List of former Footlights members
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:09:50 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of former Footlights sketch comedy troupe members who have achieved notability after graduating from the University of Cambridge. The careers of many prominent figures in the world of entertainment began in Footlights, while prominent figures in other industries also took part in the troupe. They include:
Tables
Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams
Name
Douglas Adams
Birth
1952
Career
Comedy writer, known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Clive Anderson
Clive Anderson
Name
Clive Anderson
Birth
1952
Career
Comedian, television presenter, barrister
David Armand
David Armand
Name
David Armand
Birth
1977
Career
Comedian, actor, member of The Hollow Men
Alexander Armstrong
Alexander Armstrong
Name
Alexander Armstrong
Birth
1970
Career
Comedian, television presenter, singer, half of Armstrong and Miller
Ben Ashenden
Ben Ashenden
Name
Ben Ashenden
Birth
1989
Career
Actor, writer, comedian
Anne Atkins
Anne Atkins
Name
Anne Atkins
Birth
1955
Career
Novelist, broadcaster
Pete Atkin
Pete Atkin
Name
Pete Atkin
Birth
1945
Career
Singer-songwriter, radio producer, known for This Sceptred Isle
Richard Ayoade
Richard Ayoade
Name
Richard Ayoade
Birth
1977
Career
Comedian, actor, director, co-creator of Garth Marenghi
James Bachman
James Bachman
Name
James Bachman
Birth
1972
Career
Comedian, actor, writer
David Baddiel
David Baddiel
Name
David Baddiel
Birth
1964
Career
Comedian, novelist, television presenter, half of Newman and Baddiel
Morwenna Banks
Morwenna Banks
Name
Morwenna Banks
Birth
1961
Career
Comedian, actress
Humphrey Barclay
Humphrey Barclay
Name
Humphrey Barclay
Birth
1941
Career
Comedy executive, producer of I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again
Brian Barder
Brian Barder
Name
Brian Barder
Birth
1934
Career
Diplomat, popular blogger
Tom Basden
Tom Basden
Name
Tom Basden
Birth
1981
Career
Comedy writer and performer, singer-songwriter, member of Cowards
Robert Bathurst
Robert Bathurst
Name
Robert Bathurst
Birth
1957
Career
Actor
Cecil Beaton
Cecil Beaton
Name
Cecil Beaton
Birth
1904
Career
Photographer, interior designer, stage and costume designer
Tom Bell
Tom Bell
Name
Tom Bell
Birth
1981
Career
Actor, comedian, writer
Max Bennett
Max Bennett
Name
Max Bennett
Birth
1984
Career
Actor
Peter Bennett-Jones
Peter Bennett-Jones
Name
Peter Bennett-Jones
Birth
1956
Career
Television producer and agent, co-founder of Tiger Aspect and Comic Relief
Martin Bergman
Martin Bergman
Name
Martin Bergman
Birth
1957
Career
Producer, writer, director
John Bird
John Bird
Name
John Bird
Birth
1936
Career
Comedian, actor, satirist, member of Bremner, Bird and Fortune
Simon Bird
Simon Bird
Name
Simon Bird
Birth
1984
Career
Comedian, actor, known for The Inbetweeners
Timothy Birdsall
Timothy Birdsall
Name
Timothy Birdsall
Birth
1936
Career
Cartoonist
Jasmine Birtles
Jasmine Birtles
Name
Jasmine Birtles
Career
Journalist, author, presenter
Mark Bittlestone
Mark Bittlestone
Name
Mark Bittlestone
Birth
1993
Career
Comedian
Christopher Booker
Christopher Booker
Name
Christopher Booker
Birth
1937
Career
Journalist, author, founding editor of Private Eye
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Name
Peter Bradshaw
Birth
1962
Career
Writer, film critic
Katie Breathwick
Katie Breathwick
Name
Katie Breathwick
Birth
1971
Career
Radio journalist, broadcaster
Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse
Name
Leslie Bricusse
Birth
1931
Career
Lyricist, composer, playwright, known for Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Eleanor Bron
Eleanor Bron
Name
Eleanor Bron
Birth
1938
Career
Actress, writer
Oscar Browning
Oscar Browning
Name
Oscar Browning
Birth
1837
Career
Educationalist, historian
