Steve Brown
Sound
Biography
Steven James Brown (25 October 1954 – 2 February 2024) was a British composer, lyricist, record producer, and arranger. Although primarily known for his composing, Brown proved himself an adept comic, both in performing and writing. He was a full cast member of the Sony Award winning BBC Radio 4 comedy sketch series In One Ear from 1984 to 1986. Part of his character arc revolved around his complaining (jokingly) that not enough time or attention was given to his musical interludes, and that the rest of the cast got all the funny material. Brown went on to write many of the songs for the satirical comedy show Spitting Image in the late 1980s and the entirety of the 1990s, originally providing just lyrics and eventually taking over permanently from Philip Pope as house composer/musical director, as well as providing many of the sung impressions. He worked and appeared extensively with Rory Bremner in the 1980s and 1990s, completing UK tours and the BBC series, The Rory Bremner Show. Brown wrote a number of songs for BBC 2's Dead Ringers, appearing briefly as Noel Gallagher with Jon Culshaw singing as Liam Gallagher. He also acted as MD for impressionists Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona. In 1995, he composed the music for The Ant & Dec Show on Children's BBC, and later worked on their SMTV Live programme, for which he wrote the 'Wonky Donkey' jingle, among other themes. He continued to work extensively as a jingle writer for their ITV show Saturday Night Takeaway. Brown played the fictional bandleader Glen Ponder in the Steve Coogan TV show Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge, and worked with Coogan thereafter, writing material and appearing as MD on two major UK tours including a West End run at The Lyceum in The Man Who Thinks He Is It, a further UK tour in 2008, The Tony Ferrino Phenomenon special and album and the song "Raped In The Face" for the film Hamlet 2. In April 2018, he worked again with Coogan on the BBC revival of the Alan Partridge character. Other television shows include Lee Mack's Not Going Out, The Brian Conley Show, BBC1 series New Tricks and Lenny Henry Goes to Town. He wrote songs for the BBC Children's TV shows, Playaway and Play School, and also the long-running ITV show My Parents Are Aliens. CITV's Scrambled! on which Brown provided theme song and numerous jingles. In 2018, transmission began of the adventure game show Spyschool for which he provided theme music and the entire underscore. As a performer Brown featured on several radio series including the radio show Jammin' with Roland Rivron and The Lee Mack Show for BBC Radio 2 in which he took part in many of the sketches. Brown provided all the music and arrangements for British comedian Harry Hill's television, radio, live, recording and film work since 1997, and worked on his ITV TV Burp show as musical director and jingle composer, later providing the same for Harry Hill's Tea Time on Sky and Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule for ITV. In 2013, Brown wrote the orchestral score and all original songs for The Harry Hill Movie. Brown arranged and recorded all the music for Hill's 2015 revival of ITV's Stars In Their Eyes. Steve Brown died from pulmonary fibrosis on 2 February 2024, at the age of 69.
Known For
The property show that helps prospective buyers find their dream home in the country.
Escape to the Country
Lee is a childish northerner who lives in a fancy penthouse apartment in London who goes through a variety of jobs such as a janitor and ice cream man, as well as attempting relationships with female flatmates. His best mate, Daily Mail reading, middle-class citizen Tim is always there to stop Lee from getting in trouble, or not? Mayhem is never far away with cleaner Barbara who has never done an honest day's work in her life.
Not Going Out
Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge is a BBC Television series of six episodes, and a Christmas special in 1995. It is named after the song "Knowing Me, Knowing You" by ABBA, which was used as the show's title music. Steve Coogan played the incompetent but self-satisfied Norwich-based host, Alan Partridge. Alan was a spin-off character from the spoof radio show On the Hour. Knowing Me Knowing You was written by Coogan, Armando Iannucci and Patrick Marber, with contributions from the regular supporting cast of Doon Mackichan, Rebecca Front and David Schneider, who played Alan's weekly guests. Steve Brown provided the show's music and arrangements, and also appeared as Glen Ponder, the man in charge of the house band. The show was a parody of a chat show. It featured a live audience whose laughter meant that viewers could not mistake the show for a real chat show. Alan went on to appear in two series of the sitcom I'm Alan Partridge, following his life after both his marriage and TV career come to an end.
Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge
Harry Hill embarks on a road trip to Blackpool with his Nan when he discovers that his hamster only has one week to live.
The Harry Hill Movie
London 1939. In the weeks before the beginning of the Second World War, the Say When jazz club keeps London's Shoreditch swinging. Run by Thomas (Richie) and his wife Massie (Natasha Wightman), it's a place where gangsters and aristocrats, home office gents, and loose women can kick back and relax. Thomas' job is to keep everything running smoothly. But when he starts having an affair with singer Butterfly (Joely Richardson), this carefully balanced world disintegrates into blackmail, drugs, and suicide.
Shoreditch
Comedy drama about a family reunion written by and starring Richard Herring. It's Ken and Margaret Snell's 45th wedding anniversary and their children and grandchildren along gather to celebrate. For Ken and Margaret's children, it's a day to revisit childhood arguments and to paper over present-day fractures in their relationships.
You Can Choose Your Friends
Hello there! It's me, Harry Hill! I've got a new show, and this time, it's visualised, A VODSCARF. Join me, my son Gary and Sarah the A.I Bot as we talk to a motley crew of comedians, celebrities and cultural icons, and if that wasn't enough we all learn together as we speak to an expert on stuff like the big bang, day of the dead, and even FLIES as part of our theme of the week! PLUS introducing the game everyone is talking about, Name The Seed
The Harry Hill Show
Tony Ferrino performs in a programme dedicated to his brilliant career as the Eurovision star from Portugal performs music and dance numbers with special guests.
The Tony Ferrino Phenomenon
The classic election special from 1992. Will the grey man or the windbag be the one to ruin Britain?
Spitting Image: Election Special '92
Harry Hill, the self styled floppy-collared-clown-prince-of-daft, is back with his hugely successful sell out Hooves tour. After a two year break, the multi-award winning comedian has returned to the stage for a show of fun, mayhem and swing ball - complete with new cordless mic! Expect special appearances from Stouffer (Harry's lifelong companion) as welll as Gary (His son from his first marriage) and music from his TV show-band The Harrys.
Harry Hill: in 'Hooves'
Behind the scenes documentary about the making of Harry Hill's 'Hooves' DVD.