Hugh Dennis - Early Life

Early Life

Dennis, the younger of two boys, was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire and grew up in Mill Hill in North London as his father was appointed a parish vicar in London soon after his birth. His father, John Dennis later became the Bishop of Knaresborough and then of Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Dennis was educated at University College School in London. During his time at UCS, he played rugby with Will Self and was head boy in his final year. Subsequently he went on to read geography as an exhibitioner at St John's College, Cambridge. He also joined the Footlights, where he first met Punt and club president Nick Hancock and the trio collaborated on a number of projects besides the annual revue. After graduating with a first, he worked for Unilever for six years in the marketing department while performing comedy with Punt at venues including The Comedy Store on the weekends. He and Punt then formed half of the team of The Mary Whitehouse Experience on BBC Radio 1. When the BBC commissioned the show to be a series for BBC Two, he took a sabbatical as the rehearsal days changed to weekdays and eventually went into comedy full-time. While in his final year of university he was approached by a member of the intelligence services and was invited to London for interview at which time he decided he did not want to take the matter further.