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Alistair McGowan

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Alistair McGowan is enjoying a hugely successful Millennium so far, with his own series ALISTAIR McGOWANS BIG IMPRESSION which broadcast on BBC1, and he has just opened in the West End production ART (Wyndhams Theatre), playing Serge. Other tv shows include guest appearances on THE PRIORY (Ginger Prods for Ch4), THIS MORNING (Granada), TFI FRIDAY (Ginger Prods for Ch4), PARKINSON (BBC TV), and SKY TVs APOCALYPSE TUBE he also narrated a BBC Radio 4 documentary THE HISTORY OF THE VOICE.

During 1999 Alistair made a welcome return to the Nottingham Playhouse as Clov in ENDGAME, this followed his success last year when he played Franz Kafka there in Alan Bennetts KAFKAS DICK Critics described his performance as revelatory...a superbly comic presence - even his legs are funny Daily Telegraph a brilliant study...he plays it to perfection...excellent...Alistair McGowan showing he can do far more than mimic sportsmen... Locals Proves himself a fully-fledged actor... The Guardian.

Upon returning to London, Alistair began filming the sitcom DARK AGES, (Granada TV) playing the part of Redwald. Other shows during 1999 included THE VERY WORLD OF MILTON JONES (BBC Radio), appearing as Monsieur Trufelle in ROGER AND THE ROTTENTROLLS (The Childrens Company Ltd) and the highlight of the year, his very own TV special ALISTAIR McGOWANS BIG IMPRESSION which was televised on BBC1 in September.

However, there are more strings to an already well-strung bow! After leaving The Guildhall School of music and Drama in 1989, Alistair began working as a stand-up comic, playing every club from Balham Banana to The Comedy Store. He soon became known for his excellent impressions and began working on Radio Fours WEEKENDING and then from 1992 - 1996 on SPITTING IMAGE where he provided voices for Tony Blair, John Major, Chris Eubank, Prince Charles and Hugh Grant, among many others.

He has since appeared on television as a comic on a long list of programmes which includes THE STAND-UP SHOW, ODDBALLS, AUNTIES SPORTING BLOOMERS, TARBUCK LATE, THE COMEDY STORE, TALKING TELEPHONE NUMBERS he was part of THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE in 1995, and also appeared in A ROYAL CELEBRATION 1998. He has featured three times as a guest on THEY THINK ITS ALL OVER and CALL MY BLUFF and once on UNDER THE MOON and THE BEST SHOW IN THE WORLD...PROBABLY and has been involved in several sketch shows including FIST OF FUN and ANT AND DEC and is part of Scotlands hugely popular football spoof ONLY AN EXCUSE.

He has been interviewed by many of Britains chat show hosts, facing questions from CLIVE JAMES, DES OCONNOR, Johnny Vaughan on THE BIG BREAKFAST, JACK DOCHERTY, ALLY McCOIST (BBC Scotland), and IAN WRIGHT. On radio he has been interviewed by SYBIL RUSCOE, JOHN INVERDALE and MARK & LARD. He was also interviewed as Jimmy Hill by Jimmy Hill in ON SIDE.

As an actor, he is probably best known for his role as Spock in Tim Firths multi-award-winning PRESTON FRONT. Further work includes appearing as Jan Francis husband in Roy Clarks SPARK and he has popped up in JONATHAN CREEK, MURDER MOST HORRID, AGONY AGAIN, HISTORY FILE and CHILDRENS WARD. He also performed characters of a rock star and a newsreader for CRECH LANDING. He has extensive radio acting experience - taking lead parts in COLD CALL, DECLINE & FALL (alongside Jim Broadbent and Andrew Sachs) and ROBERTO ZUCCO...

Alistair is a very familiar name to the Radio 4 Light Entertainment department, having been involved in countless radio comedies including THE NICK REVELL SHOW, FIRST IMPRESSIONS, LIFE, DEATH & SEX WITH MIKE AND SUE, THE HARPOON and DOON YOUR WAY. He appeared on and co-wrote WHEN HARRY MET ALLY (with Harry Hill) and four series of THE GAMES UP for Radio Five. Other BBC radio work includes THE WORLD OF PUB, THE FIRST EVER WIMBLEDON and DEAD RINGERS.

His favourite radio work however, has been reading books for BOOK AT BEDTIME. He has now covered two books and two collections of short stories by PATRICK SUSKIND and CHEKHOV. Alistair has also contributed to National Poetry Day events for the BBC.

His re-voicing of video footage is another talent. Having worked on THE STAGGERING STORIES OF FERDINAND DE BARGOS for BBC2, he has since made the technique his own, providing video pieces for THE SPORTS REVIEW OF THE YEAR (for five years), MATCH OF THE DAY and ODDBALLS. He has released two videos using this technique FOOTBALL BACKCHAT and THE SECOND LEG which were bets sellers in both the comedy and sports charts. He has also ventured into the pop charts with Yeahforce Ones contribution to World Cup songs, World Cup Crescendo.

Also in 1996, Alistair fronted the new commercial for FRUIT & FIBREOPTIMA, was used as the voice(s) for an EIDOS computer game, ALL STAR SOCCER, and wrote and presented BRITANNIA AIRWAYS in-flight commercials for their duty-free services.

He is now well established as an after dinner speaker and has spoken at events as diverse as The Professional Footballers Association Annual Dinner and The Royal Television Society Awards. Furthermore, he has begun writing regular columns for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH Saturday sport section.

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Find out how to book Alistair McGowan as the celebrity speaker for your next event by calling Speak Out on 0131 654 1000 or clicking here.

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