Comedian Alan Davies on how both age and kids have brought about big changes in his life

WHEN Alan Davies became a star he was the youthful, curly-haired, duffel coat-wearing mystery solver Jonathan Creek.

He was back again – 20 years on – for a recent hit special. But Alan, a veteran of stand-up and a regular on QI, is now a 50-year-old dad-of-three.

And he’s told iN10 how both age and kids have brought about big changes in his life.

“When you hit a milestone like 50 you start to think about where you are and how lucky you’ve been,” confides Alan, who returns next week in a new run of his Dave series Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled.

“I had a big party in the Comedy Café in East London I’d been going to since my 20s and invited loads of people.

“There was a real reunion feel to it and a big celebration. But there were some people that weren’t there because they aren’t with us anymore and that makes you think.

“There are comedians we’re losing like Gary Shandling and Victoria Wood.”

Alan met his novelist wife Katie when she was invited along to a QI recording.

She admits she was in merry mood with the hospitality and had never seen Alan’s stand-up or Jonathan Creek, so had no preconceptions about him.

He also reckons the fact that she didn’t have her glasses on and he was a bit of a blur may have helped his case.

Their first date went to the dogs – literally, as Alan took her to Walthamstow dog track. Despite the unorthodox setting, they went on to wed and now have three kids, Susie, six, Bobby, five, and Francis, 16 months.

Does he wish he’d rather have become a dad at an earlier age?

“I do when I’m trying to keep up with them,” he laughs. “I think the ideal time to have kids is when you’re about 23.

“But it’s swings and roundabouts. When I think back to myself at 23 I’d have been an appalling father.

“Now I’m at a point where I don’t want to go out much, I’m not ambitious about my career and I can devote lots of time to them. So, it has actually worked out well for us.”

Alan’s own childhood was far from idyllic. His mum died of cancer when he was just six and he was raised by his accountant dad.

He confesses he didn’t get on well with his siblings, an older brother and younger sister, and says the experiences have influenced his parenting, although he does still have regrets.

“I yell at my kids a lot and I wish I could rein that in a bit.

“You can’t exploit the fact that you’ve got the power and I try not to say, ‘You can’t do it because I say so.’

“There’s a lot of responsibility and I’ve got to set all the rules and boundaries, but I don’t want to be a bully.

“I’m not their mate, I’m their dad. I try not to be a tyrant, though.

“I don’t want to lose them when they’re 15. You’ve got to put the hours in when they’re young or when they’re 15 they’ll want you dead and won’t want to come home at night!

“They’re very different but they all get on. They’re told to look out for each other.

“That’s important – it’s nice to have a sibling on your team. I felt my older brother didn’t look out for me at all.”

This is the fifth series of As Yet Untitled, a talk show where comedians and others chat away with the title of that week’s show ultimately coming out of the random conversation.

Previous guests have included Stephen Fry, Catherine Tate and Jonathan Ross and among those in the first few episodes of the new run are Davina McCall, Bob Mortimer, Ardal O’Hanlon and Mel C.

“I’d do it every week if we could,” admits Alan. “We’re getting hilarious people back again as well as loads of new people.

“In lieu of a social life, it’s really great. Everybody just rabbits on and I often think they really don’t need me.”

The recent Jonathan Creek, one of the BBC’s festive highlights, came two decades after he first took on the role of the sleuthing magician’s assistant.

He says he was the 38th person to audition for the role that changed his life.

“There were big names punted, such as Nicholas Lyndhurst and Hugh Laurie, who declined, so it was a very lucky break.

“I couldn’t have imagined still doing it 20 years on. I’ve only ever looked six months ahead at most in my life or career.

“And with kids, that’s now six days or maybe just six hours.”

The special was filmed at West Kilbride and Alan took the opportunity to get Katie and the kids up for a month of what turned out to be cracking weather.

“We were at the Seamill Hydro and it was 25 degrees.

“People were saying, ‘This is amazing. You can see the Isle of Arran!’”

But visits north of the border are far from unusual for Alan, who rattles off a lengthy list of cities and towns he’s played at over the years.

And his affection for all things Scottish is clear and unprompted.

“I first went to the Edinburgh Festival in 1986. I still go every year, even if I’m not doing a show.

“I know some people in Edinburgh find it a pain – but rent your flat out and go on holiday.

“The size of it’s a bit overwhelming now but it’s still such a buzz.

“I love everything about Scotland. It’s got the best festival, the most beautiful scenery, some great towns and some dirty old towns too, but in a fun way.

“And I’ve hired a car and travelled up to Glen Coe, which is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to.

“The only place that compares is New Zealand, which is very similar and full of Scots.”

Alan will be back in April with a date at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline as part of the line-up at the That’s Fife festival.

Newcastle-born Katie hit the publishing big time with a series of children’s books beginning with The Great Hamster Massacre.

And while Alan jokingly says he wishes she’d hurry up and pen another series of bestsellers to allow him to retire, he’s obviously more than happy with domestic life at their comfortable home in Highbury, north London.

It’s not far from the home of footie-mad Alan’s beloved Arsenal.

So, it’s not surprising a match would be right up there in his plans for the ideal weekend.

“I’d start with Arsenal beating Tottenham 5-2,” he says with a mischievous grin.

“Then a bit of time with the kids before getting a babysitter and going to see a good movie and have a meal with the wife.

“And maybe have a load of people come round on the Sunday and go and have a picnic.

“It’s just simple stuff for me these days.”

Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, Dave, Feb 21,10pm.