English comedian, actor, presenter, radio host, and author
He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queens New Year Honours List for his services to Entertainment.
He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1983 (1982 season) for Best Actor in a Musical for "Underneath the Arches".
His son Max is also a performer.
(May 2005) Reprised his role as Max Quordlepleen in the new "Quandary Phase" episodes of "The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy" BBC4 radio series, adapted from book 4 of the late Douglas Adams "Hitch Hikers Trilogy", "So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish".
Gave up smoking in 2006.
