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Jordan Gray
Born
Jordan Redford Gray

(1989-01-11) 11 January 1989 (age 35)
Thurrock, Essex, England
Occupation(s)Comedian, actress, singer
Years active2006–present
SpouseHeli Siva-Gray

Jordan Redford Gossamer Gray (born 11 January 1989) is an English comedian and singer from Essex.

After beginning her career as a singer, she released several independent singles and albums. She appeared on the fifth series of The Voice UK, where she was a semi-finalist; having performed a skit during one of the live shows and preferred it to singing, and after a record label deal was not renewed, she became a comedian, where she was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award for her tour Is It a Bird? in 2022. Her 2022 appearance on Friday Night Live, where she performed a song about her experiences as a transgender woman, stripped naked, and played the piano with her penis, attracted praise and controversy.

Early life

Gray was born Jordan Redford Gray in Thurrock[1] on 11 January 1989,[2] and attended Hassenbrook Academy in Corringham before spending two years at Palmer's College.[3] Her father was a director of a steel factory who also performed as an Elvis impersonator, while her mother worked as a hairdresser, a bouncer and a pub landlady.[1] Gray realised she was transgender while chopping wood in Sweden,[4] having moved there after becoming engaged to a Swedish woman,[5] and came out while accepting a trophy for best original artist at the Essex Entertainment awards while dressed as a cat.[4] She told Unicorn Zine that her second middle name, Gossamer (an alternative name for spider silk), was added due to the United Kingdom not having a process to change honorific from Mr to Miss;[6] she had considered changing it to Olivia before realising that Jordan was gender neutral and deciding it was not worth wasting her money.[7] At the time of her appearance on The Voice UK, she was living in Musselburgh, Scotland.[8]

Career

2005–2015: Musician and author

Initially, Gray was a singer; her first gigs were at her mother's pub, the Orsett Cock, as lead singer[9] of death metal band Silent Feedback.[1] Her first music was written on a cheap Toys R Us keyboard, before a well-wisher bought her a slightly more expensive keyboard after she fell ill in 2005;[9] in October 2005, she was diagnosed with persisting perception disorder, which she wrote a 2011 book about called Beautiful Lights: Living with Hallucinations.[10] Her father later bought her a Yamaha Tyros2, and her first album, Beautiful, was released in early 2007 under the name Tall Dark Friend, a play on the expression "you will meet a tall dark stranger". Two more albums followed, The Anti-hero and The Dark Horse and the Underdog, in 2007 and 2008;[9] the latter was launched at the 29 November 2008 at an edition of her show Concerto Diabolus, which was choreographed by Anne-Marie Nicholson and Emma Stade and featured guest spots from acoustic guitarist Ben Sullivan and saxophonist James Ansell.[11] A self-titled EP followed in 2009. She released two singles, "This is Pop" and "Corridors", both of which had music videos, and the latter of which was filmed in the Bata shoe factory, and then two albums, Pop Psychology and See My Bones in 2012, the former of which contained a reworked version of "Corridors". She performed "Corridors" on Britain's Got Talent and progressed to the next round, but ultimately did not progress further. She also appeared on Sing Date around the same time.[9]

She took a year out in Scandinavia for most of 2014, at which point she was midway through a residency at Las Iguanas in Lakeside;[9] that year, she released the novel Dog Bless the Day, which the blurb describes as "one starving cat's chance encounter with a layabout lizard and silver-tongued macaw [which] sets in motion a chain of insupposable events",[12] and in 2015, she released the novel Snap, about a student who needs to master a camera to administer justice.[13] Both of these featured illustrations by Rhys Lowry.[14] On 31 October 2014, she released "More Than Mates (You & Me)",[9] and in 2015 she released the album The Baffled King[15] and won Best Music Video for "Hang With the Happiness" at the 2015 Thurrock International Film Festival.[16]

