constantly the victim of their "bullying", used the naming of their characters in *Extras* as revenge. (YouTube)