Alistair McGowan
Who Alistair McGowan is
Alistair McGowan is an English actor, writer and stand-up comedian best known for his impressions: he provided voices for eight series of Spitting Image and won a BAFTA for the BBC One series The Big Impression, for which he wrote much of the material alongside his own stand-up.
After taking up the piano seriously in 2015 he released The Piano Album on Sony Classical in 2017, which reached number one in the classical charts, toured The Piano Show, a mix of stand-up and classical piano, and in 2023 set up the first Ludlow Piano Festival; in 2026 he toured a three-in-one show of piano, poetry and comedy. On stage he was nominated for an Olivier for Little Shop of Horrors and wrote the play Timing; on screen he led BBC One's detective series Mayo, and his books include A Matter of Life and Death (2010) and the poetry collection Not What We Were Expecting (2024).
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At a glance
- Albums
- The Piano Album
- Podcasts and radio
- BBC Radio 4 dramas and comedies
- Books
- A Matter of Life and Death Or How to Wean A Man off Football and Not What We Were Expecting
- On screen
- The Big Impression, Spitting Image, Mayo and 2 more
- Official site
- alistairmcgowan.com ↗
Is Alistair McGowan on tour?
No upcoming dates on record No upcoming dates are on record right now. That doesn't mean Alistair McGowan has stopped touring; their tour page is the place to look for new dates: alistairmcgowan.com ↗.
Last checked 11 October 2026.
Is Alistair McGowan coming to my town?
No dates are on record right now (checked 11 October 2026), so no town is confirmed yet. Follow Alistair McGowan and your town to hear when one is booked.
Want Alistair McGowan in your town?
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Lineups belong to the rooms and the comedians, and can change; each listing has the last word. Their nights on the Comedy Calendar →
Specials, shows and podcasts
Albums
- The Piano Album Sony Classical, 2017
On screen
- The Big Impression BBC One
- Spitting Image voices, eight series
- Mayo lead role, BBC One
- My Life in Ruins film
- My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock voice, film
Podcasts and radio
- BBC Radio 4 dramas and comedies
Books and writing
- A Matter of Life and Death Or How to Wean A Man off Football book, Faber and Faber, 2010
- Not What We Were Expecting book, poetry, Flapjack Press, 2024
Comedians like Alistair McGowan
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.
- Andy Parsons also in Spitting Image
- David Baddiel also in Spitting Image
- Eshaan Akbar also in Spitting Image
- Steve Coogan also in Spitting Image
Career timeline
- 2010A Matter of Life and Death Or How to Wean A Man off Football (book, Faber and Faber, 2010) Book
- 2017The Piano Album (Sony Classical, 2017) Album
- 2024Not What We Were Expecting (book, poetry, Flapjack Press, 2024) Book
Questions and answers
Where is Alistair McGowan performing next?
No date is on D.O.C.'s Comedy Calendar right now; their own site has their dates: alistairmcgowan.com ↗.
What podcasts and radio shows have they been on?
BBC Radio 4 dramas and comedies.
Have they written a book?
Yes: A Matter of Life and Death Or How to Wean A Man off Football and Not What We Were Expecting.
What TV shows and films are they in?
The Big Impression (BBC One), Spitting Image (voices, eight series), Mayo (lead role, BBC One), My Life in Ruins (film) and My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock (voice, film).
What is their official website?
Who are some comedians like them?
Andy Parsons (also in Spitting Image), David Baddiel (also in Spitting Image), Eshaan Akbar (also in Spitting Image) and Steve Coogan (also in Spitting Image).
Are you Alistair McGowan?
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Your short address, for your bio: disciplesofcomedy.com/alistair-mcgowan
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
- Official site ↗ Best known for his impressions; voices for eight series of Spitting Image; a BAFTA for his BBC One series The Big Impression; writes his own stand-up; toured The Piano Show; The Piano Album on Sony Classical, number one in the classical charts; the first Ludlow Piano Festival; an Olivier nomination for Little Shop…
- Official site (Live Dates) ↗ Piano, poetry and comedy, a three-in-one show: dates from June to 10 October 2026 (as of 11 October 2026)
- Off the Kerb ↗ A multi-award-winning actor, writer and stand-up comedian; piano taken up seriously in 2015; The Piano Album (2017); The Piano Show, mixing stand-up with classical piano; the first Ludlow Piano Festival (2023); the play Timing; My Life in Ruins; My Name is Alfred Hitchcock; Not What We Were Expecting (Flapjack…
Updated 11 October 2026 · the record checked 11 October 2026