Josh Berry is a stand-up comedian, character actor, writer, and impressionist.

Josh began his career working with Union JACK Radio, when he created, wrote, and voiced Josh Berry’s Fake News. This was nominated for Best Comedy Podcast in the British Podcast Awards in 2020, and has helped the comedian win a host of fans since it launched in 2018.

Josh’s impressions have also won him the respect of Radio 4’s audiences after multiple appearances on Dead Ringers and The Now Show.

Josh Berry — Education and Early Comedic Success

Berry studied at Reading Blue Coat School, an independent school for boys in Sonning, Berkshire. He later graduated from Oxford University in summer 2017, where he found inspiration for his future character Rafe Hubris (advisor to the Conservative party).

Berry first entered the public consciousness in 2013 with his impressions of various tennis players, such as Andy Murray, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. His YouTube videos earned tens of thousands of views, and demonstrated his powerful talent for mimicry.

The Famous Andy Murray Video

One of the pivotal moments in Josh Berry’s career actually came courtesy of a video with tennis ace Murray.

Berry is a long-time fan of Murray, and started performing impressions of him when he was just 16 years old. He admitted to feeling nervous about meeting the player in case he “hated” his impersonation, especially because Murray is “a big idol” of his.

However, Murray found Berry’s impression funny, and later invited the young comedian to appear in a video with him. The resulting comedy sketch showed the world what Berry was capable of, and he appeared unfazed by the presence of the world-famous tennis star. Murray took on a prominent role in the video: he played an interviewer asking Berry the type of questions he’s answered many times before throughout his long tennis career. Berry displayed an uncanny grasp of the Scottish tennis star’s accent, delivery, and mannerisms.

Unsurprisingly, the video soon went viral and racked up hundreds of thousands of views. It helped bring Berry to wider attention.

But it was when he started working with Union JACK Radio, a national digital station which describes itself as “the home of the Best of British”, that Berry’s career took greater strides. Union JACK Radio is dedicated to playing British music only, and has built an extensive portfolio of audio comedy — including Josh Berry’s Fake News.

Josh Berry’s Fake News

Josh Berry’s Fake News began in 2018, and spans three successful series (so far). It stars the comedian as he delivers a plethora of topical content and impressions, entertaining listeners with sharp satire and recognizable characters.

Fake News was released as a weekly podcast, and earned a nomination for Best Comedy Podcast at the British Podcast Awards 2020.

Berry also starred in Andy Murray’s 15-0 Songs, a topical radio show featuring Berry in character as Murray. But Berry found room to include famous figures like Boris Johnson and Gordon Ramsay as well as the tennis champ.

Josh Berry: Sell Out Edinburgh Fringe Shows

Berry has also enjoyed considerable success at the iconic Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where so many hugely successful comedians have performed over the decades.

He made his first appearance at the festival with Voice Thief in 2018, and added extra dates to accommodate high demand. He peppered a number of voices and characters throughout Voice Thief, including Russell Brand, Daniel Radcliffe, Prince Harry, and Louis Theroux.

His 2019 show, Josh Berry: Who Does He Think He Is?, also sold out at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. During this show, Berry performed impressions of Theroux, stand-up comedian James Acaster, and other favourites.

UK Tours and Rafe Hubris

Berry is touring the UK in 2021 and 2022 with a show in two parts: Josh Berry: Who Does He Think He Is? and In Auditorium Cum Hubris.

The latter section of the show stars Berry as Rafe Hubris, a character who has worked alongside some of the most well-known (and controversial) political figures in the UK — Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock, and Dominic Cummings.

The Rise of Alter Ego Rafe Hubris (BA, OXON)

Berry revealed Rafe Hubris to fans during 2020, a year of lockdowns, confusion, and political strife. The character helped demonstrate the comedian’s considerable versatility. Hubris was educated at Eton and Oxford, and stems from Berry’s days at the latter, where he encountered various people who were “implacably self-confident” yet had “zero ability”.

Berry’s goal with Hubris is to poke fun at people whose self-confidence enables them to achieve high positions in society, rather than their ability. He has made Hubris out to be the man pulling the strings at the government’s core.

The Comedian's Literary Debut in 2021

The character is making his literary debut in 2021 with Staggering Hubris: The Memoir of Boris Johnson’s Most Classic Spad.

Berry has authored this book, based on Rafe Hubris’ diaries, to offer satiric insights into the character’s life. Staggering Hubris is published by Lightning Books.

Writer Berry said that the 2021 book is “a big moment for Rafe who will doubtless continue to fail upwards through government in the years to come.”

Josh Berry’s Talent for Impressions

Berry is well known for his range of impersonations of everyone from Conservative politicians to stand-up comedians and sports stars. And his ability to observe, pick apart, and recreate his subjects’ most recognisable traits has earned praise from some of the country’s most popular comedy performers.

For example, Berry has been described as “a remarkable new talent” by none other than Rob Brydon — no stranger to impressions. Brydon is one of the UK’s foremost names in comedy, amassing fans for his work in Gavin and Stacey, Would I Lie to You?, The Trip, and much more. Brydon has performed his takes on Al Pacino, Mick Jagger, Ronnie Corbett, Michael Caine, and many other stars.

Berry has also been called “absolutely superb” by accomplished impressionist Jon Culshaw, known as one of the stars of the BBC’s Dead Ringers. Berry has actually appeared on BBC Radio 4’s long-running Dead Ringers programme, along with Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Debra Stephenson, and other mimics.

Berry has also been heard on BBC Radio 4 Xtra’s Newsjack and Tracey Breaks the News (Tracey Ullman’s successful BBC1 series).… show more