Biography

Born and raised in Northumberland, almost 5km from the nearest village, Alexander Armstrong is the youngest of three children. He was educated at various private schools such as St Mary's Musical School in Edinburgh, where he was a chorister at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, and Durham School, at which he was awarded a prestigious music scholarship. He would go on to study English at Trinity College, Cambridge, earning himself another choral scholarship, and his love of classical music, a constant throughout his life, is often parodied in early Armstrong and Miller sketches.

Shortly after leaving university, Jez Butterworth introduced him to the man who would be his comedy partner for many years, Ben Miller. After joining forces they gradually honed their act, eventually winning a nomination for the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1996. Soon they were awarded a contract to produce the sketch show Armstrong and Miller, which ran from 1997 to 2001, while Armstrong also performed sketches in The Sunday Format. After splitting temporarily, they reunited in 2007 for BBC TV's The Armstrong and Miller Show, which was nominated for two BAFTAs, winning one.

Armstrong has also hosted several panel-shows, including Alexander Armstrong's Big Ask, Don't Ask Me Ask Britain, Best of the Worst, and The Imitation Game. Moreover, he has hosted Have I Got News For You more times than anyone else, and was reportedly offered the job on a permanent basis in 2003, before the BBC changed its mind and reverted to a guest-presenter format.

Armstrong has also provided the voice for several cartoons, narrating Hey Duggee, playing the title role on Danger Mouse, and bringing Mr Wolf and Policeman Stag to life on Peppa Pig.

He turned down the opportunity to host Channel 4's Countdown in 2008, after Des O'Connor's retirement, but in 2009 accepted the presenting role on a new BBC game-show, Pointless, alongside former university friend Richard Osman. The aim of the game is to provide the correct but least obvious answer, and thus score the lowest number of points (hence the name). After 1000 episodes and counting, he has become a national treasure due to his politeness, charm, and gentle wit.

After over a decade in television, radio, and comedy, Armstrong returned to his other great love: music. A bass baritone blessed with a rich, tuneful voice, in 2015 he hosted Frank Sinatra: Our Way on BBC One, and since September 2014 has presented the Saturday afternoon programme on Classic FM. He has released two solo vocal albums, 2015's A Year of Songs and 2016's Upon a Different Shore.

Armstrong has four children with wife Hannah Bronwen Snow, keeps an eclectic range of animals, including dogs, hens, and ponies, and is well-loved for his sunny optimism and warmth.