Alan Davies
A comedian who became the warm, witty heart of British panel television, anchoring QI with a sharp but gentle humor for over two decades.
Born 1966 (age 60)·English entertainer·Birthday: March 6·Generation X
Biography
Alan Davies emerged from the London stand-up circuit in the early 1990s, his unassuming, slightly rumpled persona belying a quick and often mischievous wit. His career pivoted from live comedy to a defining television role as the titular, duffel-coated puzzle-solver in the BBC drama 'Jonathan Creek,' a part that showcased his talent for playing the clever everyman. But it was his position as the sole permanent panelist on the quiz show 'QI' that cemented his place in British popular culture. Sitting beside hosts Stephen Fry and later Sandi Toksvig, Davies played the role of the curious, sometimes wrong, but always endearing foil, his laughter a familiar soundtrack to the show's intellectual revelry. This longevity on a beloved program, coupled with successful stand-up tours and acting work, has made him a trusted and comforting presence on screen, a man who proves intelligence and approachability are not mutually exclusive.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Alan was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Alan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the title role in the long-running BBC mystery drama 'Jonathan Creek' from 1997 to 2016.
- Has been the only permanent panelist on the BBC's 'QI' since its 2003 premiere, appearing in hundreds of episodes.
- Maintained a successful parallel career as a touring stand-up comedian for decades, with major tours like 'Life Is Pain'.
- Authored a candid and well-received memoir, 'Just Ignore Him,' detailing his early life and career.
Did You Know?
He is a lifelong supporter of Arsenal Football Club and has hosted the club's official podcast.
Davies studied law at the University of Kent before dropping out to pursue comedy.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Kent in 2015 for his services to broadcasting and the arts.
“I'm not a competitive person, except when it comes to quizzes, and then I'm a monster.”
