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Andy Cameron

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Andy Cameron is undoubtedly the most popular international comedy star in Scotland. He is also one of Scotland's most popular, humorous, after dinner speakers and he still appears regularly in theatres, clubs and hotels throughout the country

He continues to entertain audiences in every facet of the entertainment industry, including television and radio. For a number of years Andy played the part of Chick the cheeky taxi driver in STV's long running soap 'High Road'.

On leaving school Andy had 24 jobs before he entered show-business at 32 years of age. The jobs were as diverse as bridge-building and bus driving, but the job he enjoyed most was selling. The nicest accolade he received as a salesman was when an area manager told him he could sell the Pope a double bed.

In 1972 Andy started working in clubs just as a means of getting some PIN money. This developed into a full-time occupation when he devised an act as a football hooligan which led to becoming a top club comedy act in Scottish clubs and gave him a huge break when he wrote the football anthem Ally's Tartan Army. This went to No.6 in the national charts and was responsible for 2 appearances on Top of the Pops in 1978 and this is a great source of embarrassment to his children when it is shown on flashback TV shows.

However, in 2006 Andy agreed to appear on Mark Lamar's Never Mind The Buzzcocks where he stood in the now infamous line up where the contestants after having watched part of the original 1978 Top of the Pops video, then had to pick out the real Andy Cameron as he stood with four other Andy Cameron lookalikes. Both teams had no problem in picking Andy out of the line up.

1979 saw the BBC in Scotland modernising its image and moving from the old Home Service on radio to a brand new Radio Scotland. Andy was given a 13-week contract to present a programme of music and gags. After 2 weeks it was suggested that he ask children to phone in with their jokes. This was such a great success that the 13 weeks stretched to 15 years and resulted in him being voted Radio Personality of the year in 1984.

Andy still has people telling him of the times when they nearly drove off the road or had household accidents because they were laughing so much at these kids!

Andys first breakthrough on television was in 1975 when he was second in the studio voting of New Faces and this led to several appearances on variety shows such as Live at Her Majestys with Jimmy Tarbuck and Tarby and Friends for weekend television.

He had my own series on BBC Scotland in 1979 and again in 1982 which were both well received. However it was a 1983 series on Scottish television called Its Andy Cameron, which ran for 10 weeks and led to Andy being awarded 'Scottish Television Personality of the Year.'

He has made several guest appearances on game shows and retired undefeated as the winner of BBC Scotlands 'Celebrity Superscot' programme.

Throughout Andy's career he has developed an excellent After Dinner talent which has taken him all over the world to places such as Toronto, Hong Kong, Dubai and even England.

In 1982, 1983 and 1984 he was invited to speak in debates at Cambridge and Oxford Universities and this was very successful. Andy likes to tailor his speeches to suit the occasion and this has been welcomed by organisers of Sporting Dinners, Burns Suppers and Tribute Dinners. Andy is one of Scotlands most in demand guest speakers.

Andy currently works with Rangers FC, where he has a 'stand-up' act before league matches at Ibrox Park. Andy is a loyal Rangers fan, and indeed his family including his son Spencer Cameron work within Rangers FC.

When Scotland's football team qualified for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina (and England didn't), probably the biggest mistake Scotland manager Ally McLeod made, was to talk up the chances of Scotland not only doing well, but maybe even winning the championship.

Andy Cameron's song below, belted out at the time, epitomises that starry-eyed view. Many of Scotland's Tartan Army of football fans even half-believed the optimism - until it all ended in tears and Scotland did not even proceed beyond the first round.

If your Scottish and over the age of 30, you will almost certainly remember the tune to these words. It might even jog a few memories and raise a smile or two.

ALLY'S TARTAN ARMY
We're on the march wi' Ally's Army,
We're going tae the Argentine,
And we'll really shake them up,
When we win the World Cup,
'Cos Scotland is the greatest football team,

We're representing Britain,
And we're gaunny do or die,
England cannae dae it,
'Cos they didnae qualify!

We're on the march wi' Ally's Army,
We're going tae the Argentine,
And we'll really shake them up,
When we win the World Cup,
'Cos Scotland is the greatest football team

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

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