Born in Evesham in 1964 and a graduate of Leeds University, Alistair McGowan is best known for his impressions – winning a BAFTA for his BBC One series The Big Impression.He has also worked as an actor regularly on radio, occasionally on television and nationwide on stage (even being nominated for an Olivier Award for his performance as The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors).Alistair has written his own stand-up comedy throughout his career. He also wrote the stage play Timing (nominated for best new comedy in the WhatsOnStage Awards 2009) and three Radio 4 plays about composers Erik Satie and John Field, and the first performance of Pygmalion. He wrote over half the sketches in four series of The Big Impression and the book A Matter of Life and Death with his former comedy partner, Ronni Ancona.In 2015, Alistair threw himself into learning the piano from almost a standing start and, in 2017, released The Piano Album through Sony Classical – reaching Nº 1 in the classical charts. In 2023, he set up the Ludlow Piano Festival. His first collection of poetry, Not What We Were Expecting, was published in 2024. This second collection also includes 7 poems by his late father-in-law, Brian Page.

Prasie for the author's poetry:“The poems are WONDERFUL; Alistair has his own voice and a real gift!” Gyles Brandreth“The breadth of subject matter, the humour and honesty, I found truly touching, brilliantly observed.” Leigh Lawson“All the wit you’d expect but with a really surprising and delicious sensitivity.” Joanna Lumley“My word, but I love this book; the sheer joy of turning the page to find the next one and the next one, in a state of continuous delight.” Victoria Wicks“Masterly!” Simon Callow