In an exclusive interview, renowned impressionist Alistair McGowan opens up about the profound loss of his mother, his decision to drop certain celebrity impressions like Huw Edwards, and a memorable encounter with Dame Judi Dench that involved an unexpected expletive. Now aged 60, McGowan has transitioned into a respected pianist and poet, showcasing his multifaceted artistry in his ongoing tour, Piano, Poetry & Comedy: 3 In 1, which runs until October 10.
From Spitting Image to Personal Reflections
Thirty years after the original run of ITV's Spitting Image concluded, McGowan reflects on his time voicing puppets of figures like Noel Gallagher, Tony Blair, and Peter Mandelson. He admits, "I had my fill of politicians on Spitting Image. Politicians were more Rory Bremner’s bag. And I wouldn’t want to sully my mouth having to talk like Trump for any period of time. He’s utterly despicable and against everything I believe in."
Despite his success on television, including the BAFTA-winning Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression on BBC One from 1999 to 2004, where he starred alongside Ronni Ancona, McGowan now finds fulfillment in live performances. He shares, "I’ve always seen myself as an artist more than anything else, so to be able to use these other elements…I love that."
Family Influence and Loss
McGowan speaks fondly of his parents, who were instrumental in his career. His father, Mac, a schoolteacher born in India, passed away while McGowan was filming the fourth series of The Big Impression. His mother, Marion, who inspired him with her piano playing and impressions, died four years ago. He reveals, "Mum wasn’t well for the last few years of her life, so my whole piano thing passed her by which quite hurt me."
He adds, "Yet, she and Dad couldn’t have been more supportive and excited about my success when I was on television. Mum was very proud of that and gave lots of feedback. She just wanted me to do TV all the time. When I released my Piano Album in 2017 [which topped the classical charts] she wasn’t really gushing about it, but she wasn’t herself at that time."
Hilarious Anecdote with Judi Dench
As an accomplished actor, McGowan has appeared in Hollywood movies and numerous stage shows. He shares a humorous story from 2006 when he performed with Judi Dench in Merry Wives: The Musical at Stratford Upon Avon. Dench mistakenly shouted "w***er!" at a stranger, thinking it was McGowan. He recounts, "She said ‘Al, I can’t believe what’s just happened. I thought it was you and I shouted out w***er! I’m mortified.’ I said ‘well you should be mortified. Just think, there’s some poor bloke wandering around going ‘Judi Dench just called me a wanker for no apparent reason!’"
Career Evolution and Current Projects
McGowan, who married singer Charlotte Page in 2013 after meeting her in 2008, now lives in a 17th-century detached house in Ludlow, Shropshire. He hosts an annual piano festival there, with this year's event running from May 20 to 24. He notes that his wife's lack of television knowledge initially meant she didn't recognize him, but she later watched all his work during a US tour.
On his current impressions, McGowan includes Thomas Tuchel, Mikel Arteta, and Kevin Bridges, but has dropped older characters like Huw Edwards. He explains, "There are issues now with who you can do. There are quite a number of people like that who I’ve had to stop doing for various reasons."
Embracing Live Performances
Despite past television fame with millions of viewers, McGowan now enjoys intimate live shows. He recalls a recent performance for just 30 people in Ted Heath’s former home in Salisbury, saying, "It flashed through my mind at one point ‘God, I used to get 6 million viewers on the BBC. Here I am in front of 30 people in Ted Heath’s old house.’ But I loved it. I’ve absolutely no desire to be on television now."
He also avoids social media, stating, "To get thousands of comments online saying ‘You’re rubbish’ or ‘You shouldn’t have done that’…I couldn’t handle that at all. I am at peace." McGowan continues to write scripts, with two potentially being filmed in the next two years, keeping his artistic passions alive.
