Clive Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clive Anderson
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Anderson in 2023
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| Born |
Clive Stuart Anderson
10 December 1952 |
| Education | Selwyn College, Cambridge (BA) |
| Occupation | Comedy author, game show host, barrister, radio presenter, television presenter |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Known for | Hosting Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Clive Anderson Talks Back and Clive Anderson All Talk |
| Spouse(s) |
Jane Anderson
(m. 1981) |
Clive Stuart Anderson (born December 10, 1952) is an English comedian, TV host, writer, and a former lawyer. He won a British Comedy Award in 1991. Before becoming famous, Clive spent 15 years working as a lawyer. During this time, he also started trying out comedy and writing funny scripts.
He became well-known as the host of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. This show started on BBC Radio 4 in 1988. Later that year, it moved to Channel 4 television, where it ran until 1999. Clive also hosted his own chat show, Clive Anderson Talks Back, from 1989 to 1996. This show changed its name to Clive Anderson All Talk in 1996 and continued until 1999. He has hosted many radio shows too. He has also appeared as a guest on popular TV shows like Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week, and QI.
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Early Life and Education
Clive Anderson's mother was English, and his parents met while working in the RAF. He went to Stanburn Primary School. Then he attended Harrow County School for Boys. This was a grammar school that closed in 1975. Some of his classmates included Geoffrey Perkins and Michael Portillo.
His father was from Glasgow, Scotland. He became the manager of the Bradford & Bingley Building Society in Wembley. Clive went to Selwyn College, Cambridge. From 1974 to 1975, he was the President of the Cambridge Footlights. This is a famous student comedy group. In 1976, he became a lawyer, specializing in criminal law. Even while working as a lawyer, he kept performing. For example, he took a show to the Edinburgh Fringe festival in 1981 with Griff Rhys Jones.
Career Highlights
Television Shows
Clive Anderson was part of the new "alternative comedy" scene in the early 1980s. He was the first comedian to perform at The Comedy Store when it opened in 1979. He became famous as the host of the UK version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. This show was about improvised comedy. It ran for 10 seasons on Channel 4 from 1988 to 1999.
Anderson also hosted his own chat show, Clive Anderson Talks Back. This show ran for 10 seasons on Channel 4 from 1989 to 1996. The show then moved to the BBC. Its name changed to Clive Anderson All Talk. It ran for 4 seasons from 1996 to 1999.
One famous moment happened in 1997. His guests, the Bee Gees, walked off the show. This happened after Clive made some jokes about them and their music. Another time, Richard Branson poured a glass of water over Clive's head. Clive quickly replied, "I'm used to that; I've flown Virgin." When singer Cher was on the show, Clive joked about her looking very expensive. He asked, "You look like a million dollars – is that how much it cost?" He also had a witty exchange with author Jeffrey Archer. When Archer said something negative about the show, Clive replied, "Yes, I've read your books."
He has appeared ten times on Have I Got News for You. In 1996, he had a lively debate with fellow guest Piers Morgan. Clive joked that the Daily Mirror newspaper was almost as good as The Sun. Morgan was the editor of the Daily Mirror at the time. When Morgan asked, "What do you know about editing newspapers?" Clive quickly said, "About as much as you do." Clive Anderson has also often appeared on QI. In 2007, he was a regular panelist on the ITV comedy show News Knight. From 2019 to 2020, he co-hosted the TV series Mystic Britain. This show was on the Smithsonian channel.
In 2005, he hosted a short-lived quiz show called Back in the Day for Channel 4. On February 25, 2008, he started hosting Brainbox Challenge. This was a new game show for BBC Two. Later that year, he hosted Maestro. This was a reality TV series from the BBC. It featured eight celebrities learning to conduct an orchestra. In 2009, Clive hosted the BBC's Last Night of the Proms.
In November 2023, Clive Anderson appeared on the TV game show Richard Osman's House of Games. He won the show by just one point.
Radio Work
Clive Anderson hosts the legal show Unreliable Evidence on BBC Radio 4. He also hosted a Sunday morning show on BBC Radio 2 until January 2008.
In early 1988, Anderson hosted the first radio version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. This show had 6 episodes on BBC Radio 4. Then it moved to television later that year.
In April 2008, it was announced that Clive would become the permanent host of Loose Ends. He had filled in for the previous host, Ned Sherrin, from 2006 until Sherrin's death in 2007. Clive also hosted six seasons of Clive Anderson's Chat Room on BBC Radio 2 from 2004 to 2009. He has appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Unbelievable Truth. This show is hosted by David Mitchell.
Anderson also presented the radio show The Guessing Game on BBC Radio Scotland. He has also appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live's Fighting Talk.
Comedy Writing and Columns
Clive Anderson is a comedy sketch writer. He has written for famous comedians like Frankie Howerd. He also wrote for Not the Nine O'Clock News, and for Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith. One of his early comedy writing projects was Black Cinderella Two Goes East with Rory McGrath. This was for BBC Radio 4 in 1978. Besides writing comedy, Clive also writes for newspapers. He was a regular columnist for The Sunday Correspondent.
Personal Life
Clive Anderson lives in Highbury, north London. He lives with his wife, Jane Anderson. She is a doctor who has worked with HIV/AIDS patients throughout her career. The couple has three children.
He supports two football teams: Arsenal and Rangers. He is the President of the Woodland Trust. This is a charity that protects woods and trees. He is also a Vice Patron of the Solicitors' Benevolent Association. This is a charity that helps lawyers in need.
Awards and Recognition
The TV show Whose Line is it Anyway? won a BAFTA award in 1990. Later, Clive Anderson won two awards at the British Comedy Awards in 1991. He won "Top Entertainment Presenter" and "Top Radio Comedy Personality." In 2023, he was made an Honorary Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge. This is a special recognition from his old university.
