# Justin Lee Collins
**Justin Lee Collins** (born 1974) is an English comedian, television and radio presenter, and actor from Bristol, known for his long hair, beard, and [West Country](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-country) accent, and for co-hosting [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4)'s *The Friday Night Project* with [Alan Carr](https://www.edgepedia.org/alan-carr) and presenting the nostalgic *Bring Back...* documentary series.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) • [2](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/profile-the-rise-and-fall-of-justin-lee-collins-8203918.html) His career declined sharply after his 2012 conviction for harassing his former girlfriend.[3](https://news.sky.com/story/justin-lee-collins-guilty-of-harassing-ex-partner-10467754)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974, Bristol, England; only child of Danny, an electrician, and Anita Collins[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) • [4](https://biographs.org/justin-lee-collins) |
| Comedy start | Won the best new comedy act at the Glastonbury Festival in 1997; finalist in the BBC New Comedy Awards[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) |
| Breakthrough | Host of the BBC3 companion show to *Strictly Come Dancing* (2004)[5](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/justin-lee-collins-my-life-in-media-427936.html) |
| Signature shows | *The Friday Night Project* with Alan Carr (Channel 4); the *Bring Back...* reunion documentaries[2](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/profile-the-rise-and-fall-of-justin-lee-collins-8203918.html) |
| Awards | RTS Award for Entertainment Performance (2009); Loaded LAFTAs Funniest Man (2007, 2010)[6](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/justin_lee_collins/) |
| Stage career | Dennis Dupree in the West End musical *Rock of Ages*, August 2011 to September 2012[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) |
| Conviction | Harassment causing fear of violence, October 2012; 140 hours community service and £3,500 prosecution costs[3](https://news.sky.com/story/justin-lee-collins-guilty-of-harassing-ex-partner-10467754) |
## Early life and stand-up comedy
Collins was born in Bristol and raised by his father Danny, a freelance electrician, and his mother Anita.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) He left Speedwell Technology College at 15 with no qualifications and worked full time in a warehouse for [Marks & Spencer](https://www.edgepedia.org/marks-and-spencer).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) • [5](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/justin-lee-collins-my-life-in-media-427936.html) His father then insisted he accept a placement at Filton College, where he gained a BTEC national diploma in performing arts.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/)
While working as a double-glazing salesman, he practiced jokes on passers-by and performed stand-up at night in local clubs, pubs, and bars.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) In 1997 he won the best new comedy act at the [Glastonbury Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/glastonbury-festival) and reached the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) • [2](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/profile-the-rise-and-fall-of-justin-lee-collins-8203918.html) A talent scout for MTV noticed him at a stand-up gig and offered him a job presenting a new television show; he officially quit stand-up in 2002 to focus on television and radio.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) He later described himself as a presenter rather than a comedian, saying he disliked being called a comedian because he felt like a charlatan.[5](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/justin-lee-collins-my-life-in-media-427936.html)
## Television and radio career
In 2002 Collins made numerous shows for MTV and Bravo.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) In 2003 the alternative radio station XFM hired him to host a weekly prime-time show, beginning in the 1am to 3am Sunday morning slot.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) • [5](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/justin-lee-collins-my-life-in-media-427936.html) His first major break came when he hosted the BBC3 companion show to *Strictly Come Dancing* for one year, leaving XFM in 2005.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) • [5](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/justin-lee-collins-my-life-in-media-427936.html)
