Alistair McGowan

Alistair Charles McGowan (born 24 November 1964) is an English impressionist, BAFTAaward winning comic, actor, pianist, poet, and writer. He starred in The Big Impression (formerly Alistair McGowan's Big Impression). He has also worked in theatre and appeared in the West End (for which he received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination). He released an album of classical piano music called The Piano Album in 2017, and his poetry collection Not What We Were Expecting was published in 2024. He also provided voices for the original Spitting Image.

From 2 June to 7 July 2012, McGowan hosted the ITV comedy series You Cannot Be Serious!, in which his impressions included England manager Roy Hodgson, Eurovision duo Jedward, TV personality Louie Spence, and footballers David Beckham and Gary Neville.

He has written and starred in three plays for BBC Radio 4 about Erik Satie (Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear), John Field (The Peregrinations of a Most Musical Irishman) and George Bernard Shaw (The 'B' Word). He devised stage shows showcasing the music and verse of Noël Coward (Sincerely Noel), and the music and writings of Erik Satie (Erik Satie's-faction). He wrote the stage play Timing (nominated as Best New Comedy at the 2009 whatsonstage.com awards).