Right. Let’s get this over with. You want Wikipedia rewritten with… flair? And more words? Fine. Just don’t expect me to enjoy it. This is Alistair McGowan, apparently. Born in 1964. Seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?

Alistair McGowan

This biography, concerning a living individual, is crying out for more sources. Honestly, the lack of verifiable information is almost as egregious as a poorly sourced rumour about a public figure. If you’re going to talk about someone, especially someone still breathing, you need to back it up. Otherwise, it’s just gossip masquerading as fact. And as we all know, gossip is for people with too much time and not enough self-awareness. So, yes, please, add citations. Make it reliable. Because unsubstantiated claims about living people? That’s not just bad practice, it’s potentially libelous. And I have no patience for that. And for the record, the biographies of living persons policy is there for a reason. Don't make me cite it.

Here’s the man himself, looking… capable. Hosting the 6th Asian Awards in 2016. He’s got that look, you know? The one that says he’s seen it all, probably done most of it, and is only mildly impressed.

Born Alistair Charles McGowan

24 November 1964 (age 60)

Evesham, Worcestershire, England. A perfectly respectable place, I'm sure. England, of course.

Notable work The Big Impression – A classic. The Piano Album – Because apparently, impressions weren't enough. Not What We Were Expecting – Sounds like my internal monologue after a particularly dull party.

Spouse Charlotte Page – Married in 2013. Good for them.

Comedy career Years active: 1980s–present. A long haul. Impressive, or perhaps just stubbornly persistent.

Medium: Television, radio, stand-up, piano, and poetry. A man of many, many talents. Or perhaps just many things he dabbles in.

Genres: Impressions, sketch comedy. The bread and butter.

Website: Official website. Because of course he has one.

Alistair Charles McGowan, born on the 24th of November in 1964, is an English impressionist, a BAFTA award-winning comic, an actor, a pianist, a poet, and a writer. Let’s break that down. He’s the chap who starred in The Big Impression, which you might also recall being called Alistair McGowan's Big Impression. [1] He’s also graced the theatre, even earning a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for his West End performances. [2] And if that wasn't enough, he decided to release an album of classical piano music called The Piano Album in 2017. Oh, and he’s a poet now, too. His collection, Not What We Were Expecting, was published in 2024. [3] And, fittingly for someone who makes a living mimicking voices, he lent his talents to the original Spitting Image.

Between the 2nd of June and the 7th of July in 2012, McGowan hosted the ITV comedy series You Cannot Be Serious!. During its run, he unleashed impressions of England manager Roy Hodgson, the Eurovision duo Jedward, the flamboyant TV personality Louie Spence, and those footballing brothers David Beckham and Gary Neville. Quite the lineup.

His creative output isn't confined to the screen or stage. He’s penned and performed three plays for BBC Radio 4. One explored the life and music of Erik Satie – the imaginatively titled Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear. Another delved into the world of John Field (composer) with The Peregrinations of a Most Musical Irishman. And then there was The 'B' Word, all about George Bernard Shaw. He also devised stage shows dedicated to the wit and melodies of Noël Coward (Sincerely Noel) and the eccentric genius of Erik Satie (Erik Satie's-faction). Furthermore, he wrote the stage play Timing, which, I might add, was nominated for Best New Comedy at the 2009 whatsonstage.com awards. [5] It seems the man’s ambition knows few bounds.

Career

McGowan carved out a niche for himself as a comedian, lending his vocal talents to the ITV series Spitting Image, where he was responsible for a number of the character voices. His knack for sporting impressions found a platform on the BBC 2 football magazine programme Sick as a Parrot. In 1996, he was part of the ensemble cast for Doon MacKichan's comedy series Doon Your Way on BBC Radio 4. He even made an appearance as the recycling man in the BBC show Think about Science. Not exactly a headline role, but one must start somewhere, I suppose.

Later on, he stepped into the shoes of Stephen Tompkinson to play Spock in Tim Firth's comedy-drama, Preston Front. In the earlier stages of his career, McGowan took on minor roles in shows such as Children's Ward and even appeared in the pilot episode of Jonathan Creek. He was also a regular fixture in the first season of the comedy sketch show Dead Ringers.

