Allan Stewart (comedian)

Allan Stewart
Birth name Allan Stewart
Born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Medium Comedian, actor
Genres Comedy, television, singer
Influences Jack Radcliffe
Notable works and roles Hello, Good evening and welcome (1976–80)
Chain Letters (1989)

Allan Stewart is a Scottish comic and impressionist.

Career

Allan Stewart's career began in the 1960s when he performed as a cabaret pop singer and musician.

He got his break when,he appeared in Hello, Good evening, and welcome, an all-round entertainment show in which a trio of multi-talented young entertainers present gags, impressions, sketches and music.

His next big show, his 1979 STV series, The Allan Stewart Tapes, were picked up by ITV network and broadcast during spring 1980. This resulted in Thames giving 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 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 he 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), Aiden J. Harvey and Duggie Brown.

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]

TV appearances

References

  1. ↑ "Allan Stewart". Allan Stewart. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  2. ↑ "Allan Stewart News: JOLSON DATES". Allanstewart.com. 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  3. ↑ "Al Jolson - Life and Career - Notable dates, films, broadcasts, recordings and songs". Hintsandthings.co.uk. 1950-10-23. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  4. ↑ "Theatre review: Jolson and Co - The Musical at Theatre Royal, Newcastle, and touring". Britishtheatreguide.info. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  5. ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | LOOK WHO'S TALKING". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  6. ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON, WELCOME (1979)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  7. ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | The ALLAN STEWART SHOW[29/12/80] (1980)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  8. ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | The ALLAN STEWART SHOW (1982)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2012-08-14.

External links

Preceded by
Andrew O'Connor		 Host of Chain Letters
1989-1990 		Succeeded by
Ted Robbins
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