15 October 2009
ALLAN STEWART REVEALS HOW A POTENTIAL LINK-UP WITH THE BEATLES PRODUCER COULD HAVE BEEN A BIG LOSS
CUIDE RI CATHY – ALLAN STEWART
Monday 19 October, 10pm, BBC ALBA
One of Scotland’s most successful and enduring entertainers, Allan Stewart reveals how his whole career could have been totally different if a link-up with George Martin, the producer of The Beatles original records, came to fruition.
In the next programme of the Cuide ri Cathy series on BBC ALBA, Cathy MacDonald joins Allan Stewart on a trip down memory lane visiting his childhood house where he bumps into an old neighbour who remembers Allan as being “slightly delinquent” and on visiting his old primary school, where he got the taste for being on stage, Allan jokingly invites Cathy round the back of the bike shed.
When Allan first started doing impressions he stole five minutes from various performers including comedian Ken Goodwin. When he got his first laugh from this he remembers thinking: “I would have worked anywhere. I would have worked in a toilet if I thought I could get an audience to listen to this so I could get a laugh......it’s like a drug, laughter.”
However, Allan’s whole career could have been totally different if a link-up with George Martin, the producer of The Beatles original records, came to fruition but Allan said: “I might not have got into comedy and that would have been a big loss to me as I love comedy so much.”
Allan tells Cathy how performing at the ‘Big Royal Show’ in 1996 was the best television he has ever done, but Allan states: “I’ve never been as happy on television as doing a live show.”
At school, Allan learnt from a famous Scottish broadcaster, former sports presenter Archie MacPherson. When asking the pupils what they wanted to be, Allan said “a pop star” and Archie replied “don’t be ridiculous”. Allan said: “This hurt me but not as much as he hurt me when he made me do the high jump the day before my 11 plus and I broke my knee cap.” Allan has met Archie a few times since then and always has a laugh saying: “You broke my leg.”
Allan was “painfully shy” at school and always felt too young to get into comedy. That’s when his “Auntie May” came into his life. Impressions allowed Allan to hide behind fictitious characters and not have to be himself. Given his long and successful career it’s surprising to hear Allan reveal that it’s only in the last 15 years that he’s found his own character to do stand up and feel confident.
Visiting the Barrowlands with Cathy, where he got his first big break, Allan reminisces about how his dad, the greatest influence in his life, was very supportive in the early days but as a back-up suggested Allan go for a job at the GPO. Allan got the job but when received his conformation letter and instructions to collect his protective clothing, Allan thought: “That’s not for me. If I had my own school blazer made to measure I wasn’t going to wear a donkey jacket and wellingtons.”
Allan’s big number as a child was ‘Baby Face’ and it’s ironic that now, over 45 years later, he’s performing it again as the lead in Al Jolson & Co The Musical whilst on tour in the UK.
CUIDE RI CATHY will be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Monday 19 October at 22.00 and is available on Sky channel 168, Freesat channel 110 and live on BBC iplayer.