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Name
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Birth
1940
Career
Comedy writer and performer, member of The Goodies
Gus Brown
Gus Brown
Name
Gus Brown
Birth
1974
Career
Comedian, actor, half of Laurence and Gus
Spencer Brown
Spencer Brown
Name
Spencer Brown
Birth
1978
Career
Comedian
Robert Buckman
Robert Buckman
Name
Robert Buckman
Birth
1948
Career
Comedian, writer, television presenter, columnist, physician
Tony Buffery
Tony Buffery
Name
Tony Buffery
Birth
1939
Career
Psychologist, actor, comedian, writer, known for Twice a Fortnight
John Cameron
John Cameron
Name
John Cameron
Birth
1944
Career
Composer, arranger, conductor, musician
Jon Canter
Jon Canter
Name
Jon Canter
Birth
1953
Career
Comedy scriptwriter, principal writer for Lenny Henry
Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Name
Graham Chapman
Birth
1941
Career
Comedian, actor, writer, member of Monty Python
Charles III
Charles III
Name
Charles III
Birth
1948
Career
King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms
Ken Cheng
Ken Cheng
Name
Ken Cheng
Birth
1988
Career
Poker player, comedian
John Cleese
John Cleese
Name
John Cleese
Birth
1939
Career
Comedian, actor, writer, member of Monty Python
Olivia Colman
Olivia Colman
Name
Olivia Colman
Birth
1974
Career
Actress, comedian
Peter Cook
Peter Cook
Name
Peter Cook
Birth
1937
Career
Comedy writer and performer, proprietor of Private Eye, member of Beyond the Fringe
Joe Craig
Joe Craig
Name
Joe Craig
Birth
1980
Career
Novelist, musician, known for the Jimmy Coates series
John Crommelin-Brown
John Crommelin-Brown
Name
John Crommelin-Brown
Birth
1888
Career
Schoolmaster, poet, cricketer
Andrew Davidson
Andrew Davidson
Name
Andrew Davidson
Birth
1928
Career
Politician
Christie Davies
Christie Davies
Name
Christie Davies
Birth
1941
Career
Sociologist, author
Russell Davies
Russell Davies
Name
Russell Davies
Birth
1946
Career
Journalist, broadcaster, presenter of Brain of Britain
Hugh Dennis
Hugh Dennis
Name
Hugh Dennis
Birth
1962
Career
Comedian, actor, writer, satirist, voice-over artist, half of Punt and Dennis
Kate Duchêne
Kate Duchêne
Name
Kate Duchêne
Birth
1959
Career
Actor
Kenneth Duffield
Kenneth Duffield
Name
Kenneth Duffield
Birth
1885
Career
Composer, writer
Sarah Dunant
Sarah Dunant
Name
Sarah Dunant
Birth
1950
Career
Novelist, journalist, broadcaster, critic
Penny Dwyer
Penny Dwyer
Name
Penny Dwyer
Birth
1953
Career
Comedian, actor, writer, metallurgist
Jimmy Edwards
Jimmy Edwards
Name
Jimmy Edwards
Birth
1920
Career
Comedy actor, writer, star of Take It from Here and Whack-O!
Milo Edwards
Milo Edwards
Name
Milo Edwards
Birth
1993
Career
Comedian, podcaster, writer
Chris England
Chris England
Name
Chris England
Birth
1961
Career
Writer, actor
Mark Evans
Mark Evans
Name
Mark Evans
Birth
1970
Career
Comedian, actor, writer
Julian Fellowes
Julian Fellowes
Name
Julian Fellowes
Birth
1949
Career
Screenwriter, director, actor, novelist, known for Gosford Park and Downton Abbey
Paul Fincham
Paul Fincham
Name
Paul Fincham
Birth
1959
Career
Composer
Peter Fincham
Peter Fincham
Name
Peter Fincham
Birth
1956
Career
Television producer and executive, Director of Television at ITV
John Finnemore
John Finnemore
Name
John Finnemore
Birth
1977
Career
Comedy writer and performer
David Firman
David Firman
Name
David Firman
Career
Conductor, composer, arranger
Tim Firth
Tim Firth
Name
Tim Firth
Birth
1964
Career
Dramatist, screenwriter, songwriter
John Fiske
John Fiske
Name
John Fiske
Birth
1939
Career
Media scholar, cultural theorist
Jason Forbes
Jason Forbes
Name
Jason Forbes
Birth
1990
Career
Actor, comedian
John Fortune
John Fortune
Name
John Fortune
Birth
1939
Career
Comedian, actor, satirist, member of Bremner, Bird and Fortune
Jade Franks
Jade Franks
Name
Jade Franks
Career
Comedian, actor, writer.
