| Allan Stewart | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Allan Stewart |
| Born | 11 December 1950 Southampton, Hampshire, England |
| Medium | Comedian, actor |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1970 onwards |
| Genres | Comedy, television, Singer |
| Notable works and roles | Hello, Good evening and welcome' (1976-80) Chain Letters (1989) |
Allan Stewart is a Scottish comic and impressionist born 11 December 1950.
His career began in the 1960s when he performed as a cabaret pop singer and musician.
He got his big break when, he appeared in Scottish television Hello, Good evening, welcome show,( which was also networked as Hello, Good Afternoon and welcome ) it was an all round entertainment show in which a trio of multi-talented young entertainers present a fast-moving half hour of gags, impressions, sketches and music.
His next big show was his 1979 STV series, The Allan Stewart Tapes, were picked up by ITV network and broadcast during spring 1980. The sketches were set in a penthouse flat with a view of Edinburgh Castle and Carry On stalwart Jack Douglas played the uptight English butler. This resulted in Thames give Allan his own show in 1980, followed by a full series by Scottish television.
In 1984 he appeared in Go For It alongside other impressionists, including Les Dennis and Bobby Davro, doing impressions of everyone from Esther Rantzen to Sergeant Bilko. He appeared with Davro again in 1985's Copy Cats, typical cheap-and-cheerful ITV Saturday evening entertainment from LWT. It featured an array of impressionists of varying quality.
Stewart then appeared alongside a glittering array of comedy talent in Live From Her Majesty's, however the night, April 15, 1984, will always be remembered for Tommy Cooper's fatal onstage heart attack. Next up for Stewart was hosting 1988's The Comedy Crowd, a one-off barrage of skits and impressions for Easter. In 1989 become host of Chain Letters which was partly broadcast during peak time.
In 1990 Stewart hosted eight half-hours of stand-up comedy taped at the Stakis Tree Tops Hotel in Aberdeen. Patter Merchants was screened in the early hours of the morning and featured a host of unknowns - Mike Lancaster, Jethro, Clem Dane, Steve Womack, Gary Denis, Adrian Walsh, Billy Jeffrey, Jim Rosie, Rikki Stevens, Cheryl Taylor, Mia Carla, Bill Barclay, Eddie Rose, Hilary O'Neil, Dean Park, Dave Wolfe, Johnnie Adam, Gerald Fitzpatrick, Boothby Graffoe (who went on to success on the comedy circuit and radio) and perhaps the series' best known participators (but still scarcely 'famous') Aiden J. Harvey and Duggie Brown. In recent years has become a pantomime dame of note practically becoming a fixture of The King's Theatre in Edinburgh's annual panto.
Allan has performed in two televised Royal Variety Shows [1] and has been appearing in the lead of a new version of Jolson & Co on a national tour from Feb to May 2009 to rave reviews [2] Allan had previously understudied Brian Conley in Jolson: The Musical (1995–1997)[3]
Sheila Connor says "Allan Stewart, as Jolson, presents us with a tour de force in the role, which looks back in detail over the entertainer's life. His performance alone warrants this production having life after its present tour finishes as he gives one of the best performances I have seen in a theatre for a long time." [4]
| Preceded by Andrew O'Connor |
Host of Chain Letters 1989-1990 |
Succeeded by Ted Robbins |