| Des McLean | |
| Birth Place: | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Years Active: | 2000-present |
Des McLean is a Scottish stand-up comedian,[1] actor,[2] and a presenter for radio and television[3] from Glasgow. Billy Connolly has cited McLean as his favourite comedian.
McLean started working in comedy in 2000, and was a finalist in both the BBC New Comedy Awards and the Channel 4 programme So You Think You’re Funny?. In 2002 McLean made his debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with his one-man show Des McLean 5 Stars and appeared on the BBC series Live Floor Show. The following year he performed at the Glasgow International and New York comedy festivals.
While still hosting daily radio shows McLean starred as The Tin Man in the Glasgow Pavilion Theatre pantomime Wizard of Oz in 2008 and Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio in 2009. His flair for more serious acting won him the lead role in the theatre drama Two Tales of Love and Loss.
McLean's live stand-up comedy DVDs became top sellers in Scotland, Live At Glasgow City Halls in 2007, Talkin' Aboot Live in 2009, and Is This The Way To Armadillo? in 2010, his stand-up show at The Clyde Auditorium was recorded as a television special for STV.
McLean left Radio Clyde in 2010 and has worked since on television as a presenter for The One Show on BBC One. He has also hosted various STV programmes including Hogmanay, The Hour and Too Good to Waste.
Streetcast, McLean's comedy podcast, has also received rave reviews and his many YouTube sketches have over a million views. In October 2011 McLean completed a tour of New Zealand playing venues such as The Vector Arena and Hawkes Bay Opera House.
In June 2013 McLean performed his stand up at the "Top of the Riv" in the iconic Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas.
In 2014 Des McLean announced a new nationwide tour and released a live DVD, Des Mclean's A-Z of Scotland. He then took the production on the road in 2015, including a tour of Canada.
2016 saw Des embark on a brand new stand up tour, simply titled Des McLean Live. Then extra dates were added and the tour was extended onto 2017.
In 2019 McLean took The Glasgow Trip: Stand Up Special on a nationwide comedy tour, with fellow comedian Gary Little.
2020 and the beginning of lockdown saw Des create Comedy Club in Your Front Room with Zoom, an innovative, online comedy show which ran up to Christmas 2022. It featured acts all over the world, and was regarded by many as the best digitally based comedy production in the UK.
In 2022 through 2024, Des hosted the Des McLean Comedy Stage at the music festival Party at the Palace.
As well as this, Des compares 9 recurring comedy clubs under the "Des McLean & Friends" brand.
| Shows | Date | |
|---|---|---|
| East Kilbride Comedy Club (EK Sports Club) | Monthly | |
| Comedy at the Corbie (Corbie Inn) | Monthly | |
| The Comedy Sauna (Cafe Mariana) | Monthly | |
| Fintry Comedy Tent (Fintry Inn) | Monthly | |
| Comedy at Kippen (Inn at Kippen) | Bi-monthly | |
| Mill & Brae Comedy (Mill & Brae Hotel) | Quarterly | |
| Broughty Ferry (Urban Beach at Glass Pavillion) | Quarterly | |
| Comedy at the Crow (Crow Tavern) | Quarterly | |
| Shotts Comedy Club (Marbles Club) | Quarterly |
| BBC One | Live Floor Show | |
| BBC One | New Comedy Awards Final | |
| BBC One | The One Show | |
| BBC Two | The Review Show | |
| STV | Is This The Way To Armadillo? | |
| STV | The Late Show | |
| STV | The Hour | |
| STV | Too Good To Waste | |
| STV | The Hogmanay Show | |
| STV | Live at Five | |
| STV | Toffee In My Pocket | |
| STV | The Night Shift | |
| STV | The STV Children's Appeal | |
| STV | My Life in 10 Pictures | |
| STV | Postcode Challenge | |
| STV | The Blether | |
| STV | Scotland Today | |
| STV | Scotland Tonight | |
| STV | The Five Thirty Show | |
| STV | Jak and Eddie's Scottish Kitchen | |
| STV | The Riverside Show | |
| SPP | The Glasgow Trip |
In 2017 Des created the online TV series The Glasgow Trip with fellow Glasgow comedian Gary Little. They recorded twelve episodes and in 2019 the show was nominated for best online comedy at the Scottish Comedy Awards.
In 2005 McLean was sought by Radio Clyde to provide sketches for the Bowie at Breakfast programme on Clyde 1. He soon became the co-host on the breakfast show with George Bowie, with the two men winning Sony Radio Academy Awards in the Best Breakfast and Entertainment Categories. McLean recorded a series of wind-up telephone calls for the programme, fooling stars that included Sean Connery, Rod Stewart and Joan Rivers. The daily calls became a series of four top selling CD releases, The Best of The 8.10 Sketches. McLean went on to host his own comedy sketch shows Friday Night Comedy and Des McLean's Sunday Sketch. In 2020 Des joined Nation radio hosting the morning and weekend shows with Suzie McGuire.
