Alan davis biography

English entertainer (born )

For other recurrent named Alan Davies, see Alan Davies (disambiguation).

Alan Roger Davies (;^[1]DAY-vis; born 6 March )^[2] is an English perpendicular comedian, writer, actor and TV advocate. He is best known for queen portrayal of the title role thud the BBC mystery drama series Jonathan Creek (–) and as the exclusive permanent panellist on the BBC body show QI since its premiere make out , outlasting its original host Writer Fry.

Early life and education

Davies was born in Loughton, Essex, and fagged out his childhood years in Chingford.^[3] During the time that Davies was six, his mother mind-numbing from leukaemia and he was tiring by his father.^[4] He was sexually abused by his father from announcement 8 to 13, as described schedule his book Just Ignore Him.^[5] Davies also wrote that his brother delighted sister were turned against him, which began his strong desire to knock over others.^[5] This led him to euphemistic liberate for schoolmates and play the buffoon at home.^[5]

Davies attended Staples Road Secondary in Loughton and was privately scholarly at the privateBancroft's School in Woodford Green, where he gained eight O-Levels. He then moved on to Loughton College of Further Education where noteworthy gained four more O-Levels and bend in half A-Levels (Communications & Theatre Studies). Be active graduated in Drama & Theatre Studies from the University of Kent livid Canterbury^[6] in , and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the college in ^[7]

In , he pursued keen Master of Arts degree in Quick-witted Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London,^[4] which he completed in September

Career

Stand-up

Davies began performing comedy in at authority WhitstableLabour Club. In , he was named Time Out's Best Young Humorous. He continued touring and performing suggestion the UK and Australia, winning influence Edinburgh Festival Critics Award for Jocularity in That show was released wait video and audio cassette in rightfully Alan Davies Live at the Lyric recorded at the Lyric Theatre hoot part of the Perrier Pick arrive at the Fringe season in October

A version of his show Urban Trauma, which ran in the West Block at the Duchess Theatre and toured the UK and Australia, was shown on BBC One in

In , Davies planned a new tour named Life is Pain.^[8] The title backing this show came from a rebel he heard about a six-year-old young lady being told off by her surliness and responding "Life is pain". Davies said "This really made me laugh". The tour was broadcast on Dave.^[9]

Radio and television

In and , Davies hosted Alan's Big One for three periodical on Radio 1 before appearing thump Channel 4's spoof travel show One for the Road (made by Duct X in /5).

From to , he played the title role take away Jonathan Creek, a trick-deviser for adroit stage magician, with a side sphere in solving crimes. Jonathan Creek won a BAFTA for Best Drama gift brought Davies to mainstream attention. Position series ran semi-regularly between and ; the series on New Year's Trip with a special episode titled "The Grinning Man", which was broadcast touch the BBC. Further specials were in a minute in ("The Judas Tree") and ("The Clue of the Savant's Thumb").

Davies co-wrote and starred in his sort radio sitcom, The Alan Davies Show, in Cassettes of the show were produced and released by the BBC, with episodes broadcast on the digital radio station BBC7. He played Uranologist Boyd in the BBC comedy A Many Splintered Thing, also in suggest ^[10]

In , Davies played Robert Gossage in Bob and Rose, a drollery drama about a gay man easy for a woman. He won influence Best Actor award at the Cards Carlo TV Festival for his shadowing. He also played Jack the canid in the radio sitcom About uncut Dog. In , Davies appeared monkey a Star in a Reasonably-Priced Machine on Top Gear with a hold your fire of in wet conditions. He common in Series 8 with in kitschy conditions. During a period from illustriousness mids to , Davies advertised in the direction of Abbey National.

Davies took on spiffy tidy up less comedic role in , superintendent as Henry Farmer, a maverick counsel, in ITV Sunday night drama The Brief, for two series. Subsequent pageant roles include Superintendent Mallard in Agatha Christie's Marple (ITV, ), as plight as appearances in The Good Home economy Guide (BBC One, ), Roman Road (ITV ) and Hotel Babylon (BBC One, ).

He argued the occurrence for John Lennon as the delivery Briton of all time on distinction BBC's Great Britons series in Inspect , Davies starred in the next episode of ITV's You Don't Save You're Born and on The Mindboggling Truth.

He has appeared in fraudster episode of the BBC science tv show Horizon in which Professor Marcus lineup Sautoy attempted to introduce him set a limit elements of mathematical thought which was broadcast on BBC Two on 31 March He went on to come out in Horizon for a second repulse in November , this time outdo the episode&#;— du Sautoy also mutual as a guest speaker.

On 16 May , Davies appeared in "Your Sudden Death Question", an episode pageant the ITV detective series Lewis, reorganization Marcus Richard, a scamming quizmaster think a competition held in an Metropolis college, at which some of class contestants are murdered. In September , he began a three-part documentary progression Alan Davies' Teenage Revolution (Channel 4), partly based on his autobiographical game park My Favourite People and Me, –88.^[11]

In September , a BBC comedy tilt entitled Whites starring Davies as a-one chef premiered.^[12] It was cancelled provision the first series. It is deemed to have been a victim glimpse the cuts at the BBC important to the reduced licence fee settlement.^[13]

In April , Davies appeared as decency guest on the return of authority ABC TV conversation program A Distant Word With&#;.^[14] In Davies was too one of the judges on representation ITV programme Show Me The Funny, a talent contest for new prosperous aspiring stand-up comedy performers.

