Dane Baptiste (born 3 September 1981) is a British stand-up comedian, writer and presenter. He was the first Black British act to be nominated for the "Best Newcomer" award at 2014's Edinburgh Comedy Awards and his comedy series Sunny D premiered on BBC Three in Spring 2016.[1] He has made numerous TV and radio appearances, and hosts his own podcast Dane Baptiste Questions Everything. In January 2021, Baptiste's comedy pilot Bamous launched on BBC Three / BBC One.[2]
Baptiste started performing stand-up comedy in 2012.
Baptiste was the first Black Briton to be nominated for the 2014 “Best Newcomer” Edinburgh Comedy Award.[6] After the success of his debut stand up-show “Citizen Dane”, he completed two sold-out runs at London's Soho Theatre (with additional dates added to accommodate demand).
His second stand-up show “Reasonable Doubts” sold out and was met with critical acclaim at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with his first nationwide solo tour following in 2016.
In 2018, Baptiste set out on a world tour, including Australia and New Zealand, with his smash-hit third stand-up hour G.O.D. (Gold. Oil. Drugs.) about the worldwide pursuit of wealth, power and pleasure.
In 2021, Baptiste launched a new show and international tour, The Chocolate Chip.
In 2020, Baptiste created and wrote BBC pilot Bamous.[26]
Baptiste hosted his own podcast Dane Baptiste Questions Everything,[27] is a member of comedy collective Quotas Full and is currently working on numerous scripted projects for both the UK and US.
On 1 May 2024, Baptiste issued a death threat on social media to an unidentified female comic, whom he described as a "Zionist" and a "dumb woman". Baptiste said he did so after receiving abusive messages from multiple accounts regarding his pro-Palestinian views.[32]
Baptiste said he wanted the recipient of the message to "sit down with your husband and kids and imagine what their lives will be without you... I'll sit in prison while your family sit in the cemetery".[33]
His post was condemned by other comedians as being antisemitic and misogynist, resulting in his agents, Gag Reflex and Insanity Group, dropping Baptiste the following day. Baptiste later described the post as "a massive error of judgment" and apologised to the Jewish community, colleagues and fans.[34]
^Hitler & Jingle (Comedy), Alan Davies, Lolly Adefope, Dane Baptiste, David Mitchell, 14 June 2016, retrieved 13 January 2021{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)