The Big Impression
The Big Impression, known as Alistair McGowan's Big Impression for the first three series, is a British comedy sketch show. It features Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona impersonating personalities from entertainment and sport. Four series and a number of specials were made by Vera Productions and it was first broadcast on BBC One between 2000 and 2004.
The series has won five awards, including the 2003 BAFTA comedy programme prize.
Production
McGowan and Ancona first met at a comedy club, and later started dating. They worked together on a number of projects, with their first television series being The Staggering Stories of Ferdinand de Bargos in 1989. After performing in his own show in Edinburgh in 1998, McGowan was approached by a BBC executive about working on a series, which he wanted Ancona to be involved in. Alistair McGowan's Big Impression first aired on BBC One in 2000, with the couple splitting up just before filming began. Speaking with The Independent, Ancona said working on the series was "exciting but it was tricky and there were some very low points. But, if anything, the tension added a little frisson to some of the sketches and it made the show better."For the fourth series in 2003, McGowan's name was dropped from the show's title.
Impressions
Alistair McGowan
There have been many characters that Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona have impersonated. Some celebrities that McGowan has done impressions of include:- Charles, Prince of Wales
- Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen
- Richard Madeley
- David Beckham
- Michael Parkinson
- Robert Kilroy Silk
- Angus Deayton
- Jonathan Ross
- Huw Edwards
- Gary Lineker
- Robert Winston
- Sven-Göran Eriksson
- Alan Davies
- Craig Cash
- Michael Douglas
- Alan Titchmarsh
- Tony Blair
- June Brown in spoof "Cotton & Son
- John Altman (As Nick Cotton from EastEnders with the voice of Harold Steptoe in spoof "Cotton & Son
- Cary Grant
- Terry Wogan
- Trinny Woodall
- Billy Connolly
- Griff Rhys Jones
- Leonard Rossiter
- Kevin Keegan
- Nicky Campbell
- Jeremy Clarkson
- Brian May
- Frank Butcher
Ronni Ancona
- Judy Finnigan
- Carol Smillie
- Victoria Beckham
- Ruby Wax
- Barbara Windsor
- Caroline Aherne
- Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
- Davina McCall
- Christine Hamilton
- Nigella Lawson
- Audrey Hepburn
- Jennie Bond
- Jerry Hall
- Charlie Dimmock
- Jessie Wallace
- Lorraine Kelly
- Nancy Dell'Olio
- Susannah Constantine
- Sharon Osbourne
- Penélope Cruz
Episodes
Series | Episodes | Dates |
1 | 6 | 26 April 2000 – 25 May 2000 |
2 | 6 | 22 April 2001 – 3 June 2001 |
3 | 6 | 19 April 2002 – 24 May 2002 |
4 | 6 | 9 May 2003 – 13 June 2003 |
Special episodes
There have also been a number of one-off specials, including:- Alistair McGowan's 2000 Impressions
- Alistair McGowan's Big 'Enders
- Alistair McGowan's Big World Cup
- Alistair McGowan's Big Jubilee
- The Big Impression Christmas Special
- Posh & Becks' Big Impression
- The Big Impression Euro 2004 Special
Awards
Year | Award | Result | Category |
2000 | British Comedy Awards | Won | Best Comedy Entertainment Programme |
2000 | British Comedy Awards | Nominated | Best Comedy Newcomer |
2000 | British Comedy Awards | Nominated | Best New Television Comedy |
2000 | Royal Television Society Craft and Design Awards | Won | Best Make Up Design – Entertainment & Non-Drama |
2002 | British Comedy Awards | Nominated | Best Comedy Actress |
2002 | National Television Awards | Nominated | Most Popular Comedy Performance |
2002 | Royal Television Society Programme Awards | Won | Entertainment Performance |
2002 | Royal Television Society Craft and Design Awards | Nominated | Best Costume Design – Entertainment & Non-Drama Productions |
2002 | Royal Television Society Craft and Design Awards | Nominated | Best Make Up Design – Entertainment & Non-Drama Productions |
2002 | Royal Television Society Craft and Design Awards | Nominated | Best Production Design – Entertainment & Non-Drama Productions |
2002 | Royal Television Society Craft and Design Awards | Nominated | Best Tape and Film Editing – Entertainment & Situation Comedy |
2002 | Royal Television Society Craft and Design Awards | Nominated | Team Award |
2003 | British Academy Television Awards | Won | Best Comedy Programme or Series |
2003 | British Academy Television Craft Awards | Nominated | Best Make Up & Hair Design |
2003 | British Comedy Awards | Won | Best Television Comedy Actress |
2003 | National Television Awards | Nominated | Most Popular Comedy Performance |