Clive Anderson

Clive Anderson

Clive Anderson is a British former barrister, best known for being a comedy writer as well as a radio and television presenter.

He was educated at Stanburn Primary School and Harrow County School for Boys in London. Anderson attended Selwyn College, Cambridge. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1976 and became a practicing barrister, specialising in criminal law. Clive began his success during his 15-year law career with stand-up comedy and comedic script writing, before starring in Whose Line Is It Anyway? on BBC Radio 4, then later, Channel 4. He was also successful with a number of radio programmes, television interviews and guest appearances on Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week, QI, News Knight and The Bubble. Clive hosted his own chat-show, Clive Anderson Talks Back, on Channel 4, which ran for 10 series. He moved to the BBC in 1996 and the show's name changed to Clive Anderson All Talk and was aired on BBC One. He has presented many other BBC Television and Radio programmes. He has written comedy sketches for Frankie Howerd, Not the Nine O'Clock News, and Griff Rhys Jones/Mel Smith. He is famous for his fast, nervous delivery and close-to-the-knuckle witticisms. He is also a frequent contributor to newspapers, and was a regular columnist in the Sunday Correspondent. ­Clive Anderson won both the "Top Entertainment Presenter" and "Top Radio Comedy Personality" at the British Comedy Awards in 1991.