Robert Webb – Life, Career, Health and Latest Projects

Robert Webb is an English comedian, actor, and author who became a household name as one half of the comedy duo Mitchell & Webb. Best known for playing Jeremy Usborne in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, he has also written acclaimed books, faced a life‑threatening heart condition, and briefly appeared on Strictly Come Dancing. This article brings together the key facts about his life, career, health, and current projects.

Born on 29 September 1972 in Boston, Lincolnshire, Webb met his future comedy partner David Mitchell at Cambridge University in the 1990s. Their partnership would go on to define a generation of British comedy. Beyond the screen, Webb has built a second career as a writer, published a bestselling memoir, and survived emergency open‑heart surgery that his cardiologist said saved his life.

From the cult success of Peep Show to a new Channel 4 sketch show in 2025, Robert Webb remains a distinctive voice in British entertainment. The following sections explore his biography, his most famous roles, his books, his health journey, and what he is doing now.

Who is Robert Webb? Biography and Personal Life

• Robert Webb rose to fame as one half of the comedy duo Mitchell & Webb, with Peep Show becoming a cult classic.
• He underwent a double heart bypass surgery in 2020 and has spoken openly about his recovery.
• His memoir ‘How Not to Be a Boy’ explores masculinity and gender expectations, becoming a bestseller.
• Webb briefly competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, leaving due to health reasons.
• He continues to write and perform, with a recent novel ‘Come Again’ (2022) and ongoing social media presence.

What is Robert Webb best known for? Peep Show and Comedy Career

Robert Webb’s role in Peep Show

Webb played Jeremy “Jez” Usborne, the lazy, self‑absorbed flatmate opposite David Mitchell’s Mark Corrigan. The show ran for nine series on Channel 4 from 2003 to 2015 and is widely regarded as a landmark of British comedy, known for its use of point‑of‑view camera work and internal monologues.

Robert Webb and David Mitchell comedy partnership

The duo met at Cambridge University in the early 1990s and formed a writing and performing partnership. After success on the Edinburgh Fringe and radio, they landed their own BBC Two sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Look (2006–2010), which won a BAFTA. Their contrasting styles – Webb’s energetic, chaotic characters against Mitchell’s uptight, logical ones – became a trademark.

Movies and other TV appearances

Webb has appeared in films such as Magicians (2007) and The Love Punch (2013), and had supporting roles in The Mighty Boosh. He starred alongside Mitchell in the Channel 4 sitcom Back (2017–2018), a show he later said “saved my life” because a routine cast medical uncovered his heart defect.

Strictly Come Dancing appearance

In 2021, Webb joined the nineteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing partnered with Dianne Buswell. He danced three routines but withdrew on 13 October after experiencing symptoms related to his 2019 heart surgery. He had been cleared to participate but later described the decision as necessary for his health.

What books has Robert Webb written?

How Not to Be a Boy (2017)

Webb’s debut memoir explores his upbringing, his relationship with masculinity, and the expectations placed on men. It became a Sunday Times bestseller and was praised for its honesty and humour. The book draws heavily on his own experiences, including the death of his father when Webb was a child.

Come Again (2021)

His first novel is a romantic fantasy about a widow who travels back in time to the 1990s to prevent her husband’s death. Published in April 2021, it received mixed reviews but demonstrated Webb’s ambition to write fiction. He has said that writing is now his principal career, describing it as a “refocusing” rather than a complete change of direction.

What is Robert Webb doing now? Current Projects and Updates

As of 2025, Webb appears as Mr Holt in the children’s series High Hoops. He remains active on social media, sharing updates about his writing and occasional live appearances. He has hinted at further book projects but has not announced a specific title.

Webb lives with his wife, actress Abigail Burdess, and their two daughters in London. He has described the surgery as a “gift” that changed his outlook on life.

What is the timeline of Robert Webb’s life and career?

1. 1972 – Born in Boston, Lincolnshire.
2. 1990s – Met David Mitchell at Cambridge University and formed comedy duo.
3. 2003 – Peep Show premieres on Channel 4; Webb plays Jeremy Usborne.
4. 2006 – That Mitchell and Webb Look begins on BBC Two.
5. 2017 – Publishes memoir How Not to Be a Boy.
6. November 2019 – Undergoes emergency open‑heart surgery for mitral valve prolapse, discovered during filming of Back.
7. April 2021 – Publishes debut novel Come Again.
8. October 2021 – Withdraws from Strictly Come Dancing after three dances due to health concerns.
9. 2025 – Returns with Mitchell And Webb Are Not Helping on Channel 4.

What is confirmed and what is uncertain about Robert Webb?

What is the broader context of Robert Webb’s career?

Peep Show had a lasting impact on British comedy, popularising the point‑of‑view format and proving that unconventional sitcoms could achieve mainstream success. Webb’s writing career, first through his memoir and then fiction, reflects a shift towards more personal and introspective work. His exploration of masculinity in How Not to Be a Boy contributed to broader cultural conversations about gender expectations.

The Mitchell & Webb dynamic – one chaotic, one controlled – created a comedic contrast that audiences loved. After a period apart, their 2025 reunion signals that the partnership remains commercially and creatively viable. Webb’s openness about his heart surgery has also added a layer of authenticity to his public persona, with many commentators noting how his health scare reframed his priorities.

What do reliable sources say about Robert Webb?

“Robert Patrick Webb (born 29 September 1972) is an English comedian, actor and writer.”

– Wikipedia

“He is an actor and writer, known for That Mitchell and Webb Look (2006), Peep Show (2003) and Back (2017).”

– IMDb

“Webb established himself among the edgiest of cutting‑edge British comedy luminaries.”

– Rotten Tomatoes

What is the key takeaway about Robert Webb?

Robert Webb’s career spans iconic comedy, bestselling books, and a life‑saving medical intervention. He remains a versatile creator who continues to write and perform. His story is one of resilience, partnership, and creative reinvention. For more on his partnership with David Mitchell, see David Mitchell and Robert Webb comedy partnership.

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