// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Cole Anderson-James a coal miner?
Cole Anderson-James | |
|---|---|
 Anderson-James in 2022 | |
| Born | 10 May 1997 Colchester, England |
| Occupation | Content Creator |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Followers | 2.9 million |
| Last updated: 2 January 2026 | |
Cole Anderson-James (born 10 May 1997) is a British YouTuber, social media personality, and actor.
Early life
[edit]Cole Anderson-James was born and raised in Colchester, England. Before achieving internet notability and starting a career as an actor, he was working in sales; "I got made redundant and it was probably one of the best things that has actually happened to me because I had way more time to spend doing the videos".[1]
Career
[edit]2020-present
[edit]During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns in the United Kingdom, Anderson-James began releasing videos on TikTok and YouTube of himself lip-synching to Ricky Gervais' The Office character David Brent.[citation needed] He was soon spotted by Gervais, who followed Anderson-James on Twitter.[2] In 2021, after directly contacting Gervais, asking if there were any cameo roles available on the third (and final) series of After Life, Gervais created a guest role for Anderson-James. "On the premise you don't ask, you don't get, [...] months went past and I didn't hear anything. I thought 'it's not happening', and then I got an email saying 'audition for After Life [season] 3' and my head exploded."[3][4] Anderson-James' videos also caught the attention of Emily Atack, who cast him in her eponymously titled comedy series, as her love-interest "Fit Jason".[5]
Later in 2022, Anderson-James appeared as Darren in the BBC comedy Murder, They Hope, alongside Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson.[6]
In December 2025, it was announced that Anderson-James would compete in the eighth series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.[7] The series premiered on Channel 4 in January 2026.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Legal issues
[edit]In October 2025, Anderson-James was fined more than £1,000 and disqualified from driving for eight months, after he was caught speeding in April 2025; he admitted the offence.[9]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Mercenaries | Deano | |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Big I Am | Stinger | Uncredited |
| 2016 | The Contract | Simon | |
| 2020-2021 | The Emily Atack Show | Fit Jason | 8 episodes |
| 2022 | After Life | Yoga instructor | Series 3 episode 6 |
| Murder, They Hope | Darren | Series 2 episode 1: Can't See The Blood For The Trees | |
| At The End Of The Day (It's Not That Funny) | Shop keeper | Video | |
| 2026 | Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins | Contestant | Series 8 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Cole Anderson-James says TikTok is way better than his sales job". BBC. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ↑ Grant, Kirsty (20 January 2022). "After Life 3: How TikTok took a Ricky Gervais fan to Netflix". BBC. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ↑ Withers, Emily (27 January 2022). "Netflix After Life 3: The yoga teacher was a salesman until Ricky Gervais spotted his TikToks". Wales Online. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ↑ Shepherd, Rebecca (15 January 2022). "Ricky Gervais Casted One Of His Superfans In After Life Series 3". LadBible. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ↑ Williams, Rhiannon (4 September 2021). "Cole Anderson-James: Meet the TikTok comedy sensation Ricky Gervais has cast in After Life". i News. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ↑ Cremona, Patrick (30 June 2022). "Stars revealed for Murder, They Hope season 2 with Johnny Vegas". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ↑ Mensah, Katelyn. "Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 2026 confirms line-up with new twist". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ↑ De Brun, Liam (4 January 2026). "Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 2026 on Channel 4: Full line-up, when's it on and major twist". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ↑ Rees, Daniel (28 October 2025). "TikTok influencer Cole Anderson-James gets driving ban". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
External links
[edit]- Living people
- Black British male actors
- 21st-century English male actors
- English male television actors
- English TikTokers
- British comedy YouTubers
- Comedy-related YouTube channels
- Black British male comedians
- English people of Jamaican descent
- English male comedians
- Black British comedians
- Comedians from Essex
- Male actors from Colchester
- 1997 births
- YouTubers from Essex