Bio

Alan began performing stand-up in early 2008 and, after reaching the semi-finals of So You Think You’re Funny on only his seventh gig, decided he might as well take it seriously. Since then he has established himself as a regular presence on the UK comedy circuit and playing many top clubs around the country and beyond.

Alan is a professional entertainer, and when not performing comedy conducts historical walking tours around Edinburgh. He has also worked as an actor both in theatre and on film, and in 2003 he was part of a sketch comedy group that performed to over 17,000 people over three performances at the Point Depot in Dublin in aid of the Special Olympics World Games. He is also a published author, mainly on darkly historical subjects, and conducts lectures on crime history, including having been an invited speaker at two major US true crime conferences.

Alan’s on-stage style has been compared to Jack Dee or Rhod Gilbert, as well as the Grumpy Old Men television series. His material tends towards a vitriolic stream of complaints about his dissatisfaction with the world in general and his life in particular. His material displays a slightly twisted view of the world, often veering toward the absurd.

Alan is a regular paid act for openers and main supports on the Scottish circuit and beyond, as well as occasional headline spots including at clubs with 100+ audiences. Alan was a finalist in the prestigious Laughing Horse New Act of the Year competition in 2010, the first Scottish based act to do so in four years. He was also selected as one of the 25 best up-and-coming acts in the country to appear on the ITV4 television series FHM Stand Up Hero.

Alan has performed in ensemble shows at both the 2008 (with Daniel Sloss and CBBC presenter Iain Sterling) and 2009 Edinburgh Fringe. In 2010 he performed his first solo show, Reasons Why I Should Be Allowed To Carry A Gun, to generally packed houses. His second solo show in 2011, Hate It With Me, resulted in his inclusion in the official list of the 10 funniest jokes of that year’s fringe, and was also largely responsible for his inclusion in Zoo Magazine’s list of the funniest comedians of 2011. In 2012 he returned to the fringe with a new show, Careful What You Wish For, which he then toured in Australia.

Clubs:
Alan has performed paid work for:
The Stand; Funhouse Comedy (Spiky Mike); Gag Reflex; Last Laugh; Sidesplitters; Breakneck Comedy; Ten Feet Tall (Peter Vincent); Bob’s Comedy Clubs; Hot Water Comedy; Mr Bens Comedy Club, Ha Ha Comedy (Alan Anderson); Rob Riley Productions; Laughing Horse; Fit o’ the Giggles; Gag Traders; Beehive Comedy Club; The State Bar; Sweet SHop Comedy; Mirth on Monday; Cracked-up Comedy; Patrick Rolink; Joe Bromehead; Bradford Comedy Club;

Competitions:
So You Think You’re Funny – Semi-finalist 2008
Scottish Comedian of the Year – Semi-finalist 2009
Laughing Horse New Act of the Year – Finalist 2010
FHM Stand Up Hero – Final 25, 2010
Golden Poo Awards – Finalist 2011

Festivals:
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2008-2012
Glasgow Comedy Festival 2010
Jersey Comedy Festival 2012
Download Festival 2012
Kendal Calling Festival 2012
Perth Fringe World Festival 2013
Adelaide Fringe Festival 2013

Accolades:
Dave TV – Ten Funniest Jokes of the Fringe 2011
Zoo Magazine – Funniest Comedians of 2011

Television Work:
FHM Stand Up Hero – Baby Cow Productions for ITV4
Dave Goes To The Fringe – UKTV Productions for Dave TV

Quotes:
Will live long in the audience’s mind, so well drawn and graphic were the mental pictures he drew – Edinburgh Evening News
The man is a great storyteller – The West Australian
His self-deprecation and dissatisfaction eased the audience onto his side; I enjoyed his act from start to finish. – Newcastle Student Radio
At first he’s scary, then he turns out to be quite a lot of fun – Adelaide Now
A generally funny act, worthy of headliner status – The Bradford Student
A solid, dependable routine – Chortle
Good enough to headline – The Scotsman
Dishevelled, hairy, clever, articulate and erudite, a cracking opening act – West Midlands Comedy
His set was packed with quality material, well observed, written and delivered by a guy with stage presence to spare – one4review