Chris Johnson (presenter)
| Christopher Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born |
25 January 1991 England |
| Occupation | Television Presenter & Voice Actor |
Christopher David Johnson (or Chris Johnson), born 25 January 1991, is a voice actor & television presenter. He began presenting on the CBBC Channel in January 2010, and continued until April 2016. His first television appearance was for BBC Three, introducing Family Guy. Chris also makes content on YouTube under the user name OfficialCDJ.[1]
He is the current voice of Dennis the Menace.
Early life
He attended Moorside High School in Swinton from 2002-2007 where he performed in a number of school musical productions. He then attended Pendleton College from 2007 to 2009, studying Performing Arts and Film Studies. Whilst there, Chris played a part in several shows, taking on the title role in an adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray as one example, as well as being involved in the college's first comedy review show. Adaptations of his YouTube sketches appeared in the review as video gags.
In the summer of 2007, he took part in the 'League of Locals' event, a live sketch show organised by the members of the The League of Gentlemen's then-official website, This Is A Local Shop.
From early 2008 to the end of 2009, Chris was the co-presenter of The Lewis Ryan Show on Salford City Radio. In August 2011 he made a return to the show, appearing most Saturdays and occasionally hosting the show himself when Lewis was unavailable. The duo retired the show in October 2013, preferring to concentrate more on their podcast work.
Career
BBC Three
During his time at Pendleton, he submitted a short introduction video to BBC Three as part of their Be On TV campaign. Performing an impression of Stewie Griffin from Family Guy, Chris's video proved successful enough upon airing to encourage BBC Three to require him once more in a relaunch of the campaign, this time providing a trailer showing others how to submit their own videos. The ad ran from April to August in 2009 on BBC Three.
CBBC
In January 2010, Chris began presenting links on the CBBC Channel; he currently presents Shout Out Saturday with Shannon Flynn. Prior to this he presented weekday afternoons with Hacker the Dog, and has been teamed previously with Dodge T. Dog, Ed Petrie or London Hughes. During school holidays, Chris presented the live mornings, and was also the voice of CBBC on BBC One & BBC Two. As of early 2010, he also became the chief presenter of CBBC's red button service CBBC Extra.
When the BBC moved children's services to MediaCityUK Chris was the first presenter to appear onscreen in the brand new CBBC Office set. As of January 2013, Chris became the chief continuity presenter on the CBBC Channel. He is sometimes referred to by the other presenters and sidekicks as 'Yonko', amongst other strange nicknames.
As part of the CBBC line-up, Chris has been involved with tie-in events such as Red Nose Day 2011 for Comic Relief. He has also made cameos on Sam & Mark's TMi Friday, Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind-Up and in the fourth episode of the third series of Little Howard's Big Question alongside Hacker, as well as presenting in the second series of All Over The Place with his former partner Ed Petrie. In 2011 he partook in the Formula 1 CBBC Alternative Commentary as well as the Euro 2012 Final CBBC Alternative Commentary. Since 2014, Johnson has narrated Whoops I Missed the Bus.
On 4 July 2014 Johnson announced that he would be leaving the CBBC Office continuity links as of 5 September that year,.[2] On the day itself it was announced that Chris would continue to appear as the recurring presenter for the Shout Out Saturday live slot.
Since 2016, Johnson has appeared on the CBBC panel show The Dog Ate My Homework 3 times.
On 9 April 2016 Shout Out Saturday came to a close, and on the day Chris and Shannon Flynn announced it was their last ever day on the CBBC Channel continuity.
Dennis the Menace
Chris voices Dennis the Menace from Season 2 onwards in the latest incarnation of the Dennis the Menace and Gnasher animated series, taking over from Sophie Aldred.[3] The theme song was redone for the new version of the show, with Johnson providing vocals.
He also recorded a new series of 'Beanotown', as Dennis, for Fun Kids Radio, which was broadcast during the summer of 2013, with another due for a 2015 release. Chris provides the voice of Dennis and many other characters for most Beano tie-in projects, such as IOS games.[4]
Doctor Who
Whilst working at CBBC, Chris has taken part in several Doctor Who & The Sarah Jane Adventures promotional events. As an open 'mega-fan' of both shows, he is the obvious choice for the sketches, which have included a five-part crossover with the CBBC Office and the characters from The Sarah Jane Adventures, interviewing Amy Pond actress Karen Gillan for CBBC on the week of the launch of the new series of Doctor Who, and many other examples. He provided the voiceover for a CBBC exclusive trailer for the 2013 series.
In early 2011, Chris made his début as a member of the new Time Team feature for Doctor Who Magazine, and has appeared in every issue since.
Chris also played several characters in the Doctor Who spin-off Gallifrey IV by Big Finish Productions, as well as appearing in the Bernice Summerfield story 'Private Enemy No.1' from the 'Epoch' series.
Chris appeared in the final episode of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games, 'The Gunpowder Plot', in the roles of 'Barnaby', plotter Robert Keyes and a royal guard.
In 2015, he appeared on the 'Doctor Who Comic Book Day' episode of Doctor Who: The Fan Show,[5] as well as the review episode for The Magician's Apprentice.[6]
Podcasting and other work
Not only does Chris host his 'OfficialCDJ' YouTube Channel, but he co-presented The Lewis Ryan Show most Saturdays on Salford City Radio. Chris appeared as one of the talking heads on Catalyst Media's "Temple of Nerd" Podcast, which ran for nearly two years before wrapping up in August 2014. He collaborates often with the YouTube group FiveWhoFans, appearing in their videos from time to time.[7]
He appeared on an episode of Celebrity Mastermind in December 2012. In 2014 he appeared as 'Ken Kong' in an episode of Strange Hill High.
