Ivan Brackenbury is a comic hospital radio DJ character created by Tom Binns. Binns also works as a comedian and broadcaster in his own right, presenting breakfast radio on London’s XFM and appearing on television in a range of comedy roles.

Character and development

Brackenbury appears early in Binns’ career and is presented as an inept hospital radio presenter. The character has been heard on Radio 1, Virgin and GLR. After a period out of use while Binns develops his own radio work, Brackenbury returns for the Edinburgh Fringe in 2007.

Live work

The act becomes a regular live fixture, built around a roadshow format that includes inappropriate records and cues that go wrong. Brackenbury is also nominated for the if.comedy prize for best show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Tom Binns

As himself, Binns wins the Jongleurs new act of the year award, presents a chat show called Tom Binns Munchies on Five, and appears as one of the presenters on Channel 4 breakfast show RI:SE. He also appears as a comic actor in Knowing Me Knowing Yule With Alan Partridge, Friday Night Armistice and Fist Of Fun. His radio career at XFM includes a fine for talking about bestiality on air.