2016–2017: The Voice UK and record label signing

Gray appeared on the fifth series of The Voice UK in 2016,[17] in so doing becoming its first transgender contestant;[4] she joined Paloma Faith's team, after JJ Soulx withdrew for personal reasons, and ultimately reached the semi-finals.[18] At the time of her performance, she had been gigging around Essex and London for ten years,[19] and told Guyslikeu.com that she went into schools to talk about gender as part Educate & Celebrate, a charity which provides LGBT+ inclusion training in schools,[20] although they denied that she had ever done so when they removed her as patron in October 2022.[21] She then signed to The Record Label[22] and released a single, "Platinum", which charted at number 114 on the UK Singles Chart;[1] she told Gay Star News that its music video, which featured pornographic actor Mickey Taylor, contained "the first cis male–trans female love scene in a mainstream release".[23] After she was dropped, she spent two months working as a cleaner in a casino.[24]

Performed Song Original Artist Result
Blind Audition "Just Like a Woman" Bob Dylan Joined Team Paloma as a wildcard
Battle Rounds "This Woman's Work" (against Theo Llewellyn) Kate Bush Advanced
Knockouts "Real Gone Kid" Deacon Blue Advanced
Quarter-Final "Shake It Out" Florence + the Machine Fast pass
Semi-Final "Dancing in the Dark" Bruce Springsteen Eliminated

2017–present: Comedy

She decided to become a comedian after performing a skit between performances on one of the live shows on The Voice UK, and finding it more fun than singing; every three days for three months afterwards, she sat in the front row at Top Secret Comedy Club in London and made notes about structure and storytelling. She announced her change of career on 1 April 2017;[25] she told Educate & Celebrate that "half the [Tall Dark Friend] fans still think this is a big elaborate joke... which is a cosmic irony in and of itself. Also, if I turn out to be rubbish... I'll just say "it was"... ironically making me one of the greatest alternative comedians of all time".[26] The comedian Tom Mayhew saw her announcement, and gave Jordan her first stand-up gig;[27] this was performed at The Bill Murray whilst in a dressing gown and surgical bandages, as she had just had breast implants fitted[1] in a process documented for Transformation Street, a 2018 ITV documentary series about patients at the London Transgender Surgery.[28]

She performed her debut show People Change at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018[25] and won the Best New Comedian award at the Panic Awards in 2019.[29] In 2018, she appeared in the video for Paloma Faith's promotional single "Warrior".[30] From May 2017 she presented The ExtraJordanary Show for Phoenix FM;[31] its fifty-ninth episode aired in April 2019.[32] She wrote and starred in a pilot for a sitcom, titled Tall Dark Friend,[33] which led to the commissioning of Transaction.[34]

Using the money from ITV's commission of Transaction, she took her 2022 tour Is It a Bird? to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe[35] with the production company Stamptown. She was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award for Is It a Bird? in August 2022,[36] and won the 2022 Comedians' Choice Award.[37] In October 2022, she launched a podcast, Transplaining,[38] and later that month, she became the first transgender person to headline the London Palladium.[39]

2020-present: Television

In 2020, she appeared in Transaction, a six-part series of five-minute shorts for Comedy Central starring Gray as Liv, a narcissistic transgender supermarket worker.[7] She told Gay Star News she wrote it as an attempt to write "a regular tit-for-brains, not some tragic hero", on the grounds that she "was getting bored of seeing [transgender women] represented as either poor suffering saints or hypersexualised villains".[40] She told The List in August 2022 that ITV had ordered a series of full length episodes,[35] which, if it was made, would be the first British television sitcom to feature a transgender lead actor since Boy Meets Girl, which ended in 2016.[41] The same article stated that BBC Radio 4 had ordered a comedy series,[35] Spectacular,[42] which was loosely based on her appearance on The Voice UK and on HBO's The Comeback, where she "play[ed her]self without self-awareness, [as] if comedy hadn't come along and I'd clung to the idea that I could make a living from music off the back of a reality TV appearance".[41] In July 2021, she appeared in BBC Radio 4's Taboo, an exploration of what was and wasn't acceptable in comedy[43] and in January 2022 she appeared as "Future Archaeologist" on the first episode of the second series of Spencer Jones's sitcom, The Mind of Herbert Clunkerdunk.[44]

