The Right Impression

Top impersonator Alistair McGowan's fans can't believe he doesn't have Scottish roots-and neither can he!

- BRIAN MCIVER

AT the peak of his television career, Alistair McGowan was the country's man of many faces, mimicking a wide range of stars and politicians for iconic series such as Only An Excuse, Alistair McGowan's Big Impression and Spitting Image.

These days, however, the comedian is more than happy to just be speaking in his own voice. He is also more likely to be found behind a classical piano than a studio microphone, having thrown himself into his life-long passion of music in recent years, working on albums, tours and even organising a piano festival near his home in Shropshire.

It now takes a very special project to get him back into impressions, which is exactly how he found himself back in Scotland for the sold-out premiere of a new film all about Alfred Hitchcock. McGowan, 58, was recruited by acclaimed director Mark Cousins for My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock, a stunning new documentary all about the enigmatic master of suspense, exploring his life and work and narrated by the man himself- or at least, a very skilful impression of the man himself.

Although McGowan was a big fan of his subject's work, and had examined Cary Grant's performance in North By Northwest to help mimic the acting legend, he had never tried to do a "Hitchcock" himself until Cousins came calling.

He loved mining back into his classics like Psycho, The Birds and Vertigo, but also learned to fully appreciate just how vast the great man's back catalogue is.