Clive Anderson
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Clive Anderson (born 10 December 1952) is a British former barrister (specialising in criminal law) turned comedy writer and television presenter.
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[edit] Early life
Anderson was educated at Harrow County School for Boys, where his group of friends included Michael Portillo, and then went to university at Selwyn College, Cambridge where he was President of Footlights. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1976.
[edit] Television
Anderson was involved in the fledgling alternative comedy scene in the early 1980s and even performed on occasion. He made his name as host of the improvised television comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? which was full of his rapid-fire wit as well as the show-ending catchphrase "This is me, Clive Anderson, saying good night. Good night." He has been a frequent participant on Have I Got News for You, notching up seven appearances in total. He has also frequently appeared on QI.
Most famously, Anderson made remarks about the Bee Gees during a television interview with them which caused them to walk out, once had a glass of water poured over his head by a perturbed Richard Branson, and remarked to Jeffrey Archer that "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!"
One of his most memorable exchanges on HIGNFY occurred when he scathingly 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".
As a journalist for the BBC he travelled around the world looking at problems 'in out-of-the-way places', though mostly arguing about whether they can film there. Our Man in... featured episodes on Monkeywrenching in American logging and 419 scams in Nigeria.
[edit] Comedy writing
Anderson is also a comedy sketch writer, who has written for Frankie Howerd and Griff Rhys Jones/Mel Smith. One of his early comedy writing projects was Black Cinderella Two Goes East with Rory McGrath for BBC Radio 4 in 1978. He is famous for his fast, nervous delivery, and his close-to-the-knuckle witticisms.
[edit] Radio
Anderson currently combines his continuing interest in the law with his role as a radio presenter in the regular series Unreliable Evidence on Radio 4.
[edit] TV presenting
Shows he has presented include:
- Clive Anderson Talks Back
- Our Man in..
- Whose Line Is It Anyway?
- Discovery Mastermind
- Back in the Day
- Clive Anderson All Talk
[edit] Personal life
Clive lives in Highbury, north London, with his wife and three children.
[edit] Trivia
- Anderson is currently president of the Woodland Trust.
- Anderson was one of three celebrities on the Magic 105.4 radio Mystery voices competition which lasted for five months ending on 29 June 2006. The successful listener won £98,400.
- Was the brunt of numerous jokes, insults, and running gags on Whose Line. Various insults revolved around (among other things) his baldness and short neck. These jokes were especially prevalent during the Hoedown segment, which most of the contestants (especially Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie) actively despised.
| Preceded by Jon Canter |
Footlights President 1974–1975 |
Succeeded by Chris Keightley |
