The Jest is made up of University of Exeter graduates Ella Ainsworth (School of Comedy on Channel 4 and at The Pleasance, the BBC’s Hustle and Being Human), Tristan Rogers, Jack Stanley (BBC1′s Little Britain, 2005 film The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), Luke Theobald (runner-up on an episode of BBC1’s Pointless…) and Bryony Twydle. Ella Ainsworth was one of the original members of School of C
omedy, performing at Pleasance Courtyard in Edinburgh before Channel 4 comissioned the show for two series. Ella went on to study Drama at Exeter, meeting the other members of The Jest in the process while continuing to make guest appearances in Hustle and Being Human. Tristan Rogers was briefly a Cornish mathematician before heading to Exeter to become a Cornish drama student. He obtained an MA in Acting from East 15 Acting School and is now a Cornish actor. Jack Stanley was a prominent child actor, debuting as a terrified nine-year old in
Messiah, and maturing through roles in Little Britain, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the
Galaxy, and unforgettably, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London. Once the
intense gaze of the media moved away from Jack, he went to Exeter to study
English and, it turned out, sketch comedy. Jack also writes plays. Luke Theobald was born in Derby, where he remained for some time, before
heading south to study English at Exeter alongside people such as prominent child
actor Jack Stanley. Luke received critical priase following his two appearances on
popular primetime BBC1 quiz show Pointless. One Twitter observer commented
‘Why is Zach Galifianakis on Pointless?’
Bryony Twydle unsurprisingly met the other members of the group at the
University of Exeter, where she studied Drama. Following her graduation, she
obtained a dog named Stanley, who has gone on to write the majority of the
sketches for The Jest. While Stanley beavers away writing, Bryony is studying
for her MA in Acting from Guildford School of Acting.