**Mainstream fame.** From 2005 Collins hosted the second series of Channel 4's *The Friday Night Project* alongside comedian Alan Carr, a late-night mix of sketches, games, and hidden-camera stunts with a rotating celebrity guest host, which ran from 2005 to 2008.[2](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/profile-the-rise-and-fall-of-justin-lee-collins-8203918.html) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445876/) The show earned him a BAFTA Television Award nomination for Best Entertainment Performance in 2008 and a British Comedy Awards nomination in 2006, and he won the RTS Award for Entertainment Performance in 2009 for *The Sunday Night Project*.[6](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/justin_lee_collins/)
His *Bring Back...* series reunited casts and stars of older shows and films, including the cast of the BBC school drama *Grange Hill*, *The A-Team*, Christmas singles acts, one-hit wonders, and the stars of *Dallas*.[2](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/profile-the-rise-and-fall-of-justin-lee-collins-8203918.html) • [5](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/justin-lee-collins-my-life-in-media-427936.html) He also fronted stunt-style shows for Sky in which he attempted challenges such as learning to bowl, surf, and high dive, and series following his attempts to become a darts player and a wrestler.[2](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/profile-the-rise-and-fall-of-justin-lee-collins-8203918.html) In 2010 he published his autobiography *Good Times!* (Ebury Digital, 352 pages), and presented a chat show of the same name on Five.[8](https://www.penguin.com.au/books/good-times-9781407029399)
**Later work.** In 2010 Collins tried to represent the [United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-kingdom-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) and was rejected by the BBC; he then announced an attempt to represent Ireland with a song written for him by [Ronan Keating](https://www.edgepedia.org/ronan-keating), which RTE also rejected, though the song was available for sale in the UK charts.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) He signed an exclusive deal with Channel 5, where his coin-tossing show *Heads or Tails* drew weak ratings.[2](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/profile-the-rise-and-fall-of-justin-lee-collins-8203918.html) His love of classic rock led to a spot in the West End show *Chicago* and then the lead role of Dennis Dupree in *Rock of Ages*, which he played from August 2011 to September 2012 alongside X Factor winner Shane Ward.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) • [2](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/profile-the-rise-and-fall-of-justin-lee-collins-8203918.html)
## 2012 harassment conviction
Collins separated from his wife Karen Skinner, whom he married in 2003 and with whom he had two children, and began a relationship with Anna Larke in 2010; they lived together in Kew, London, from January to July 2011.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) In December 2011 he was charged with harassment and causing fear of violence following alleged harassment of Larke.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/)
At a ten-day trial at St Albans Crown Court, Collins denied the charge of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment.[3](https://news.sky.com/story/justin-lee-collins-guilty-of-harassing-ex-partner-10467754) On 9 October 2012 he was convicted by a majority verdict of the jury and sentenced to 140 hours of community service, to be completed within 18 months, and ordered to pay £3,500 in prosecution costs; he did not appeal.[3](https://news.sky.com/story/justin-lee-collins-guilty-of-harassing-ex-partner-10467754) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) In sentencing, the judge told him the manual work should induce humility and make him pause and think about what he had done.[3](https://news.sky.com/story/justin-lee-collins-guilty-of-harassing-ex-partner-10467754) Following the trial he sought help from a psychotherapist.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) The UKGameshows site notes that he has not appeared on screen much since the conviction.[9](https://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Justin_Lee_Collins)
## Image and trademarks
Collins's public image rested on his long hair, beard, and Bristolian accent, with catchphrases including "Rock On!", "Get In!", and "Good Times!".[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/) The *Evening Standard* described him as the effusive face of TV nostalgia, a go-to presenter for retro and cult material, with a cuddly, matey, and approachable persona.[2](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/profile-the-rise-and-fall-of-justin-lee-collins-8203918.html)
## References
1. [Justin Lee Collins - Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1674949/bio/)
2. [Profile: The rise and fall of Justin Lee Collins, London Evening Standard (9 October 2012)](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/profile-the-rise-and-fall-of-justin-lee-collins-8203918.html)
3. [Justin Lee Collins Guilty Of Harassing Ex-Partner, Sky News (9 October 2012)](https://news.sky.com/story/justin-lee-collins-guilty-of-harassing-ex-partner-10467754)
4. [Justin Lee Collins biography, Biographs.org](https://biographs.org/justin-lee-collins)
5. [Justin Lee Collins: My Life in Media, The Independent (11 December 2006)](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/justin-lee-collins-my-life-in-media-427936.html)
6. [Justin Lee Collins, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/justin_lee_collins/)
7. [The Friday Night Project (TV Series 2005-2008), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445876/)
8. [Good Times! by Justin Lee Collins, Penguin Books Australia](https://www.penguin.com.au/books/good-times-9781407029399)
9. [Justin Lee Collins, UKGameshows](https://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Justin_Lee_Collins)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Television presenters and hosts › Comedy and variety hosts*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license