34 Facts About Alan Davies

Alan Roger Davies is an English stand-up comedian, writer, actor and TV presenter.

Alan Davies is best known for his portrayal of the title role in the BBC mystery drama series Jonathan Creek and as the only permanent panellist on the BBC panel show QI since its premiere in 2003, outlasting its original host Stephen Fry.

Alan Davies wrote that his brother and sister were turned against him, which began his strong desire to please others.

Alan Davies attended Staples Road School in Loughton and was privately educated at the private Bancroft's School in Woodford Green, where he gained eight O-Levels.

Alan Davies then moved on to Loughton College of Further Education where he gained four more O-Levels and two A-Levels.

Alan Davies began performing comedy in 1988 at the Whitstable Labour Club.

Alan Davies continued touring and performing in the UK and Australia, winning the Edinburgh Festival Critics Award for Comedy in 1994.

In 2012, Alan Davies planned a new tour called "Life is Pain".

In 1994 and 1995, Davies hosted Alan's Big One for three series on Radio 1 before appearing in Channel 4's spoof travel show One for the Road.

Davies co-wrote and starred in his own radio sitcom, The Alan Davies Show, in 1998.

Alan Davies played Russell Boyd in the BBC comedy A Many Splintered Thing, in 1998 and 2000.

In 2001, Alan Davies played Robert Gossage in Bob and Rose, a comedy drama about a gay man falling for a woman.

Alan Davies won the Best Actor award at the Monte Carlo TV Festival for his performance.

Alan Davies played Jack the dog in the radio sitcom About a Dog.

In 2003, Alan Davies appeared as a Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car on Top Gear with a time of 1:54 in wet conditions.

Alan Davies returned in Series 8 with 1:50.3 in dry conditions.

Alan Davies took on a less comedic role in 2004, starring as Henry Farmer, a maverick barrister, in ITV Sunday night drama The Brief, for two series.

Alan Davies argued the case for John Lennon as the greatest Briton of all time on the BBC's Great Britons series in 2002.

In 2007, Alan Davies starred in the second episode of ITV's You Don't Know You're Born and on The Unbelievable Truth.

Alan Davies has appeared in an episode of the BBC science programme Horizon in which Professor Marcus du Sautoy attempted to introduce him to elements of mathematical thought which was broadcast on BBC Two on 31 March 2009.

On 16 May 2010, Alan Davies appeared in "Your Sudden Death Question", an episode of the ITV detective series Lewis, as Marcus Richard, a scamming quizmaster at a competition held in an Oxford college, at which some of the contestants are murdered.

In 2011 Alan Davies was one of the judges on the ITV programme Show Me The Funny, a talent contest for new and aspiring stand-up comedy performers.

In September 2012, Alan Davies made his first appearance on Channel 4's Big Fat Quiz series, winning The Big Fat Quiz of the '90s alongside Phill Jupitus.

Alan Davies appears as the only permanent panellist on the BBC Two comedy quiz game QI, which was hosted by Stephen Fry from 2003 to 2015, and then by Sandi Toksvig.

Alan Davies has appeared in almost every regular episode of the show, though in one episode he appeared, pre-recorded, in only the first few minutes, as he was in Paris attending the UEFA Champions League Final between Barcelona and his beloved Arsenal during the recording.

Alan Davies's chair was empty for the rest of the episode, although his voice was heard during "General Ignorance".

Alan Davies did not appear in the 2011 Comic Relief episode, when his seat was taken by David Walliams.

Alan Davies's record stood until Joel Corry achieved 41 successful cracks at Capital's Jingle Bell Ball on 12 December 2021.

The book mentions Arsenal FC, the football team supported by Alan Davies; he recalls as a child his mother sewing their club badge and captain's number onto his shirt, done only a year or so before she died.

Alan Davies promoted the book during a BBC Radio 5 Live interview, first broadcast on 9 December 2020.

Alan Davies married Katie Maskell, a writer, on 13 January 2007 after a six-month engagement.

Alan Davies narrated an anti-vivisection video for Animal Aid called Wasted Lives in 2006.

Alan Davies had just left a wake at the nearby Groucho Club.

Alan Davies is a lifelong fan and season ticket holder of Arsenal FC Alan Davies used to host the podcast "It's Up For Grabs Now", which took a light-hearted look at goings on at the club.