Neil Simon Fitzmaurice (born 20 August 1969, Liverpool) is an English actor, comedian and writer. He is best known for his acting role as Mark's love rival, Jeff, in the Channel 4 sitcom, Peep Show, but has written for a number of other shows, including Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights (in which he also starred) and Benidorm.

Career

Writing

Fitzmaurice's writing projects include That Peter Kay Thing, for which he received a British Comedy Award, and the critically acclaimed Phoenix Nights, in which he also appeared as "Ray-Von". He has also written two feature films: Going Off Big Time, in 1999, which was nominated for four BIFA awards and is part of Film Four's Best of British, and more recently Charlie Noades R.I.P.

Acting

As an actor, Fitzmaurice has appeared in Going off Big Time (which he also wrote), played Jeff in the Channel 4 comedy series Peep Show, and starred in the prison drama series Buried. He appeared on the first episode of The Office as the applicant whom David Brent interviews for the warehouse position. He plays the same character in the sixth episode, only this time Brent is giving him a redundancy notice. Fitzmaurice has also performed alongside Paul O'Grady in the BBC comedy Eyes Down, had guest roles in the long-running police drama The Bill and on the Casualty spin-off Holby City.