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Alistair McGowan's Big Impression

on BBC One London

CNigella Lawson and Friends are among the targets as Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona return for six shows.
With Jan Ravens, Roger Blake and Victor Romero Evans.

Alistair McGowan guests on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross at 10.40pm
Alistair and Ronni on making the right impression: page 36

Alistair McGowan's going Dotty again as he returns for a new series of uncannily realistic impersonations

Alistair McGowan's Big Impression 8.30pm BBC1
There will be many times during this first episode of the new series that you will be open-mouthed in admiration for the thoroughly eerie impressions by McGowan and his equally staggeringly talented sidekick Ronni Ancona.
Indeed, you might be so lost in examining just how McGowan can do such a good impersonation of EastEnders' Dot Cotton as Albert Steptoe, or Ancona as Christine Hamilton (she is terrifyingly good), that you'll miss the actual jokes.
But, no matter, as the jokes aren't really the point. It's the brilliance of the impressions, which are nuance-perfect. Ancona's Helen Baxendale has all of the right inflections, and McGowan's Richard Madeley possesses every last ounce of his subject's overbearing and patronising manner.
It's great fun - soap fans will doubtless laugh in recognition at McGowan's belligerent arm-crossing as the flighty Lynne Hobbs (nee Slater), and her refusal to serve anything but "two teas" to anyone who wants service in the EastEnders' caff.
And fans of Friends will readily identify with Ross's (McGowan) puzzlement at just what stage his life is supposed to be amid the confusion of repeats at various times on Channel 4, and the various series stages on Sky1 and E4.

Alistair and Ronni on making the right impression: page 36

Contributors

Unknown:
Alistair McGowan
Unknown:
Ronni Ancona
Unknown:
Roger Blake
Unknown:
Victor Romero Evans
Director:
Gareth Carrivick
Producer:
Charlie Hanson

BBC One London

About BBC One

BBC One is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964. It replaced BBC Television.

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