Clive Stuart Anderson is an English television and radio presenter, comedy writer and former barrister. Winner of a British Comedy Award in 1991, Anderson began experimenting with comedy and writing comedic scripts during his 15-year legal career, before starring in Whose Line Is It Anyway? on BBC Radio 4, then later Channel 4. He has also hosted many radio programmes, and made guest appearances on Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week and QI.
Anderson was involved in the fledgling alternative comedy scene in the early 1980s and was the first act to come on stage at The Comedy Store when it opened in 1979. He made his name as host of the improvised television comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which ran for 10 series. Anderson hosted his own chat-show, Clive Anderson Talks Back, on Channel 4, which ran for 10 series. Anderson moved to the BBC in 1996. The show's name was changed to Clive Anderson All Talk and it was aired on BBC One. In one incident in 1997, Anderson interviewed the Bee Gees, and throughout the interview he repeatedly joked about their songs from the Saturday Night Fever era, also referring to their original intended name as 'Les Tosseurs' but his comment, 'you'll always be tossers to me' ultimately prompted the band to walk out of the interview. Anderson once had a glass of water poured over his head by a perturbed Richard Branson, to which Anderson remarked "I'm used to that; I've flown Virgin". He also said to Jeffrey Archer, "Is there no beginning to your talents?" Archer retorted that "The old ones are always the best," for Anderson to reply "Yes, I've read your books." The last series of Clive Anderson All Talk aired in 2001. He has made ten appearances on Have I Got News for You. He has also frequently appeared on QI. In 2007, he featured as a regular panellist on the ITV comedy show News Knight. One heated exchange on Have I Got News for You occurred when he joked to fellow guest Piers Morgan that the Daily Mirror was now, thanks to Morgan, almost as good as The Sun. When asked by Morgan, "What do you know about editing newspapers?", he swiftly replied, "About as much as you do." In 2005, he presented the short-lived quiz Back in the Day for Channel 4. On 25 February 2008, he started to present Brainbox Challenge, a new game show, for BBC Two. Later that year, he presented a reality TV talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC entitled Maestro, starring eight celebrities. In 2009, Anderson was the television host of the BBC's Last Night of the Proms.
Appearances
Radio
Anderson presents legal show Unreliable Evidence on Radio 4. He also covered the Sunday morning 11 am-1 pm show on BBC Radio 2 through the end of January 2008. It was announced in April 2008 that Anderson, who had previously filled in for host Ned Sherrin from 2006 until Sherrin's death in 2007, would be taking over as permanent host of Loose Ends. He also hosted six series of Clive Anderson's Chat Room on BBC Radio 2 from 2004–2009. Anderson has appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Unbelievable Truth hosted by David Mitchell. Anderson also presents the radio show The Guessing Game on BBC Radio Scotland. Anderson has also appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live's Fighting Talk.
Comedy and newspaper writing
Anderson is a comedy sketch writer who has written for Frankie Howerd, Not the Nine O'Clock News, and Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith. One of his early comedy writing projects was Black Cinderella Two Goes East with Rory McGrath for BBC Radio 4 in 1978. As well as writing comedy, Anderson is also a frequent contributor to newspapers, and was a regular columnist for The Sunday Correspondent.
Personal life
Anderson lives in Highbury, North London, with his wife, Jane, with whom he has three children. His daughter Flora is a comedian. He supports Arsenal, Rangers and Albion Rovers and is President of the Woodland Trust and Vice Patron of the Solicitors' Benevolent Association. He also has a holiday home in Dalmally, Argyll.
Awards
The show Whose Line is it Anyway? won a BAFTA award in 1990. Later, Anderson won both the "Top Entertainment Presenter" and "Top Radio Comedy Personality" at the British Comedy Awards in 1991.
