Alan Davies

In 2020, much loved, household name British comedian Alan Davies published an extraordinary book, setting his work apart from so many other comedians' memoirs. Just Ignore Him was a beautiful, powerful and at times shocking memoir of a difficult childhood that won enormous praise and sold more than 100,000 copies.

Now Alan Davies returns with another exceptional book, this time about becoming a comedian in the 80s and 90s - and again, it will not be what you expect. As well as offering an often hilarious, compelling narrative about his own rapid ascent to stardom (as the lead in Jonathan Creek), and equally rapid disillusionment (when he betrays all his ideals in accepting almost £1m for an advert), Alan digs deep into understanding his own drive and motives. As Eddie Izzard puts it to him, seeking the love of audiences to replace the love of a mother is ultimately futile, and throwing yourself into work and play when the one thing you think about every day is never mentioned, is unsustainable.

Taking us through this landscape of 'comedy as the new rock 'n' roll', Davies lifts the lid on the darker side of the industry - including the drugs, the power imbalances, and those who lost themselves and their lives along the way. There has never been a memoir about the 80s and 90s comedy explosion that is so honest and revealing. The book is inhabited by so many people, including many brilliant comedians who are unknown today and many others who have become incredibly famous (whether they are named or not!). The power of comedy, the joy it brings, is all here - but so is the flip side, in this rich, beautifully written, powerful and insightful memoir that will give us a deeper understanding of what it takes to become a top level comedian - and a human being who is at peace with themselves and those around them.

First published: Tuesday 11th November 2025