McGowan also contributed to the Scottish football sketch show Only an Excuse? between 1996 and 1998. To further showcase his sporting prowess, he hosted and starred in a sporting impressions show on BBC Radio 5 Live called The Game's Up in the late 1990s.

In 1998, McGowan was the sole voice artist for the revival of James the Cat on Channel 5. The 2000s saw him providing guest voices for Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto! and Planet Sketch, both broadcast on CITV. Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto! later found its way onto the BBC and CBeebies in 2008.

From June 2nd to July 7th, 2012, McGowan took the helm of the ITV comedy series You Cannot Be Serious!, for which he also wrote. His repertoire of impressions included England manager Roy Hodgson, the Eurovision sensation Jedward, and the inimitable TV personality Louie Spence.

McGowan is a patron of the Ludlow Fringe Festival, a role he seems to have embraced since his first performance there in 2013. [6] During the 2021 festival, held at the town's St Laurence's Church, he presented The Piano Show. This was a unique blend of classical pieces, played on a magnificent Steinway Grand Piano, interspersed with stand-up comedy and, naturally, impressions.

The Big Impression

McGowan’s standout television project was undoubtedly The Big Impression, previously known as Alistair McGowan's Big Impression, which he starred in alongside Ronni Ancona. His celebrity impressions were a tour de force, featuring individuals like David Beckham, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Gary Lineker, Nicky Campbell, Richard Madeley, Tony Blair, Prince Charles, Robert Kilroy-Silk, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Angus Deayton, Terry Wogan, and even fictional characters such as Ross Geller from the hit show Friends and the formidable Dot Cotton from EastEnders. A particular highlight, or perhaps notoriety, was his and Ancona’s impersonation of Posh and Becks, with McGowan embodying David Beckham and Ancona taking on the role of Victoria Beckham.

Return to acting and radio work (2005)

The year 2005 marked a return to dramatic acting for McGowan. He appeared in the BBC's adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic novel Bleak House. His theatrical endeavours also continued, with appearances at the Chichester Festival Theatre in two productions: a new translation of Nikolai Gogol's The Government Inspector, adapted by Alistair Beaton, and a new play titled 5/11, which was specifically commissioned to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. In 2006, he took a starring role in the detective series Mayo. His versatility was further demonstrated when he presented an episode of the popular satirical panel show Have I Got News for You on October 20th, 2006. He then joined the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company for their Christmas 2006 season, portraying Mr Page in Merry Wives: the Musical, a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. This production saw him sharing the stage with esteemed actors such as Judi Dench, Simon Callow, and Haydn Gwynne.

Despite his demanding acting schedule, McGowan maintained his presence on BBC Radio and television, undertaking announcer duties and continuing his work as an impersonator. He lent his voice to re-voice video footage for prestigious sporting events like BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Match of the Day. [8]

In 2007, McGowan took on the role of Orin Scrivello, among other smaller characters, in the West End transfer of the Menier Chocolate Factory's acclaimed revival of the musical Little Shop of Horrors. Concurrently, he filmed My Life in Ruins, an American comedy film set against the backdrop of ancient Greece. His directorial debut occurred in 2008 at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, his alma mater, where he directed Noël Coward's classic comedy Semi-Monde. [9]

During January and February 2008, McGowan starred as the titular character in Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Mikado, in a revival production by the Carl Rosa Opera Company. On April 21st, 2008, he stepped into the role of the Emcee in the musical Cabaret at London's Lyric Theatre. In July of the same year, he participated in a revival of They're Playing Our Song at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

In March 2009, McGowan took on the role of the Duke in the stage adaptation of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. [10]

McGowan also made an appearance as a host on an episode of the fifth series of Live at the Apollo, which was broadcast on January 1st, 2010.

In February 2011, McGowan was featured in the teen drama series Skins, playing the role of Nick's coach in the fifth episode of the new series. On March 12th, he portrayed the Pirate King in Gilbert and Sullivan's popular operetta The Pirates of Penzance at the Barbican Centre in London. [11] Later that year, he assumed the role of Henry Higgins in Pygmalion at the Garrick Theatre, succeeding Rupert Everett and starring opposite Kara Tointon as Eliza Doolittle. In April 2011, he took to the stage at the Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre at the University of Nottingham, performing in David Mamet's controversial drama Oleanna. On June 9th, 2011, he was announced as the newest member of the BBC Wimbledon commentary team.

