Tim Wilson (British politician)

English animator and former politician

Tim Wilson

Wilson in 2015

Born|

Derby, Derbyshire, England

Education| Ratcliffe College
Alma mater| St Benet's Hall, Oxford
Occupations|

* Animator
* professor
* former politician

Years active| 2015–present
Political party| UK Independence Party
(former member)

Tim Wilson is an English academic, animator, media and YouTube content creator, .[1]

He is best known for winning the Viewer's Champion vote and finishing in third place in the second series of the Channel 4 series, The Circle, in 2019. In 2015, he was selected as South Northamptonshire's candidate for the UK Independence Party.[2] Tim has since said he joined the Party to "expose racism" from the inside, and actually voted Remain in the Brexit Referendum.[3]

## Early life and education

[edit]

Tim Wilson was born in Derby, Derbyshire, England.[citation needed]

He attended Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire, and then Oxford where he studied Theology in St Benet's Hall under Metropolitan Bishop Kallistos Ware and specialised in inter-faith dialogue, giving lectures in Birmingham.[citation needed]

## Theatre design

[edit]

Wilson was a theatre designer, providing an "American Gothic" design for the first London revival of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins, directed by Sam Buntrock in 1997.[4]

## Politics

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Wilson was selected as UKIP's candidate for South Northamptonshire at the 2015 general election. However, he resigned from UKIP on 24 March[5] in support of Humza Yousaf who said he was upset when David Coburn, the only UKIP MEP in Scotland, allegedly referred to Yousaf as the terrorist Abu Hamza.[6][7] In his resignation letter, Tim Wilson made it clear that he believed Nigel Farage, the leader of UKIP had shown poor judgement in dismissing Coburn's alleged remarks as a "a joke in very poor taste. He would not be taking any action against him".[8] Wilson later made the point that a joke should be funny and that linking Humza Yousaf to convicted terrorist Abu Hamza was not funny. Wilson is reported saying, "If Mr Coburn wants to make bad jokes about religion, then he is welcome to quit and join Monty Python".[9] "You can’t toss this thing off as a joke with a pint of beer. It's unacceptable."[10] As an animator, Wilson had made films for the UKIP campaign,[11] UKIP's apparent response has been to accuse Wilson of not being interested in local affairs, a claim he denies in the Daventry Express,[12] and by standing for election as a local Councillor.

While taking part in The Circle, Wilson claimed he actually voted to Remain and wished to "expose UKIP from the inside".[13]

## Television

[edit]

In September 2019, Wilson began appearing as a contestant in the second series of the Channel 4 reality series The Circle.[2] He was a finalist, placed joint third in the series. He also won the shows "Viewers' Champion" title for being the most popular finalist by viewer's vote, winning a £30,000 prize. Since leaving the show, Wilson has been vocal in calling on the British Government for change in the way reality television programmes are made.[14]

## Academia

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In 2016, Wilson became a professor in the Moscow State Pedagogical University, where he had previously lectured.[15]

## Other activities

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He has travelled in Albania, Turkey, and Greece, drawing the views that Edward Lear first drew in 1848. His work is recorded in the Albanian Encyclopedia of Art.[16]

## Awards

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In 2012, Wilson won Best Animation at the Reed.co.uk Short Film Competition for How to be Boss.[17]

## Personal life

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In September 2021, Tim Wilson was diagnosed with cancer.[18]

## References

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1. ^ "In pictures: Celebrations after emotional finale of The Circle". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 19 October 2019. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
2. ^ a b Selby, Jenn (27 September 2019). "Who is Tim from The Circle? The professor who quit Ukip". i. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
3. ^ "The Circle Contestant Tim Wilson's 'Spat' With Nigel Farage (And History With UKIP) Explained". HuffPost UK. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
4. ^ Benedict, David (12 July 1997). "A shot in the dark". Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
5. ^ "Candidate quits over UKIP MEP remark". BBC News. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
6. ^ "MEP apology over Abu Hamza comment". BBC News. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
7. ^ "Gay UKIP candidate quits in protest after David Coburn's 'terrorist' joke". Pink News. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
8. ^ "Exclusive: More UKIP Candidates Under Pressure to Stand Down". Theblueguerilla.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
9. ^ "UKIP candidate stands down in protest at racist remarks". Daventryexpress.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
10. ^ Blanchard, Jack (24 March 2015). "UKIP loses fourth candidate as Nigel Farage is accused of ignoring racism". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
11. ^ [1] [dead link]
12. ^ "Call to bring 'dignity back to Daventry'". Daventryexpress.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
13. ^ "The Circle Contestant Tim Wilson's 'Spat' With Nigel Farage (And History With UKIP) Explained". HuffPost UK. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
14. ^ "I was on The Circle – it's time reality TV treated its contestants as professionals". Inews.co.uk. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
15. ^ "Ученому из Оксфорда Тимоти Эрику Уилсону присвоено звание Почетного профессора МПГУ". Mpgu.su. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
16. ^ "Zontul Films - about". Zontulfilms.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
17. ^ "Reed.co.uk Short Film Competition 2012". Heyuguys.com. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
18. ^ Report, The Celeb. "Zoe Ball's son Woody Cook says The Circle co-star Tim is 'not doing the best' after devastating bowel cancer diagnosis". Thecelebreport.com. Retrieved 9 February 2022.