8th June 1971
Comedian Will Smith is born
Winchester-born William James Smith was raised in Jersey and attended Victoria College before making his name as both a writer and performer of comedy.
One of his earliest comedy jobs was on Channel 4’s The 11 O’Clock Show, where he appeared with Ricky Gervais. He supported Gervais on tour, later doing the same for comedians Ardal O’Hanlon and Johnny Vegas. At the same time as supporting Gervais’, he had a four-episode BBC Radio 4 series, The Tao of Bergerac, chronicling his obsession with the Jersey-set police drama. Actor John Nettles, who played Bergerac, appeared in each episode.
Transatlantic success
His career has taken him to America, where he wrote episodes for HBO sitcom Veep (of which he is also one of the executive producers). Veep is an adaptation of the British political comedy, The Thick of It, in which Smith appeared for two series as Phil Smith, special advisor to the secretary of state for DoSAC.
Naturally, this Will Smith is not the same as the one who played the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and appeared in films including Independence Day and I, Robot.
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Other events that occured in June
Superior Council is established to guide Jersey through the Occupation
- Although the German authorities were in control throughout the Occupation, they channelled their authority through the Superior Council.
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German planes attack St Helier
- The British government didn't inform Germany that it had demilitarised the Channel Islands, so German planes attacked in advance of invasion.
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Mormon pioneer Caroline LeSueur is born
- Caroline LeSueur (born Le Gresley) was a latecomer to Mormonism, but she embraced the religion wholeheartedly.
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Murder suspect is remanded in custody
- A man was remanded in custody after being charged with killing the woman he lived with.
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