When your head is crowned by a mass of unruly curls, anonymity in a public place is impossible. But that‘s enough of my one year-old self! But seriously, I was only too aware of Alan Davies queuing behind me in the BBC canteen one lunchtime in 1999. The hair also betrayed him when our paths crossed on escalators, despite his wearing a crash helmet. Back then he seemed to be everywhere: dramas, panel shows, stand-up venues, you name it.
I can’t remember when this fellow son of Essex first appeared in my living room but there are a few contenders. The most likely was a 1995 edition of Have I Got News For You, in which a fresh-faced Mr Davies was teamed with Ian Hislop. In the final edit, Ken Livingstone was probably the funnier, but the producers were sufficiently impressed to invite him back the following series and the rest is history, As, indeed, is Ken Livingstone.
As a likeable laidback comic able to think on his feet, Alan appeared in all manner of comedy quizzes in the late nineties. There he was alongside Phill Jupitus on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and with David Gower on They Think It’s All Over. He even hosted a Britpop-era episode of Top of the Pops, which featured amongst other acts a rival set of distinctive curls on Cast’s lead singer John Power. At least it wasn’t Mick Hucknall… With his fervent allegiance to Arsenal, Alan also boasted the perfect laddish credentials to appear on a few Nineties episodes of Fantasy Football League.
I have to say I didn’t anticipate the success of his first major role in a drama series. As Jonathan Creek, Davies played a magician’s creative consultant who used his own ingenuity to solve seemingly impossible crime mysteries. Writer David Renwick may have created the clever riddles but it was scruffy Jonathan, living in a remote windmill who in his unique laconic style, with some assistance from female colleagues and friends such as Caroline Quentin and Sheridan Smith, who used his deductive powers to solve the ‘howdunit’s. It wasn’t exactly serious acting but Alan possessed just the right amount of light-touch charisma to carry the programme, which became popular Bank Holiday evening fare right up to 2016. I wouldn’t bet against further specials either.
The new millennium brought more comedy-drama performances. I didn’t see Alan Davies star in Russell T Davies’ Bob and Rose but did give the BBC infidelity sitcom, A Many Splintered Thing a go. It was refreshing to see him play a relatively unsympathetic character but a few years later he was in more familiar territory in the witty suburban comedy The Good Housekeeping Guide. He was also reassuringly engaging in 2004’s Roman Road, one of those comedy caper road trips so beloved of schedulers at that time. His unconventional tousle-haired persona also made him a hot favourite with the tabloids to become the Time Lord in the Doctor Who reboot, gossip he was happy to deny on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross. Instead he sported a much smarter hairdo as a defence barrister in ITV’s The Brief, during his Jonathan Creek hiatus. It was quite good but not particularly memorable.
To be honest I’ve never been totally convinced by Alan Davies as actor. Like Frank Skinner and Harry Enfield, he seems to me far better suited to the stand-up/panel game career which made his name. I can’t believe it’s two decades since I watched Stand Up with Alan Davies, an entertaining documentary blending his own life on tour and conversations with other comic headliners including Dave Allan and Eddie Izzard. In some ways it may come across as a period piece but, once Covid eventually releases its gruesome grip, I’m sure we’ll see Alan on the road again.
Whatever, there’ll always be new, or repeats of QI to enjoy. I was amazed to read that since 2003 Alan has appeared in a massive 262 episodes. Admittedly I haven’t watched many chaired by Sandi Toksvig. No disrespect to her – I think she’s great – but it’s the good-natured relationship between the genial intellectual Stephen Fry and his regular naughty pupil sidekick Davies which endures. Just about every British comedian of note has played a part on the BBC2 show. Even Jimmy Carr appears likeable and funny. However, QI comes into its own when Alan receives a humbling put-down from Fry or buzzes in with an obvious but incorrect answer, or two, or three. Despite ending up with a negative points tally in most programmes, he has been named the winner surprisingly often, and he’s certainly no fool, although he’s happy to play it!
That’s the great thing about Alan Davies. He can try different things but as an engaging Essex boy with an effortless line in wry humour he has few peers.
No comments:
Post a Comment