Jamie MacDonald is an award-winning blind Scottish comedian, writer, and voice-over artist. Known for his appearances on BBC One’s Have I Got News For You and BBC Two’s QI, Jamie's talent earned him the Best Presenter award at the 2022 Grierson Awards for his BBC Two documentary Blind Ambition.
Jamie's career began in London as a banker after completing university. His transition into comedy started with open mic nights at The Comedy Cafe in Shoreditch. The financial crisis led to him losing his banking job, propelling him to pursue comedy full-time.
Currently, Jamie headlines top comedy clubs and speaks at corporate events for companies like ITV and Adobe. He continues to perform critically acclaimed shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and has made significant contributions to radio with shows like Life on the Blink on Radio 4. His radio credits include Radio 4’s The Now Show, Museum of Curiosity, and his BBC Sounds comedy special Blind-sided. Jamie's versatility extends to voice-over work for the Scottish Government and BBC documentaries.
His documentary Blind Ambition was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Co-produced with TV director Jamie O'Leary, the documentary explores how O’Leary, who faces potential sight loss due to eye surgery, learns from blind artists. Jamie's renowned Edinburgh Fringe show Reasonably Adjusted shares his experiences of being blind, accepting himself, and educating others on interacting with blind individuals. His observational humour, quick one-liners, and hilarious sight-based puns make this a must-see show at the Fringe.
Jamie MacDonald is an excellent speaker, combining humour and insight to address topics such as Diversity and Inclusion, Disability Awareness, and Living with Blindness. His engaging style captivates audiences, making complex subjects accessible and entertaining. He has spoken at prestigious venues like the Oxford Union and various NHS trusts, making him a sought-after speaker for any event.
How to hire Jamie MacDonald
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Jamie MacDonald for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
- 2024 – Announced as a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef, becoming the show’s second blind contestant
- 2022 - Won the ‘Best Presenter’ award at the Grierson Awards for his BBC Two documentary "Blind Ambition".
- 2021 - His Radio 4 series "Life on the Blink" was commissioned for a second series.
- 2020 - Appeared on BBC One’s "Have I Got News For You" and BBC Two’s "QI".
- 2019 - Released the BBC Sounds comedy special "Blindsided" and starred in the Radio 4 series "Life on the Blink".
- 2018 - Starred in the BBC Scotland series "The Scotts" and "Scot Squad".
- 2017 - Named on the BBC New Talent Hotlist and reached the semi-final of the BBC New Comedy Award.
- 2016 - Created the BBC Scotland shows "Breaking The News" and "The Comedy Underground".
- 2015 - Performed his third solo show "Oblivious" at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
- 2013 - Performed his debut solo show "That Funny Blind Guy" at the Edinburgh Fringe to packed houses
