Alistair McGowan

Infobox Comedian


name = Alistair McGowan
imagesize = 250px
caption = Alistair McGowan in "The Big Impression"
birth_date = birth date and age|1964|11|24|df=yes
birth_place = Worcestershire, England
death_date =
death_place =
medium =
nationality = English
active = 1980s-present
genre = Impressions, sketch comedy
influences =
influenced =
spouse =
notable_work = "The Big Impression" (1999-2002)

Alistair McGowan (born 24 November 1964 in Badsey, Worcestershire) is an English impressionist, comedian and actor. McGowan is best known for his work with Ronni Ancona on "The Big Impression" (formerly "Alistair McGowan's Big Impression"), which spawned his culturally popular impressions of David Beckham, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Gary Lineker, Richard Madeley, Tony Blair, Ross Geller ("Friends") and Dot Cotton ("EastEnders").

Biography

Early life and education

McGowan was born in the village of Badsey, Worcestershire, just outside the town of Evesham to George McGowan, an Anglo-Indian from Calcutta. Although aware his father was born in India, McGowan has said that he was unaware of his father's ethnicity until after his death in 2003, and had assumed his paternal ancestry was Scottish. McGowan's ancestry was explored and investigated in the 4 October 2007 edition of the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? [cite web |title=Who Do You Think You Are? Series Four |publisher=bbc.co.uk |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/get_started/wdytya_s4_celeb_gallery_05.shtml |accessdate=2007-10-04 ] He attended the Simon de Montfort Middle School in Evesham and took lead roles in school productions. He went on to attend Evesham High School, [Citation |title=Comedian joins campaign for wildlife |newspaper=Ludlow & Tenbury Wells Advertiser |date=2003-08-28 |url=http://archive.tenburywellsadvertiser.co.uk/2003/8/28/179664.html |accessdate=2007-10-04 ] and took a lead part in the musical "West Side Story". This is where he started to make impressions of different people at school including teachers. He graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA English degree in 1986 [ [http://www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=430&srcid=423 Public eye | Who's been here | Alumni | University ] ] and he then went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he graduated in 1989.

Career

McGowan found work as a stand-up comedian, and did some of the voices for the ITV television series "Spitting Image". His sporting impressions were showcased on the BBC 2 football magazine programme "Sick as a Parrot". He also appeared as the recycling man in the BBC show "Think about Science".

Later he took over from Stephen Tompkinson playing Spock in the Tim Firth comedy drama, "Preston Front". In his early career, McGowan had minor roles in shows such as "Children's Ward", and in the pilot episode of "Jonathan Creek". He also starred in the first series of "Dead Ringers".

The Big Impression

He is best known for his work with Jan Ravens and Ronni Ancona on "The Big Impression", formerly "Alistair McGowan's Big Impression". McGowan has a repertoire of well over one hundred impersonations many of which have been covered on Alistair McGowan's Big Impression.

The most popular and regular include David Beckham, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Gary Lineker, Richard Madeley, Tony Blair, Prince Charles, Robert Kilroy-Silk, Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen Angus Deayton, Nicky Campbell, Terry Wogan and the fictional characters Ross Geller (from "Friends") & Dot Cotton (from "EastEnders").

McGowan and Ronni Ancona are probably best known for their portrayal of Posh and Becks with McGowan exaggerating David Beckham's perceived lack of intelligenceFact|date=August 2007 and Ancona exaggerating the role of "Posh Spice" (Victoria Beckham) with pouting lips. As the Beckhams style of dress regularly changed - in particular David's changing haircuts - McGowan adapted his costumes and style accordingly.

Return to acting and radio work (2005)

He made a return to dramatic acting in 2005, appearing in the BBC's adaptation of Charles Dickens's novel "Bleak House". In 2006 he starred in the detective series "Mayo". He also presented an episode of "Have I Got News For You" on 20 October 2006. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company for the Christmas 2006 season playing Mr Page in "Merry Wives: the Musical" (a version of "The Merry Wives of Windsor") opposite Judi Dench, Simon Callow and Haydn Gwynne.

Despite his acting commitments, he has still continued a successful career of celebrity impersonator on the BBC Radio and also did re-voicing of video footages of 'The Sports Review of the Year' and "Match of the Day" which has turned him into a sideline sporting celebrity. [ [http://uktv.co.uk/g2/item/aid/527894 Dave: Who's on Dave: Alistair McGowan ] ] Two releases of 'Alistair McGowan's Football Backchat' were best sellers in both comedy and sports video charts.

In 2007 McGowan starred as the dentist (and other, smaller characters) in the West End transfer of the Menier Chocolate Factory's revival of "Little Shop of Horrors", and filmed "My Life in Ruins", an American comedy film set in the ruins of ancient Greece.

In January and February 2008, McGowan starred as the eponymous protagonist of "The Mikado" by Gilbert and Sullivan, in a reival by Carl Rosa Operas. On 21 April 2008 he took over the role of Emcee in "Cabaret (musical)" at the Lyric Theatre (London). In July of that year he appeared in a revival of "They're Playing Our Song" at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Environmental work

McGowan serves as an ambassador to WWF-UK, part of the global World Wide Fund For Nature, and campaigns on a number of environmental issues. In 2004 he launched 'the BIG recycle' national campaign urging public to reduce rubbish by recycling it.

On 2 August 2006, he appeared on BBC Radio 2 on Steve Wright's show to appeal to listeners to be more energy aware. More recently, he appeared on the James Whale Show on Talksport on 20 June 2007 on this issue.

McGowan is a patron of the urban tree-planting charity Trees for Cities.

References

External links

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* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/m/mcgowan_alistair.shtml Alistair McGowan credits] - BBC Comedy Guide
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/a/alistairmcgowans_66600080.shtml Alistair McGowan's Big Impression] - BBC Comedy Guide