Alan lived in Loughton, Essex for most of his life, until he left to pursue a career in comedy. He now lives in Islington in north London. He is the second of three children, born in Essex, and has an older brother and a younger sister. He was raised by his father, an accountant when his mother died when he was just 6 years old.In 1982 he left Bancroft School in Woodford Green with 8 O-levels. He then attended Loughton College of Further Education and got 4 GCSEs and two A levels, in Theatre Studies and Media Studies. He was taught theatre skills by Piers Gladhill.Alan is best known for playing the title role in "Jonathan Creek" (1997) written by David Renwick, as a man who designs magic tricks for Adam Klaus but he also teams up with Maddy Magellan to solve baffling crimes. He is also known from the Abbey National adverts.
