Alexei Sayle
Who Alexei Sayle is
Alexei Sayle is an English stand-up comedian, actor and author, born in Anfield, Liverpool, in 1952 and best known for his influential part in the alternative comedy movement of the 1980s. When the Comedy Store opened in London in 1979 he became its first compere, setting the tone for the new scene, and he went on to the Comic Strip, played the Balowski family in The Young Ones and made three series of Alexei Sayle's Stuff, which won an International Emmy, followed by The All New Alexei Sayle Show and Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round.
He has written two collections of short stories and five novels, appeared in the films Gorky Park and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and in 1984 reached the Top 20 with the single Ullo John! Gotta New Motor? He returned to stand-up in 2011 after sixteen years away, played the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013, 2015 and 2017, toured Thatcher Stole My Trousers in 2015, and has written and hosted five series of Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar on BBC Radio 4.
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At a glance
- Born
- 1952
- From
- Anfield
- Albums
- Ullo John! Gotta New Motor?
- Podcasts and radio
- Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar and Alexei Sayle's The Absence of Normal
- Books
- Stalin Ate My Homework
- On screen
- The Young Ones, Alexei Sayle's Stuff, The All New Alexei Sayle Show and 8 more
Is Alexei Sayle on tour?
No upcoming dates on record No upcoming dates are on record right now. That doesn't mean they have stopped touring; follow them to hear when the next ones are booked.
Last checked 23 October 2026.
Are they coming to my town?
No dates are on record right now (checked 23 October 2026), so no town is confirmed yet. Follow them and your town to hear when one is booked.
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Specials, shows and podcasts
Albums
- Ullo John! Gotta New Motor? single, 1984
On screen
- The Young Ones the Balowski family, BBC
- Alexei Sayle's Stuff BBC, 1988-1991
- The All New Alexei Sayle Show 1994-95
- Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round 1998
- The Comic Strip Presents... Channel 4
- Didn't You Kill My Brother? The Comic Strip, the two leading roles
- Gorky Park film
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade film
- Carry On Columbus film, 1992
- Mandy 2022
- Dodger 2022
Podcasts and radio
- Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar BBC Radio 4, host and writer, 2016-2025
- Alexei Sayle's The Absence of Normal BBC Radio 4, 2019-2021
Books and writing
- Stalin Ate My Homework book, 2011
Comedians like Alexei Sayle
Each linked to them by something on the record — a stage they both came through, a bill, a show, a style or a home town.
- Mark Silcox also in Mandy
- Yuriko Kotani also in Mandy
Career timeline
- 1952Born
- 1984Ullo John! Gotta New Motor? (single, 1984) Album
- 1988Alexei Sayle's Stuff (BBC, 1988-1991) On screen
- 1992Carry On Columbus (film, 1992) On screen
- 1994The All New Alexei Sayle Show (1994-95) On screen
- 1998Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round (1998) On screen
- 2011Stalin Ate My Homework (book, 2011) Book
- 2016Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar (BBC Radio 4, host and writer, 2016-2025) Podcast or book
- 2019Alexei Sayle's The Absence of Normal (BBC Radio 4, 2019-2021) Podcast or book
- 2022Mandy (2022) On screen
- 2022Dodger (2022) On screen
Questions and answers
Where is Alexei Sayle performing next?
No date is on D.O.C.'s Comedy Calendar right now.
What podcasts and radio shows have they been on?
Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar and Alexei Sayle's The Absence of Normal.
Have they written a book?
Yes: Stalin Ate My Homework.
What TV shows and films are they in?
The Young Ones (the Balowski family, BBC), Alexei Sayle's Stuff (BBC, 1988-1991), The All New Alexei Sayle Show (1994-95), Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round (1998), The Comic Strip Presents... (Channel 4) and Didn't You Kill My Brother? (The Comic Strip, the two leading roles), among 11 credits.
Where are they from?
Born in Anfield.
How old are they?
They were born in 1952, so they turn 74 in 2026.
Who are some comedians like them?
Mark Silcox (also in Mandy) and Yuriko Kotani (also in Mandy).
Is this you?
This page can be your website, free. Send your bio in your own words, your links, your clips, who books you, a line said about you and your weekly show, and they go on this page beside the dates D.O.C. already keeps. Fans follow you here and get your news in the D.O.C. letter.
Your short address, for your bio: disciplesofcomedy.com/alexei-sayle
The full SUCDb record
The full record — the career in order, the specials and credits, and the sources for each — is on SUCDb, with a button to add them to your D.O.C., your twelve.
Sources
- Chortle · chortle.co.uk ↗ Born 7 August 1952 in Anfield, Liverpool; the Comedy Store's first compere when it opened in 1979; the Comic Strip and Didn't You Kill My Brother?; the…
- British Comedy Guide ↗ An English stand-up comedian, actor and author, best known for his influential work in the alternative comedy movement of the 1980s; Alexei Sayle's Imaginary…
- Harrogate Theatre — How I've Tried to Change the World (Harrogate Comedy Festival 2026) ↗ Part of the Harrogate Comedy Festival 2026, Harrogate Convention Centre, 8 November 2026; a comedian who has blazed a trail through popular culture for more…
Updated 23 October 2026 · the record checked 19 October 2026