Alexei Sayle is an English stand-up comedian, actor, and author, best known for his influential work in the alternative comedy movement in the 1980s. He played several members of the Eastern European family the Balowskis in The Young Ones, and has hosted his own shows including Alexei Sayle's Stuff, Alexei Sayle's The Absence of Normal, and Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar
Year | Production | Role |
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2024 | Latitude | Self |
2024 | Bottom: Exposed | Self |
2024 | The Laugharne Weekend | Self |
2024 | No Alternative | Self (Archive Material) |
2023 | Imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter | Self |
2022 | Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar - Series 4
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Writer |
2022 | Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar - Series 4
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Host / Presenter |
2022 | Dodger
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Mr Elias Loomis |
2022 | Mandy - Series 2
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Darren Dugdale |
2022 | The Fringe, Fame And Me | Self |
2021 | Alexei Sayle's The Absence Of Normal - Series 2
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Writer |
2021 | Alexei Sayle's The Absence Of Normal - Series 2
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Host / Presenter |
2020 | Believe It! - Series 5
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Self |
2020 | Phil Ellis Is Trying - Series 3
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Goodison |
2020 | How To Build A Girl | Karl Marx |
2020 | Alexei Sayle Live UK 2020 Tour | Self |
2019 | Simon Evans Is Right | Self (Archive Material) |
2019 | Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar - Series 3
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Writer |
2019 | Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar - Series 3
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Host / Presenter |
2019 | Alexei Sayle's The Absence Of Normal - Series 1 | Writer |
2019 | Alexei Sayle's The Absence Of Normal - Series 1 | Host / Presenter |
2018 | Josh Howie's Losing It - Series 2
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Ensemble Actor |
2018 | Gloves Off | Algy |
2018 | The Young Ones' 20 Greatest Moments | Self |
2018 | How The Young Ones Changed Comedy | Self |
2018 | The Reunion: The Young Ones | Guest |
2017 | Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar - Series 2
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Writer |
2017 | Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar - Series 2
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Host / Presenter |
2017 | Festival Tales: Edinburgh At 70 | Self |
2017 | Alexei Sayle | Self |
2016 | Alexei Sayle | Self |
2016 | Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar - Series 1
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Writer |
2016 | Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar - Series 1
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Host / Presenter |
2016 | Josh Howie's Losing It - Series 1
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Dean |
2016 | The Roots Of Monty Python | Self |
2016 | Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled - Series 4
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Guest |
2016 | Just A Minute - Series 75
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Guest |
2016 | The Comic Strip Presents... - Red Top | Colin Goodman |
2015 | Legends Of Stand-Up And Bernard Righton
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Self (Archive Material) |
2015 | Alexei Sayle: Talking Comedy | Self |
2015 | The Now Show - Series 46
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Writer |
2015 | The Now Show - Series 46
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Self |
2014 | Rik Mayall: Lord Of Misrule | Self |
2014 | Tears Of A Clown | Guest |
2014 | 50 Years Of BBC 2 Comedy | Self |
2013 | The News Quiz - Series 82
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Guest |
2013 | Alexei Sayle | Self |
2012 | Monty Python: Almost The Truth | Self |
2011 | The News Quiz - Series 76
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Guest |
2011 | Richard Herring's Objective - Series 2
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Guest |
2011 | The Story Of Music Hall With Michael Grade | Self |
2011 | Christopher Brookmyre's Comedy Bookcase - Series 1
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Guest |
2010 | Genius With Dave Gorman - Series 2 | Guest |
2010 | Horrible Histories - Series 2
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Dr Usmah |
2009 | The Story Of Slapstick | Self |
2009 | Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 6
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Guest |
2008 | Comedy Songs - The Pop Years | Self |
2008 | Never Mind The Buzzcocks - Series 22
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Guest |
2007 | Alexei Sayle's Alternative Take
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Host / Presenter |
2007 | The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups | Self |
2006 | Mark Lawson Talks To Alexei Sayle | Self |
2006 | Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive - Series 1
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Self |
2006 | Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive - Series 2
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Guest |
2006 | Chain Reaction - Series 2 | Host / Presenter |
2006 | Chain Reaction - Series 2 | Guest |
2006 | Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 2
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Guest |
2006 | The News Quiz - Series 59
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Guest |
2006 | When Comedy Changed Forever | Self |
2005 | The Comic Side Of 7 Days - Series 2
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Self |
2005 | Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive - Series 1
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Guest |
2003 | The News Quiz - Series 51
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Guest |
2003 | Comedians' Comedians - Series 2
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Self (Archive Material) |
2002 | The News Quiz - Series 50
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Guest |
2002 | Spine Chillers
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Story |
2002 | Spine Chillers
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Graham |
2002 | Room 101 - Series 7
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Guest |
1999 | Sorry About Last Night
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Producer |
1999 | Sorry About Last Night
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Director |
1999 | Sorry About Last Night
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Writer |
1999 | Sorry About Last Night
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Andy |
1999 | The Beginner's Guide To Being Funny | Host / Presenter |
1998 | Alexei Sayle's Merry Go Round
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Associate Producer |