She appeared on Friday Night Live in October 2022,[45] performing "Better Than You" from Is It a Bird?, a song about her experiences as a transgender woman;[46] she attracted attention after she ripped off her jumpsuit, revealing her naked body, and began playing the piano with her penis.[47] Her original plan, before health and safety intervened, had been even more dramatic; she told The Independent the following month that she wanted to reveal herself by setting alight a suit made of magician's cotton.[24] While some praised her for highlighting the existence of transgender people[48] and others hailed it the "TV moment of the year",[49] Brendan O'Neill complained of double standards following the perceived cancellation of Jerry Sadowitz for indecent exposure,[50] with Ofcom receiving 1,538 complaints over the performance[51] and Educate and Celebrate removing her as patron.[21] After Ofcom dismissed its complaints, Gray told The Independent that she performed her "four-minute musical edition of Naked Attraction" because she "thought it might be nice for trans people around the country to see their body represented onscreen, outside of all the porn the world pretends it isn't watching", that "for every death threat in my inbox, there are five letters from grateful parents telling me their trans kid no longer wants to kill themself" and that those calling her a "talentless hack" should "read the room".[52] The death threats she received to prompted the London Palladium to hire extra security guards for her performance a week later.[53]

In November 2022, she appeared on The Now Show[54] and The Russell Howard Hour.[55] In December 2022, she performed on Joe Lycett's Got Your Back.[56] In March 2023, she appeared on Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled,[57] and in June 2023, she appeared on Guessable.[58] In February 2024, she appeared on QI,[59] and in May 2024, she appeared on Late Night Lycett.[60]

Personal life

Gray is married[1] to Heli Siva-Gray,[61] a croupier from the Czech Republic, whom she met online[62] in 2015,[1] and who emigrated specifically for her.[62] Gray identifies as a lesbian.[63] She said in 2016 that she would be unlikely to undergo gender reassignment surgery, on the grounds that she could not see it affecting her life.[20] She has variously claimed to be completely blind in her left eye[64] and to have poor eyesight in it.[5]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2016 The Voice UK Contestant Semi-finalist
2019 Tall Dark Friend[65] Jordan Writer and actor
2020 Transaction[66] Liv Writer and actor
2022 Friday Night Live Self
2022 The Russell Howard Hour Self
2022 Joe Lycett's Got Your Back Self

