Brian Limond, better known as Limmy, is a Scottish comedian, actor, screenwriter, producer, musician, author, podcaster, and streamer. While working as a website designer and Flash developer, he began releasing comedy on his website and blog, Limmy.com, which contained various humorous Flash-based projects. In late 2006, he released a daily podcast called Limmy's World of Glasgow, which received interest from the mainstream British media. After continuing his comedy work for several years, Limmy was commissioned by BBC Scotland to create his own sketch show, Limmy's Show. The show ran for three series and a Christmas special between 2010 and 2013, and won two BAFTA Scotland awards. He returned to BBC Scotland with another sketch show, Limmy's Homemade Show, with a one-off episode in 2018 and a full series in 2020. Limmy has also engaged in various other pursuits, such as writing several books and performing live shows. He is a prolific user of online media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, Twitch and previously Vine.
Early life
Brian Limond was born on 20 October 1974 in Glasgow, and grew up in the Carnwadric and Priesthill areas of the city. He found success as a website designer and Flash developer after starting work at Glasgow-based new media company Black ID. In the summer of 2001, employees of Black ID created a rival company called Flammable Jam, where Limmy was a director. During his time there, he was asked to contribute to the book New Masters of Flash: The 2002 Annual, a resource for Macromedia Flash developers. In 2001, he co-founded the company Chunk Ideas, selling his stake in the company to co-founder Donnie Kerrigan in 2006, so he could concentrate on his comedy career.
Career
Scottish culture magazine The List listed Limond at No. 14 on their "Hot 100" list in 2006, which celebrated the people who made the biggest impact on cultural life in Scotland over that year. In March 2007, Limond took to the stage for two sold-out appearances at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. In 2007, he played a character called Zack Eastwood in Consolevania and VideoGaiden. In June 2009, the BBC commissioned a six-episode series of Limmy's Show, a sketch show which premiered on BBC Scotland in January 2010. The BBC commissioned a second series of Limmy's Show, which premiered on BBC Scotland in February 2011. Limmy wrote a pilot for a sitcom based around Falconhoof, a recurring Limmy's Show character, but the show was turned down by BBC Scotland. He made a cameo appearance in The IT Crowd, playing a window cleaner with an unintelligible Glaswegian accent in the episode "The Final Countdown", which aired in July 2010. In 2014, Limmy had a regular segment in the second series of the Charlie Brookernews satire show Weekly Wipe. He is also known for his live webcam chats, in which he interacts with fans and makes music. In 2015, Limmy wrote his first book titled Daft Wee Stories, published by Random House. To promote the book, Limmy embarked on a UK book reading tour. Three of the stories were also published in The Scotsman newspaper. In January 2016, Limmy performed four nights at the Clyde Auditorium and one night at the Hammersmith Apollo, adapting material from this TV shows to become Limmy Live! On 1 May 2017, he released his second book of short stories, That's Your Lot, embarking on a similar UK book reading tour to his first. Limond appeared on Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast in 2015, 2017, and 2019. He also appeared on the Blindboy Podcast in 2020. Limond has been noted for the parody tributes he often tweets on the announcement of a celebrity's death; he invariably posts that he "had the pleasure of meeting at a charity do once. surprisingly down to earth, and VERY funny". Following the death of nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow, his tweet was mistakenly reported as a genuine tribute by Sky News. The tweet would eventually become the title of Limond's autobiography. In 2017, the BBC commissioned what was then a one-off special of Limmy's Homemade Show, which was broadcast in April 2018. Originally intended to be a web series before being picked up by the BBC, the show is produced, performed, directed, filmed, and edited by Limond alone, and takes place in or around his home. A follow-up series was commissioned by the BBC and began airing in April 2020.
Personal life
Limond has struggled with mental health issues such as depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as a history of alcoholism. He often openly discusses these issues on social media and in interviews. He is now teetotal. He has been in a relationship with Lynn McGowan since 2000. They have a son named Daniel McGowan Limond. Limond is a supporter of the Scottish National Party and Scottish independence, although he is sceptical it will ever happen. He has also supported the Irish political party People Before Profit for Belfast City Council in 2019.
