Clive Anderson

Clive Anderson – Life, Career & Witty Wisdom

Discover the life and career of Clive Anderson — English broadcaster, comedian, former barrister — along with his sharpest quotes and insights that reflect his wit, intellect, and longevity in entertainment.

Introduction

Clive Stuart Anderson (born 10 December 1952) is an English television and radio presenter, comedy writer, and former barrister. He is best known for hosting Whose Line Is It Anyway?, hosting his own talk shows (Clive Anderson Talks Back / All Talk), and frequent appearances on British panel shows like Have I Got News for You and QI. Anderson’s style blends intellectual curiosity, legal precision, and comedic edge, making him a distinct voice in British entertainment.

Early Life and Family

Clive Anderson was born in Stanmore, London, England.

He attended Stanburn Primary School, Harrow County School for Boys, and later one of the grammar schools that merged or closed in 1975. Geoffrey Perkins and Michael Portillo, who would also become prominent in British public life.

Anderson went on to Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he engaged with the Cambridge Footlights (a famous comedy and theatrical society) and became President of Footlights during 1974–75.

After Cambridge, he trained for law and was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1976.

Career and Achievements

Entry into Comedy & Transition from Law

While practising law, Anderson also performed comedic work. He took a show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 1981 alongside Griff Rhys Jones. Over time, his engagements in comedy and writing gradually outpaced his legal work.

He wrote for comedy shows such as Not the Nine O’Clock News, Frankie Howerd, and for performers like Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith.

Television & Radio Success

• Anderson became the host of Whose Line Is It Anyway? — originally a radio show on BBC Radio 4 (1988) and later adapted to television on Channel 4 (1988–1999).

• He hosted his own talk show, Clive Anderson Talks Back, which later evolved into Clive Anderson All Talk. These shows aired from around 1989 to 1999.

• He has made numerous regular appearances on panel shows such as Have I Got News for You and QI.

• On radio, he has hosted programs including Loose Ends (on BBC Radio 4), and Unreliable Evidence.

• Between 2004 and 2005 he hosted a radio series titled Clive Anderson’s Comedy Revolutions on BBC Radio 2.

Style & Public Reputation

Anderson is known for his intelligent banter, sharp repartee, and ability to thread humor with deeper insight. His legal training often surfaces in his questioning style and handling of interviews.

He has sometimes been controversial — for instance, on his talk show, he once had The Bee Gees walk off after making pointed remarks about their music.

Anderson has received awards, among them British Comedy Awards in 1991 for “Top Entertainment Presenter” and “Top Radio Comedy Personality.” Honorary Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge.

Legacy and Influence

Clive Anderson’s influence lies in demonstrating that wit, intellect, and conversational agility can coexist in light entertainment. He brought a level of verbal dexterity and curiosity to panel shows and talk formats, raising the standard for hosts.

His path — from barrister to broadcaster/comic — also models how one can shift careers successfully by leveraging underlying skills (in his case, argumentation, logic, and language) in public-facing media.

He has also contributed to charitable and environmental causes: Anderson serves as President of the Woodland Trust, showing his interest in ecology and preservation.

Personality, Strengths & Challenges

Anderson is often described as erudite, witty, observant, and self-aware. He sometimes reflects on the contradictions of television fame — for example noting he lost vanity through being onscreen, where one sees every expression and flaw.

He has voiced concern about political correctness, noting it is a “moving line.”

Despite his success, he has acknowledged that television doesn’t always reward financially — “I have done well out of TV, but not well enough to buy football clubs.”

Notable Quotes by Clive Anderson

Here are several memorable lines that exemplify Anderson’s wit and perspective:

“You can be a famous poisoner or a successful poisoner, but not both, and the same seems to apply to Great Train Robbers.” “The Labour Party has lost the last four elections. If they lose another, they get to keep the Liberal Party.” “I'm not bald. I'm just taller than my hair.” “If you look at it ecologically, deforestation is high on the list of things which bring devastation … If you take the earth as a whole, eventually there’s nowhere to move on to.” “If I ever had any vanity, then I definitely lost it by being on television. It doesn't do you any favours in terms of showing you what you look like and what your emotions are.” “I like being forced to think about things in a different way.”

These quotes reflect his humor, ecological concern, media self-awareness, and political commentary.

Lessons from Clive Anderson

1. Cultivate intellectual curiosity
   Anderson’s blend of humor and inquiry shows that strong ideas and wit can carry entertainment.

2. Adapt skills across domains
   His legal training translated into incisive interviewing and debate—skills he recalibrated for TV/radio.

3. Be willing to provoke
   He doesn’t shy away from bold remarks or satire, though that occasionally draws backlash.

4. Value humility in fame
   His reflections on vanity and the public gaze suggest that fame reveals as much about self as about success.

5. Champion causes you care about
   His involvement with ecological and woodland causes demonstrates using one’s platform for concern beyond entertainment.

Conclusion

Clive Anderson exemplifies a rare breed of entertainer: one equally comfortable dissecting politics, ecology, or comedy, with intelligence and sharpness. His journey from barrister to celebrated broadcaster, his quick wit, and his intellectual breadth have earned him respect and influence in British media.