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Jones, Alice. "Jordan Gray: 'It's OK to joke about trans people — we do about everybody else'". The Times. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  2. ^ Gray, Jordan [@talldarkfriend] (11 January 2019). "Wow, I can't believe I'm a 30 year old woman today... and neither can a million+ Daily Mail readers. #HappyBirthdayToMe 🎂" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Festival was best yet, says Tall Dark Friend". Maldon & Burnham Standard. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "'I'm literally an X-Man' – is trans comic Jordan Gray the next stage of human evolution?". The Guardian. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b Radbourne, Lucas (14 March 2023). "Jordan Gray: 'You very much can live vicariously through me'". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 28 March 2023. Despite a brilliantly written song on the topic, she's not coeliac, either. "No, my sister has coeliac disease, so that's why that song's for her".
  6. ^ "Weird Dreams and Psychic Hangovers". Unicorn Zine. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b "COMEDY: Jordan Gray stars in online miniseries Transaction". Diva Magazine. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Transgender Musselburgh singer Jordan Gray auditions for the Voice this weekend". East Lothian Courier. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "The return of the Tell Dark Friend". Yourthurrock.com. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  10. ^ Beautiful Lights: Living with Hallucinations Loose Leaf – 1 Nov. 2011. ASIN 190837411X.
  11. ^ "Headliner Jordan is toast of the Thameside". Thurrock Gazette. 2 December 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Dog Bless The Day". Amazon. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Snap". Amazon. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Rhys Lowry". Amazon. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Jordan Gray Releases Debut Single for "Platinum"". Transgender Universe. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Hundreds flock to fourth Thurrock International Film Festival: full list of winners here". Thurrock Gazette. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  17. ^ "The Voice UK, Series 5 - Jordan Gray". 13 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Paloma Faith promises 'trump card' as JJ Soulx leaves The Voice". BBC News. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Rising star Jordan Gray to appear on BBC's the Voice – and she's tipped to win". Thurrock Gazette. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  20. ^ a b Guiltenane, Christian (13 February 2016). "The Voice's Jordan Gray: 'I felt this sense of exclusion, that I didn't fit in anywhere. Now I am finally happy!'". Guyslikeu.com. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  21. ^ a b Clarence-Smith, Louisa (26 October 2022). "Trans singer who stripped naked on Channel 4 should not be 'preaching gender to infants', says Tory peer". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  22. ^ "Interview With Jordan Gray – Platinum". Idea13. 15 November 2016. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  23. ^ "Transgender The Voice star Jordan Gray makes history with new single". Attitude. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Jordan Gray: 'A handful of death threats is a lot for a week. Spread 'em out!'". The Independent. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Jordan Gray: People Change". Chortle. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  26. ^ "Jordan Gray – Tall Dark Friend". Educate & Celebrate. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  27. ^ "Episode 9: Jordan Gray | the Quantum Leopard Podcast".
  28. ^ "Transformation Street concludes as viewers laud "heartwarming" and "educational" series". Digital Spy. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Everything you need to know about Southend Pride taking place this weekend". Essex Live. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Grays singer and comic Jordan Gray stars in new Paloma Faith music video". Clacton & Frinton Gazette. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  31. ^ "An ExtraJordanary Leap of Faith". Phoenix FM. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  32. ^ "Episode 59: The Return of Heli!!!". Phoenix FM. 21 April 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Tall Dark Friend". IMDb.
  34. ^ "Mixcloud".
  35. ^ a b c "I'm literally an X-Man". Issuu.com. August 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  36. ^ "Edinburgh Comedy Awards: Full list of nominees". The Independent. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  37. ^ "Jordan Gray". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  38. ^ "Transplaining with Jordan Gray". Acast. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  39. ^ "Trans comedian Jordan Gray says 'rehearsed' nude stunt had important meaning". PinkNews. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  40. ^ "Singer turned comic Jordan Gray: 'I'm sick of people telling me how to be trans'". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  41. ^ a b "Jordan Gray gets ITV sitcom and Radio 4 series". British Comedy Guide. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  42. ^ "Spectacular". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  43. ^ "Taboo". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  44. ^ "The Mind Of Herbert Clunkerdunk Series 2, Ep. 1/5". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  45. ^ Hogan, Michael (22 October 2022). "Friday Night Live, review: at last – unfiltered, opinionated comedy is back on our TV screens". The Telegraph. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  46. ^ Baska, Maggie (22 October 2022). "Trans comedian Jordan Gray praised for iconic naked Friday Night Live performance". Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  47. ^ "Jordan Gray: Trans comedian strips naked on Channel 4 for Friday Night Live revival". The Independent. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  48. ^ "Friday Night Live viewers blown away by comedian Jordan Gray's powerful message". Digital Spy. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  49. ^ "Channel 4 viewers praise comedian Jordan Gray for iconic live naked performance". LadBible. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  50. ^ "Sexist comedy is back". Spiked. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  51. ^ "Ofcom dismisses Jordan Gray complaints". Chortle. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  52. ^ "My name is Jordan Gray – this is why I got naked on Friday Night Live". The Independent. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  53. ^ "Jordan Gray: 'For transgender people, existing is a protest'". Huck Magazine. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  54. ^ "The Now Show, Series 61, Episode 2". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  55. ^ Gray, Jordan [@talldarkfriend] (23 November 2022). "Surprise! AGAIN! I'll be on The @russellhoward Hour tomorrow night! 🎹📺 Mate! 10pm | Sky One" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via Twitter.
  56. ^ "Joe Lycett vs David Beckham: Behind the shredder". Chortle. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  57. ^ "Series 7, Episode 3". Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled. 28 March 2023.
  58. ^ "Guessable? Series 4, Episode 8". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  59. ^ "QI Series U, Episode 6 - Ultras". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  60. ^ "Late Night Lycett Series 2, Episode 4". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  61. ^ "The ExtraJordanary Show | Episode 24: Heli Siva-Gray". Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  62. ^ a b "Standup success was sweet, but the review I cared about most was written on a biscuit". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  63. ^ Gray, Jordan (31 March 2017). "Jordan Gray: Transgender Day of Visibility" (video). YouTube. Gay Star News.
  64. ^ "My Festival: Jordan Gray". The Scotsman. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  65. ^ "Tall Dark Friend". IMDb.
  66. ^ "Transaction". IMDb.
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