Nationality English Role Television presenter Name Clive Anderson | Years active 1979–present Citizenship British Height 1.52 m | |
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Born 10 December 1952 (age 71) ( 1952-12-10 ) Middlesex, England Alma mater Selwyn College, Cambridge Occupation Comedy author, game show host, lawyer, radio presenter, television presenter Known for Hosting Whose Line Is It Anyway?, appearing on and writing for various TV and radio programs Movies The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything Education Selwyn College, Cambridge, University of Cambridge TV shows Whose Line Is It Anyway?, QI, Mastermind, Maestro, If I Ruled the World Similar People Josie Lawrence, Tony Slattery, Greg Proops, Clive James, Colin Mochrie | ||
The bee gees walk out of clive anderson talks back bbc1 30th october 1997
Clive Stuart Anderson (born 10 December 1952 in Stanmore, Middlesex) is an English television and radio presenter, comedy writer and former barrister. Winner of a British Comedy Award in 1991, Anderson began experimenting with comedy and writing comedic scripts during his 15-year legal career, before starring in Whose Line Is It Anyway? on BBC Radio 4, then later Channel 4. He has also hosted a number of radio programmes, and made guest appearances on Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week and QI.
Contents
- The bee gees walk out of clive anderson talks back bbc1 30th october 1997
- Early life
- Television
- Radio
- Comedy and newspaper writing
- Personal life
- Awards
- References
Early life
Anderson was educated at Stanburn Primary School and Harrow County School for Boys where his group of friends included Geoffrey Perkins and Michael Portillo. His Scottish father was manager of the Bradford & Bingley's Wembley branch. Anderson attended Selwyn College, University of Cambridge, where, from 1974 to 1975, he was President of Footlights. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1976 and became a practising barrister, specialising in criminal law.
Television
Anderson was involved in the fledgling alternative comedy scene in the early 1980s and was the first act to come on stage at The Comedy Store when it opened in 1979. He made his name as host of the improvised television comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which ran for 10 series.
Anderson hosted his own chat-show, Clive Anderson Talks Back, on Channel 4, which ran for 10 series. Anderson moved to the BBC in 1996. The show's name was changed to Clive Anderson All Talk and it was aired on BBC1. In one incident in 1996, Anderson interviewed the Bee Gees, and throughout the interview he repeatedly joked about their life and career, ultimately prompting the band to walk out. Anderson once had a glass of water poured over his head by a perturbed Richard Branson. He also said to Jeffrey Archer, "There's no beginning to your talents." Archer retorted that "The old jokes are always the best," for Anderson to reply "Yes, I've read your books." The last series of Clive Anderson All Talk aired in 2001.
He has made ten appearances on Have I Got News for You. He has also frequently appeared on QI. In 2007, he featured as a regular panellist on the ITV comedy show News Knight. One heated exchange on Have I Got News for You occurred when he joked to fellow guest Piers Morgan that the Daily Mirror was now, thanks to Morgan (then its editor), almost as good as The Sun. When asked by Morgan, "What do you know about editing newspapers?", he swiftly replied, "About as much as you do."
In 2005 he presented the short-lived quiz Back in the Day for Channel 4. On 25 February 2008, he started presenting Brainbox Challenge, a new game show, for BBC Two. Later that year, he presented a reality TV talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC entitled Maestro, starring eight celebrities. In 2009, Anderson was the television host of the BBC's Last Night of the Proms.
Radio
Anderson presents legal show Unreliable Evidence on Radio 4. He also covered the Sunday morning 11 AM-1 PM show on BBC Radio 2 through the end of January 2008.
It was announced in April 2008 that Anderson, who had previously filled in for host Ned Sherrin from 2006 until Sherrin's death in 2007, would be taking over as permanent host of Loose Ends. He also hosted six series of Clive Anderson's Chat Room on BBC Radio 2 from 2004–2009. Anderson has appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Unbelievable Truth hosted by David Mitchell.
Anderson also presents The Guessing Game (radio) on BBC Radio Scotland.
Comedy and newspaper writing
Anderson is a comedy sketch writer who has written for Frankie Howerd, Not the Nine O'Clock News, and Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith. One of his early comedy writing projects was Black Cinderella Two Goes East with Rory McGrath for BBC Radio 4 in 1978. As well as writing comedy, Anderson is also a frequent contributor to newspapers, and was a regular columnist in the Sunday Correspondent.
Personal life
Anderson lives in Highbury, north London, with his wife, Jane, and three children. He supports Arsenal, Rangers and Albion Rovers and is President of the Woodland Trust and Vice Patron of the Solicitors' Benevolent Association.
He also has a holiday home in Dalmally, Argyll.
Awards
The show Whose Line is it Anyway? won a BAFTA award in 1990. Later, Clive Anderson won both the "Top Entertainment Presenter" and "Top Radio Comedy Personality" at the British Comedy Awards in 1991.