Introduction
Robert Florence (born 29 July 1977) is a Scottish presenter, comedian and writer most popularly known for starring in the popular BBC comedy sketch show Burnistoun, and the video game review shows Consolevania and videoGaiden.
Early life
Robert Florence was born on 29 July 1977 and was raised in a working-class family in Balornock, Glasgow. His father and brothers are roofers.
He and future writing collaborator Iain Connell met as a pair of fifteen-year-olds at a Springburn amateur youth theatre project, Toonspeak. His sole stage appearance was at a stand-up comedy night in Petershill, Springburn, for which he dressed up as David Bowie. Florence spent a year on a film and television studies course at the University of Glasgow.
Career
He was a core writer of the sketch show Chewin' the Fat and with Iain Connell wrote the sitcom series Legit and Empty. Connell and Florence have recently worked on the third series of Burnistoun, which is set in a fictional Scottish city. The first series was shown on BBC 2 Scotland in early 2010; the second was shown on BBC 1 Scotland in early 2011 and the third began in August 2012. Florence has also been a performer on Frankie Boyle's Tramadol Nights for Channel 4.
Florence also makes an online show about boardgames called DowntimeTown and is the writer/performer/editor/creator of a review show for Xbox Live called The Independent Charles Show (sometimes purposefully misspelled The Independint Charles Show). "Cardboard Children" is a regular feature on boardgames that Florence began contributing to UK-based PC gaming blog Rock, Paper, Shotgun in September 2010.
Personal life
Florence is a Celtic supporter. In June 2013, he lost to Greg Hemphill in a professional wrestling contest at the Kelvin Hall which served as the venue's final act before closing down. He is a vegan.
Credits
Television
- Chewin' the Fat (writer)
- Velvet Soup (writer)
- Live Floor Show (writer)
- videoGaiden (writer/actor/presenter)
- Legit (writer)
- Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe (guest appearance)
- The Karen Dunbar Show (writer)
- Watson's Wind Up (writer)
- Velvet Cabaret (writer)
- Empty (writer)
- Revolver (writer)
- Charlie Brooker's Gameswipe (guest appearance)
- Burnistoun (actor/writer)
- Mock the Week (writer)
- Frankie Boyle's Tramadol Nights (actor/writer)
- Enlighten Up! (writer/actor)
- The Sunny (writer/actor)
Films
- The House of Him (2014)
Online series
- consolevania (writer/actor/presenter)
- DowntimeTown (writer/actor/presenter)
- The Independint Charles Show (Xbox LIVE) (writer/actor/presenter)
Print & Online Writing
- GamesTM (guest writer)
- Disposable Media (guest columnist)
- Custom PC (columnist)
- Rock, Paper, Shotgun (columnist)
- Eurogamer.net (columnist)
- English, Paul (2014-02-10). "Burnistoun star Robert Florence: I was filming slasher film in kitchen.. as my mum was watching Corrie in next room". Daily Record. Retrieved 2016-01-05.