1998 | Alexei Sayle's Merry Go Round
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Writer |
1998 | Alexei Sayle's Merry Go Round
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Host / Presenter |
1997 | Hospital! | X-ray Operator |
1997 | Common As Muck - Series 2
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Reg Vickers |
1995 | Sorry About Last Night | Writer |
1995 | Sorry About Last Night | Andy Carolides |
1995 | The All-New Alexei Sayle Show - Series 2
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Writer |
1995 | The All-New Alexei Sayle Show - Series 2
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Host / Presenter |
1994 | Have I Got News For You - Series 8
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Guest |
1994 | Paris
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Alain Degout |
1994 | The All-New Alexei Sayle Show - Series 1
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Writer |
1994 | The All-New Alexei Sayle Show - Series 1
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Host / Presenter |
1993 | Have I Got News For You - Series 6
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Guest |
1993 | The Comic Strip Presents... - Series 5 | Inspector |
1993 | Lovejoy - Series 4
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Freddy Reeve |
1992 | Carry On Columbus | Achmed the Barber Surgeon |
1992 | The Comic Strip Presents... - 1992 Specials
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Dad |
1991 | Alexei Sayle's Stuff - Series 3
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Writer |
1991 | Alexei Sayle's Stuff - Series 3
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Host / Presenter |
1990 | The Gravy Train
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Milcic |
1990 | The Comic Strip Presents... - Series 4
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Bride's Father |
1990 | The Comic Strip Presents... - Series 4
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Mog |
1989 | Alexei Sayle's Stuff - Series 2
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Writer |
1989 | Alexei Sayle's Stuff - Series 2
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Host / Presenter |
1989 | Lenin Of The Rovers - Series 2
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Ricky Lenin |
1988 | Alexei Sayle's Stuff - Series 1
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Writer |
1988 | Alexei Sayle's Stuff - Series 1
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Host / Presenter |
1988 | The Comic Strip Presents... - Series 3 | Writer |
1988 | The Comic Strip Presents... - Series 3 | Carl Moss |
1988 | The Comic Strip Presents... - Series 3 | Sterling Moss |
1988 | The Comic Strip Presents... - Series 3
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Paul |
1988 | Lenin Of The Rovers - Series 1
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Ricky Lenin |
1986 | Whoops Apocalypse | Alexei Sayle in a Hawaiian Shirt |
1985 | The Supergrass | Motorbike Cop |
1984 | Give Us A Break
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Frank |
1984 | The Lenny Henry Show - Series 1
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Ensemble Actor |
1984 | The Young Ones - Series 2
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Balowski Family |
1984 | The Young Ones - Series 2
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Vampire |
1984 | The Young Ones - Series 2
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'Mussolini' Policeman |
1984 | The Young Ones - Series 2
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Writer (Additional Material) |
1984 | The Young Ones - Series 2
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Train Driver |
1982 | The Young Ones - Series 1
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Writer (Additional Material) |
1982 | The Young Ones - Series 1
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Balowski Family |
1982 | Whoops Apocalypse
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Commissar Solzhenitsyn |
1982 | O.T.T. | Actor |
1981 | Boom Boom... Out Go The Lights - 1981
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Self |
1981 | Fundamental Frolics | Writer |
1981 | Fundamental Frolics | Self |
1980 | Boom Boom... Out Go The Lights - 1980
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Self |
1980 | Boom Boom... Out Go The Lights | Self |
1980 | Boom Boom... Out Go The Lights | Self |
Non-comedy TV and film credits may be found here:
Alexei Sayle on IMDb
- Born
- Thursday 7th August 1952 (72 years-old)
- Nationality
- English
Alexei Sayle was born and raised in Anfield, Liverpool, by two parents who were members of the Communist Party of Great Britain. Educated at Alsop high School in Walton, he was eventually expelled halfway through sixth form, and attended both Chelsea College of Art and Design in London and Garnet College, Roehampton.
In 1979 Sayle by chance responded to an advert in Private Eye for would-be comedians and became the first master of ceremonies at the newly-opened Comedy Store. The year after, comedy producer Martin Lewis saw Sayle perform at the Edinburgh Fringe and became his manager.
Shortly after, Sayle became the principal performer at the Comic Strip, appearing on The Comic Strip Album and The Comic Strip Presents..., notably playing the two leading roles in "Didn't You Kill My Brother?", which he co-wrote with David Stafford and Pauline Melville. He also played several roles including Vampire and 'Mussolini' Policeman on the much-loved BBC sitcom The Young Ones, for which he also wrote material. He was known here for a distinctly mordant, no-holds-barred approach to comedy, with a forceful, vociferous delivery style.
In this century he has appeared on several episodes of panel shows such as The News Quiz and Have I Got News For You. In 2016 he hosted his own stand-up series, featuring a mixture of stand-up, memoir, and philosophy, on BBC Radio 4. Running for 3 series, it was called Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar. In 2019 he returned to the platform with Alexei Sayle's The Absence Of Normal, a comedy drama featuring absurd and entertaining stories told by Sayle himself.
He has also appeared regularly on the informal chat-shows Chain Reaction and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled. In 1990, a fatwa was issued against him by a Muslim cleric from Syria after a joke on his BBC comedy how [c]Alexei Sayle's Stuff] (1988[/y]-1991[/y]). To date, this has not been withdrawn.
Alongside a role in the 1992 Carry On film, Carry On Columbus, Sayle has given his name to the title of many of his own programmes, including The All New Alexei Sayle Show and ALexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round.
Clearly drawing inspiration from the likes of Spike Milligan and Monty Python, Sayle's comedy is characterised by political cynicism, pessimism, dark turns, and several absurd and surrealist premises that go on for several minutes.
In 2007, Sayle was voted 18th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-ups, and 72nd on the updated 2010 poll.
- Dave Funniest Joke Of The Fringe Award 2017
- Main Award (Nominee)