The
Groggy
Squirrel

Tom Ballard became a three-time Class Clowns National Finalist and a RAW National Finalist by 2006, at the age of sixteen. On the strength of his RAW performance, Tom was offered the chance to develop some demos with Triple J which led to presenting regularly on the national youth radio station with his friend, Alex Dyson.

At the age of 18, Tom performed at the Courthouse in Geelong, supported Charlie Pickering and he regularly performed at Melbourne’s Local Laughs. He has performed in Upwey, Warburton, Healesville and Lilydale as part of the star-studded Young Blood Comedy Tour in 2006 and was a guest performer in the 2007 Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Eskimo Jokes show. Tom has also performed occasionally in his home town of Warrnambool.

In 2008 Tom was one quarter of The Comedy Zone at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. 2009 saw Tom’s solo debut at the Melbourne Comedy Festival with his show Tom Ballard Is What He Is. With this show he won the 2009 The Melbourne Airport Best Newcomer Award.

Tom is a regular weekend presenter on JJJ.

Tom cites Jerry Seinfeld, Daniel Kitson and Ricky Gervais as his major influences.