Michael Frayn
Michael Frayn
Name
Michael Frayn
Birth
1933
Career
Playwright, novelist, known for Noises Off and Copenhagen
Robin French
Robin French
Name
Robin French
Birth
1978
Career
Playwright, scriptwriter, songwriter
David Frost
David Frost
Name
David Frost
Birth
1939
Career
Television presenter, interviewer, satirist, star of The Frost Report
Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Name
Stephen Fry
Birth
1957
Career
Comedian, writer, actor, novelist, half of Fry and Laurie, Jeeves in Jeeves and Wooster and presenter of QI
Graeme Garden
Graeme Garden
Name
Graeme Garden
Birth
1943
Career
Comedy writer and performer, illustrator, member of The Goodies
Bamber Gascoigne
Bamber Gascoigne
Name
Bamber Gascoigne
Birth
1935
Career
Television presenter, author, known for hosting University Challenge
Mel Giedroyc
Mel Giedroyc
Name
Mel Giedroyc
Birth
1968
Career
Actress, writer, television presenter, half of Mel and Sue
Stefan Golaszewski
Stefan Golaszewski
Name
Stefan Golaszewski
Birth
1980
Career
Comedian, writer, director, member of Cowards
Murray Gold
Murray Gold
Name
Murray Gold
Birth
1969
Career
Composer for stage, film and television, known for Doctor Who
Alastair Ross Goobey
Alastair Ross Goobey
Name
Alastair Ross Goobey
Birth
1945
Career
Investment and pension fund manager
David Gooderson
David Gooderson
Name
David Gooderson
Birth
1941
Career
Actor, writer
| Name | Birth | Career |
| Douglas Adams | 1952 | Comedy writer, known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy |
| Clive Anderson | 1952 | Comedian, television presenter, barrister |
| David Armand | 1977 | Comedian, actor, member of The Hollow Men |
| Alexander Armstrong | 1970 | Comedian, television presenter, singer, half of Armstrong and Miller |
| Ben Ashenden | 1989 | Actor, writer, comedian |
| Anne Atkins | 1955 | Novelist, broadcaster |
| Pete Atkin | 1945 | Singer-songwriter, radio producer, known for This Sceptred Isle |
| Richard Ayoade | 1977 | Comedian, actor, director, co-creator of Garth Marenghi |
| James Bachman | 1972 | Comedian, actor, writer |
| David Baddiel | 1964 | Comedian, novelist, television presenter, half of Newman and Baddiel |
| Morwenna Banks | 1961 | Comedian, actress |
| Humphrey Barclay | 1941 | Comedy executive, producer of I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again |
| Brian Barder | 1934 | Diplomat, popular blogger |
| Tom Basden | 1981 | Comedy writer and performer, singer-songwriter, member of Cowards |
| Robert Bathurst | 1957 | Actor |
| Cecil Beaton | 1904 | Photographer, interior designer, stage and costume designer |
| Tom Bell | 1981 | Actor, comedian, writer |
| Max Bennett | 1984 | Actor |
| Peter Bennett-Jones | 1956 | Television producer and agent, co-founder of Tiger Aspect and Comic Relief |
| Martin Bergman | 1957 | Producer, writer, director |
| John Bird | 1936 | Comedian, actor, satirist, member of Bremner, Bird and Fortune |
| Simon Bird | 1984 | Comedian, actor, known for The Inbetweeners |
| Timothy Birdsall | 1936 | Cartoonist |
| Jasmine Birtles | Journalist, author, presenter | |
| Mark Bittlestone | 1993 | Comedian |
| Christopher Booker | 1937 | Journalist, author, founding editor of Private Eye |
| Peter Bradshaw | 1962 | Writer, film critic |
| Katie Breathwick | 1971 | Radio journalist, broadcaster |
| Leslie Bricusse | 1931 | Lyricist, composer, playwright, known for Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory |
| Eleanor Bron | 1938 | Actress, writer |
| Oscar Browning | 1837 | Educationalist, historian |
| Tim Brooke-Taylor | 1940 | Comedy writer and performer, member of The Goodies |
| Gus Brown | 1974 | Comedian, actor, half of Laurence and Gus |
| Spencer Brown | 1978 | Comedian |
| Robert Buckman | 1948 | Comedian, writer, television presenter, columnist, physician |
| Tony Buffery | 1939 | Psychologist, actor, comedian, writer, known for Twice a Fortnight |
| John Cameron | 1944 | Composer, arranger, conductor, musician |
| Jon Canter | 1953 | Comedy scriptwriter, principal writer for Lenny Henry |
| Graham Chapman | 1941 | Comedian, actor, writer, member of Monty Python |
| Charles III | 1948 | King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms |
| Ken Cheng | 1988 | Poker player, comedian |
| John Cleese | 1939 | Comedian, actor, writer, member of Monty Python |
| Olivia Colman | 1974 | Actress, comedian |
| Peter Cook | 1937 | Comedy writer and performer, proprietor of Private Eye, member of Beyond the Fringe |
| Joe Craig | 1980 | Novelist, musician, known for the Jimmy Coates series |
| John Crommelin-Brown | 1888 | Schoolmaster, poet, cricketer |
| Andrew Davidson | 1928 | Politician |
| Christie Davies | 1941 | Sociologist, author |
| Russell Davies | 1946 | Journalist, broadcaster, presenter of Brain of Britain |
References
- Cambridge Footlightshttps://web.archive.org/web/20141021003105/http://footlights.org/alumni
- "Prince Charles Could Become Actor King"https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19680917&id=K8ROAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YUkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5986,3602511
- theartsdeskhttps://theartsdesk.com/comedy/jazz-emu-soho-theatre-review-delightfully-daft-musical-spoof
- "Desert Island Discs – Castaway : Salman Rushdie"https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mfqc