Lesley Harbidge

Dr. Lesley Harbidge is an academic faculty member and Course Leader in Cinema and Film Studies within the Faculty of Business and Creative Industries at the University of South Wales. She also serves as Faculty Academic Director and leads the Creative Industries Research and Innovation Group. Her roles encompass academic leadership, student pastoral care, curriculum development, and external examination for media programs at other institutions.

Her research centers on contemporary American cinema, British and American television, and stand-up comedy, with a particular focus on comedian-driven comedy, audience reception, and laughter. She explores genres such as bromance, observational comedy, and post-comedian romantic comedies, often analyzing works by figures like Steve Martin and films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

The analysis of her publications reveals a consistent engagement with screen comedy, audience-performer dynamics, and the evolution of comedic genres across film and television. Her work bridges cultural theory, media analysis, and performance studies, contributing to the academic understanding of humor and its reception.

• External Examiner, Media, Study Group, Lincoln University
• External Examiner, BA Digital Film, Brighton University
• External Examiner, Film & Television Production, York St. John University

Dr. Harbidge has supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research, including at least one formal supervised project. She has contributed to academic discourse through peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Her consultancy work with UKTV, DAVE, and Paramount on topics such as laughter and comedic accents demonstrates real-world application of her expertise. She remains active in academic communities, having participated in conferences such as the Faculty of Creative Industries' Undergraduate Research Conference in 2019.

She is affiliated with the Creative Industries Research and Innovation Group, where she contributes to collaborative research initiatives and supports research culture within the faculty.