In 2014, he participated in several online audio series as a performer, including Timetunnel Media's 'Doctor Who: The Missing Adventures' as an Ice Warrior and in the role of companion Tim in the Aimless Wanderings audio plays.[8]
To celebrate the ten year anniversary of the return of Doctor Who to television, Chris began a podcast series called '#9is10', which provides brand new episode commentaries for the entire 2005 run of the show, as well as extra interviews with guests, some of whom are personal friends. The entire run, which is ongoing from March 2015, can be downloaded for free from his 'OfficialCDJ' Soundcloud page.[9]
A casual gamer, Chris began a Twitch streaming service in 2015[10] where he plays indie and mainstream titles for the PS4.
His latest podcast, the '#BigDamnCast', is released weekly on iTunes.[11]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | BBC Three's "Be On TV!" ads | Stewie Griffin impersonator | |
| 2010–2016 | CBBC Channel | Presenter, actor, voiceover artist | Continuity presenter for live and pre-recorded links and voiceovers. Presented weekends and holiday mornings from 2010 until 2013. Hosted weekday afternoons with Hacker T. Dog from January 2013 til September 2014. Hosted Shout Out Saturday on the channel alongside Shannon Flynn from September 2014-April 2016 |
| 2010 | Sam & Mark's TMI Friday | Himself | |
| 2011 | Little Howard's Big Question | Himself | |
| 2012 | All Over The Place | Himself | Multiple episodes in Series 2 |
| 2012-2013 | 12 Again | Himself | Featured in the 12 Again Specials |
| 2012 | Celebrity Mastermind | Himself | |
| 2013, 2014, 2015 | Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind-Up | Himself | |
| 2013 | Pet School | Himself | |
| 2013 | Turbo Boost | Himself | |
| 2013-2014 | Blue Peter | Himself | Appearances & a guest judge for the 2013 Doctor Who gadget competition |
| 2013–Present | Dennis the Menace and Gnasher | Dennis the Menace; Postman; Pie Face's Dad; Mr Cheddar; Harley the Pig, etc | Current voice of Dennis the Menace |
| 2013-2014 | Cbeebies Bedtime Story | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2014–Present | Whoops I Missed The Bus | Narrator | Has narrated nearly every episode since Summer 2014 |
| 2014 | Strange Hill High | Ken Kong | Episode: 'Ken Kong' |
| 2014 | DNN | Himself | |
| 2014-2015 | Hacker Time | Himself | Two episodes of Series 4, in the 'Aeroport!' sketches; cameo'd in the Tim Warwood episode of Series 5 |
| 2015 | All Over The Place: Europe | Himself | Appeared in 13 of the 15 episodes |
| 2015 | Ultimate Brain | Himself | Series 2, Episode 1. Contestant alongside Ed Petrie & Iain Stirling |
| 2016 | All Over The Place: Europe, Part 2 | Himself | Appeared in 13 of the 15 episodes |
| 2016, 2017 | The Dog Ate My Homework | Himself | Panelist in 3 episodes of Series 3 and 2 episodes of Series 4 |
| 2017 | All Over The Place: Asia | Himself | Filming began May 2016 |
Video Games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Doctor Who: The Adventure Games | Barnaby; Robert Keyes; Royal Guard | Episode: 'The Gunpowder Plot' |
Audio Productions
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Gallifrey IV | Technician Hester; Kraylon | Episodes: 'Disassembled' & 'Annihilation' |
| 2011 | Bernice Summerfield: Epoch | Darion | Episode: 'Public Enemy No. 1' |
| 2013–present | Beanotown | Dennis the Menace | Fun Kids radio series |
| 2014–present | Aimless Wanderings | Tim | Online audio series |
Theatre & Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Dorian Gray | Kingsley Theatre |
| 2008 | The School for Scandal | Sir Peter Teazle | Kingsley Theatre |
| 2008 | Grease (musical) | Teen Angel | Eccleston Theatre |
| 2009 | Double Bill: The Real Inspector Hound & Black Comedy | Corpse; Colonel Melkett | Kingsley Theatre |
| 2009 | Beyond the Front Line | Ensemble | The Lowry |
| 2014-2015 | Cinderella | Buttons; Baron Hard-Up | The Harlington, 2014-2015 pantomime |
| 2016-2017 | Cinderella | Buttons | New Theatre Royal, Lincoln, 2016-2017 pantomime |
References
- ↑ "OfficialCDJ - Chris Johnson's YouTube Channel".
- ↑ "Chris announces his retirement from the CBBC Office".
- ↑ "Tamborine Productions, Dennis & Gnasher announcement".
- ↑ "'Dennis & Gnasher Adventures!' app announcement".
- ↑ "Doctor Who: The Fan Show - Doctor Who Comics Day! Guest appearance from Chris Johnson".
- ↑ "Doctor Who: The Fan Show - The Magician's Apprentice Review Guest appearance from Chris Johnson".
- ↑ "FiveWhoFans - Doctor Who fan network who produce comedy skits, occasionally guest starring Chris Johnson".
- ↑ "Aimless Wanderings: Darker Paths series, featuring Christopher Johnson as Tim".
- ↑ "OfficialCDJ Soundcloud page, featuring the #9is10 Doctor Who commentaries".
- ↑ "OfficialCDJ on Twitch - Chris Johnson's PS4 streaming page".
- ↑ "Pop culture podcast #BigDamnCast, starring Christopher Johnson and Matthew Watson, on iTunes.".
External links
- Chris Johnson at the IMDB