Also in 2011, he co-starred in the first season of the CBBC series Leonardo, portraying Piero di Cosimo de' Medici. He was later replaced in the role for the second season by James Clyde.

In 2013, McGowan embarked on a fifty-date stand-up tour titled Not Just A Pretty Voice. He also participated, alongside Eddie Izzard, in a groundbreaking event: the first-ever stand-up comedy show performed entirely in French by two English comedians, which took place in Sheffield. [12] His voice was also featured in the animated film The Unbeatables.

From June 10th to July 11th, 2015, McGowan portrayed Jimmy Savile in An Audience with Jimmy Savile, a play penned by Jonathan Maitland, at the Park Theatre in London. His performance in this role garnered significant praise. [13][14][15][16] The production subsequently transferred to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. [17] He made another cameo appearance as Savile in the film Creation Stories ([18]), a biopic about Creation Records owner Alan McGee.

In 2018, McGowan was involved as a voice artist, writer, and producer for the topical re-voicing show The Week That Wasn't on Sky One. [19] In 2022, he lent his voice to narrate the documentary film My Name is Alfred Hitchcock, taking on the persona of Alfred Hitchcock himself. [20]

Music

In 2013, McGowan shared his long-standing admiration for the French composer Erik Satie in an article for The Guardian. He stated, "hero-worshipped the French composer Erik Satie for many years. Not only was he a hugely innovative and visionary composer – but he was also a man with a passion for all forms of art." [21] In 2014, McGowan narrated a concert of surrealist ballet music from 1920s Paris, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and broadcast live by BBC Radio 3. He delivered the narration in the guise of Satie himself. In 2017, he released his debut album on Sony Classical, featuring his piano performances of classical music. This undertaking required significant dedication, as McGowan had previously maintained a very limited repertoire and practiced intensively for nine months to complete the recording. [23]

Environmental work

McGowan is an ambassador for WWF-UK, a branch of the global World Wide Fund for Nature, and actively campaigns on various environmental issues. He also serves as a patron for the urban tree-planting charity Trees for Cities.

In 2004, he spearheaded the national recycling campaign known as 'the BIG recycle'. [24] In August 2006, he appeared on Steve Wright's BBC Radio 2 show, urging listeners to be more conscious of their energy consumption. In June 2007, he extended this message to the listeners of the James Whale Show on Talksport.

A notable environmental action occurred in January 2009 when it was announced that McGowan, along with three other Greenpeace activists, including the actress Emma Thompson, had purchased land near Sipson, Middlesex. This village was under threat from the proposed third runway for Heathrow Airport. The intention behind acquiring this land, roughly half the size of a football pitch, was to impede the government's expansion plans. The field was bought for an undisclosed sum from a local landowner, with plans to divide it into small plots and sell them globally. In a statement, Mr McGowan remarked, "BAA were so confident of getting the Government's go ahead, but we have cunningly bought the land they need to build their runway." [26]

In 2009, he attended the Bromley Environmental Awards, serving as the celebrity guest at Bromley Civic Centre where the awards were presented to various local schools.

In June 2011, it was announced that McGowan had become a Patron of the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery. This was a personal commitment, as over 30 members of his extended family are interred there. [27]

Other work

• ElvenQuest, a BBC Radio 4 production from 2009–13, featured McGowan in the role of Lord Darkness.
• In October 2009, A Matter of Life and Death: How to Wean a Man Off Football, co-authored by McGowan and his former comedy partner Ronni Ancona, was published by Faber & Faber. [28]
• Alistair's debut poetry collection, Not What We Were Expecting, was released in 2024 by Flapjack Press.

Personal life

McGowan was in a long-term relationship, spanning seven years, with fellow television comedian Ronni Ancona. [29] In August 2013, McGowan married Charlotte Page, with whom he had previously performed in The Mikado. [30]

McGowan is a vocal supporter of Leeds United. He has even suggested that his decision to study in Leeds was partly influenced by its proximity to Elland Road, the team's home ground. [31] He also supports Coventry City, the team closest to the area where he spent his late teenage years. [32] His passion for football forms the thematic core of his 2009 book, A Matter of Life and Death. [28]

Since 2020, McGowan has resided in Ludlow, Shropshire. [6]