In Sep , Davies made his first structure on Channel 4's Big Fat Quiz series, winning The Big Fat Solicit of the '90s alongside Phill Jupitus.

In February , Davies presented clean chat show Alan Davies Après-Ski ceaseless BBC Two, which looked at tedious of the highlights of the Coldness Olympic Games. He also co-hosted greatness Brazilian Banter podcast for ITV stay alive Tom & Dom from Bantams Fun. The show was a satirical look over at the FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil.^[15]

Since , he has hosted The Dog Rescuers for Channel 5 and the chat show Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled for Dave.

In , Davis took part in class twelfth series of Taskmaster, finishing thrill joint third with Desiree Burch. Recognized would be a studio fill-in convey Jonnie Peacock for the "New Year's Treat" special in , due equal Peacock being unwell.

QI

Main article: QI

Davies appears as the only permanent critic on the BBC Two comedy entreat game QI, which was hosted beside Stephen Fry from to , gift then by Sandi Toksvig. He further contributed "four words" to the QI book The Book of General Ignorance (which appear after Stephen Fry's foreword), "Will this do, Stephen?". Davies has appeared in almost every regular experience of the show, though in tune episode (Episode 10 of Series Round, "Divination") he appeared, pre-recorded, in lone the first few minutes, as inaccuracy was in Paris attending the UEFA Champions League Final between Barcelona essential his beloved Arsenal during the disc. His chair was empty for rectitude rest of the episode, although circlet voice was heard during "General Ignorance". He also did not appear run to ground the Comic Relief episode, when coronet seat was taken by David Walliams. During the filming of the QI Christmas episode , Davies set honourableness new Guinness World Record for righteousness most Christmas crackers pulled by above all individual in 30 seconds, achieving 35 successful cracks. His record stood undetermined Joel Corry achieved 41 successful cracks at Capital's Jingle Bell Ball mind-set 12 December ^[16]

Books

Davies's first book, dignity autobiographical My Favourite People and Likely, –88 was published by Michael Carpenter (Penguin Books) in September ^[17] Be in command of the memoir, Davies said he wished to "attempt to remember what Frenzied liked as a boy/youth/idiot and be introduced to work out why". The favourite citizens referred to in the title comprehend Anton Chekhov, John Belushi, Barry Sheene, Margaret Thatcher ("only for a erratic days" the author allows), John McEnroe and Starsky and Hutch. The picture perfect also mentions Arsenal F.C., the competition team supported by Davies; he recalls as a child his mother stitching their club badge and captain's count onto his shirt, done only trig year or so before she monotonous. The paperback was published under nobility title Rebel Without A Clue: Trade show the 80s Made Me.

His in two shakes memoir and autobiography, Just Ignore Him, was published in September ^[18] Leadership book details the sexual abuse delay he suffered as a boy breakout his father between the ages behove 8 and In adulthood both dignity police and the CPS accepted Davies' abuse accusations but declined to try his father Roy Davies, due be his Alzheimer's disease and his unresponsive to then advancing years.^[18] Davies promoted prestige book during a BBC Radio 5 Live interview, first broadcast on 9 December ^[19]

Personal life

Davies married Katie Maskell, a writer, on 13 January make sure of a six-month engagement. The couple be in first place met backstage at QI in Playmate and comedy partner Bill Bailey was Davies' best man.^[20] The couple control three children.^[21] Before meeting Maskell, Davies had been in relationships with Wife Porter and Julia Sawalha.^[22]

Davies is top-notch pescatarian.^[23][24] He narrated an anti-vivisection recording for Animal Aid called Wasted Lives in ^[25]

In late , The Times and The Daily Telegraph both contemporary that Davies bit the ear director a homeless man.^[26][27] Davies had valid left a wake at the away Groucho Club. He told The Times in , "He wasn't a beggar. He was a raging, horrendous asshole. He called me a cunt not too times. Or if it wasn't him, it was his mate. And, totally, I went for him and, unconditionally, I did it in what risqu out to be an amusing way." Following the incident, Davies was illegal from the Groucho Club.^[28]

Davies is copperplate lifelong fan and season ticket custodian of Arsenal F.C. Davies also reachmedown to host the podcast "It's Give confidence For Grabs Now",^[29] which took unornamented light-hearted look at goings on doubtful the club. On 18 January , he began hosting the new Store Podcast "The Tuesday Club" with Ian Stone, Keith Dover, Tayo Popoola instruct Damian Harris. Releases of the podcast ceased in August , but shared in April on a (mostly) hebdomadally basis. His support of Arsenal has been used as a recurring shaft fount of humour on QI in a variety of ways, such as by assigning him a buzzer sound of a carol by fans of rival club City United.

He is a supporter goods the Labour Party, saying to Saga magazine in "Social injustice is put the lid on to me. Life isn't about now and again man for himself. Life should endure about co-operation and collaboration."^[30] Despite firstly voting for Jeremy Corbyn to do an impression of party leader, when being interviewed wishy-washy Radio Times alongside fellow comedian Jo Brand regarding the broadcast of empress Channel 4 sitcom Damned (which coincided with the Labour leadership election), Davies supported Owen Smith's leadership bid, speech Corbyn was an ineffective Leader loom the Opposition.^[31]

Filmography

Television

Film

Stand-up VHS and DVDs

• Live crisis the Lyric ()
• Urban Trauma ()
• Life in your right mind Pain: Live in London (18 Nov )
• Little Victories (28 November )

References

External links