Michael Cumming is a British director and filmmaker. He is best known for directing comedy shows such as Brass Eye, Toast of London, Toast of Tinseltown, The Mark Thomas Product, Snuff Box, The Mark Steel Lectures and Rock Profile.[1]
After graduating from the Royal College of Art film school in the late 1980s, Cumming began directing at the BBC on Tomorrow's World and then as a freelance director on shows including Lonely Planet, The Word & The Sunday Show before moving into comedy. Brass Eye was his first comedy directing credit.[2]
Alongside comedy directing, Cumming also makes independent films. His 2017 cinema only release – Oxide Ghosts: The Brass Eye Tapes - played to sell out audiences throughout the UK. Cumming's 2021 feature film documentary King Rocker - made with & fronted by Stewart Lee - was praised by Film Critic Mark Kermode as: 'One of my all-time favourite rock docs'. The Observer described it as 'Charming & Experimental' whilst MOJO hailed it as 'Ferociously Entertaining'.[3]
In 2017 Cumming was awarded an honorary doctorate for his outstanding contribution to television & film production. He is a member of BAFTA, Directors UK and the Performing Rights Society.[4]