| Radio Clyde | Bowie at Breakfast | |
| Radio Clyde | Des McLean's Friday Night Comedy | |
| Radio Clyde | Des McLean's Sunday Sketch | |
| Nation Radio | Susie & Des Morning Show | |
| Nation Radio | Susie & Des Weekend Show |
In January 2012 it was reported that McLean would be playing politician Tommy Sheridan, who was convicted of perjury during 2010, in a new play I, Tommy, written by Rab C. Nesbitt creator Ian Pattison. Mclean's performance as Sheridan achieved critical acclaim from both critics and leading actors. David Hayman on BBC2 Review show described Des' performance as "Extraordinary." The Times called it "Pitch Perfect" and The Scotsman "devastatingly accurate". The play was one of the most successful productions at The Edinburgh Fringe, and after a national tour of Scotland it finished the year at the Kings Theatre, Glasgow. There was a further run of I, Tommy in late 2013 in the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow with Rosie Kane playing herself.[4]
Des, in addition to continuing to compere and perform at comedy clubs the length and breadth of Scotland, took to the stage to play the part of Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld in the hilarious and heartwarming play Bend it like Bertie at Websters Theatre in Glasgow. The show, written by Glasgow playwright Jim Orr, was such a hit with theatre goers it embarked on a 2022 Scottish National tour performing in various locations. After seeing Des midway through the tour, the Auld family presented Des with Bertie Auld's Lisbon Lion blazer.[5]
In 2023, 'Bend it Like Bertie' played a smash-hit run at the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow in February and Des returned to Las Vegas to perform the play at the iconic Westgate International Theater in June. In 2024 Bend it like Bertie will return to the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow.
| 2 September 2021 | Websters Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 3 September 2021 | Websters Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 4 September 2021 | Websters Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 4 September 2021 | Websters Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 13 November 2021 | Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock | |
| 24 May 2022 | Websters Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 25 May 2022 | Websters Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 26 May 2022 | Websters Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 27 May 2022 | Motherwell Theatre, Motherwell | |
| 29 May 2022 | Memorial Hall, Kilbarchan | |
| 31 May 2022 | Corran Halls, Oban | |
| 1 June 2022 | Whitehall Theatre, Dundee | |
| 2 June 2022 | Regal Theatre, Bathgate | |
| 3 June 2022 | Howden Park Centre, Livingston | |
| 4 June 2022 | Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock | |
| 5 June 2022 | Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | |
| 8 June 2022 | Eden Court, Inverness | |
| 9 June 2022 | Queens Hall, Dunoon | |
| 10 June 2022 | FTH Theatre, Falkirk | |
| 11 June 2022 | The Brunton, Musselburgh | |
| 12 June 2022 | Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen | |
| 9 February 2023 | Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 10 February 2023 | Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 11 February 2023 | Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 11 February 2023 | Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 1 June 2023 | Grace's Irish Sports Bar, Glasgow | |
| 6 June 2023 | Westgate Theater, Las Vegas | |
| 15 July 2023 | Amharclann Gweedore Theatre, Ireland | |
| 8 February 2024 | Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 9 February 2024 | Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 10 February 2024 | Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow | |
| 10 February 2024 | Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow |
| Year | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Live at Glasgow City Halls | |
| 2009 | Talkin' Aboot Live | |
| 2010 | Is This The Way To Armadillo? | |
| 2014 | Des McLean's A to Z of Scotland |
| Track Name | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | This is no ordinary call | |
| 2 | Billy and the rapping granny | |
| 3 | Ina half day on Tuesday | |
| 4 | Educating Plunger | |
| 5 | Paddy the ringmaster | |
| 6 | Not a lot of people know this call | |
| 7 | School's out for Ina | |
| 8 | Don't call me Knobby | |
| 9 | Santa Bawbag | |
| 10 | Billy of the Rovers | |
| 11 | Advance Ned Speak series 6 | |
| 12 | Trunk Call | |
| 13 | Ina's passage to India | |
| 14 | Paddy's close encounter | |
| 15 | Billy's super scoreboard | |
| 16 | Plunge's Caribbean Carnival | |
| 17 | Tommy talking tabloids | |
| 18 | Paddy's directory dilemma | |
| 19 | Plunge the wedding planner | |
| 20 | A couple of knobs | |
| 21 | Lee-Anne's labour of love | |
| 22 | Paddy's das boot sale | |
| 23 | Johnny Beattie's birthday bash |
| Track Name | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billy and Rod Stewart | |
| 2 | Plunge Limo | |
| 3 | Paddy Catalogue | |
| 4 | Tommy Crisis Loan | |
| 5 | Louis and The MacDonald Brothers | |
| 6 | Ina 10k | |
| 7 | Plunge Vital Records | |
| 8 | Billy and Joan Rivers part 1 | |
| 9 | Billy and Joan Rivers part 2 | |
| 10 | Paddy and Jack McPhee | |
| 11 | Tommy Asda | |
| 12 | Nobby Bookshop | |
| 13 | Ina's Lost Keys | |
| 14 | Plunge Buckfast Abbey | |
| 15 | Billy and Melvyn Bragg | |
| 16 | Louis This Is Your Life | |
| 17 | Paddy Mole Screening | |
| 18 | Tommy Bingo Caller | |
| 19 | Billy Newspaper Interview | |
| 20 | Ina Decking | |
| 21 | Paddy Popcorn | |
| 22 | Tommy Interview | |
| 23 | Billy impersonator |
| Track Name | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plunge Ned Bank | |
| 2 | Billy & 007 | |
| 3 | Paddy Vending Machine | |
| 4 | Wolfgang Toy Poodle | |
| 5 | Ina 3 Legged dog | |
| 6 | Ralph Britain's Got Talent | |
| 7 | Plunge The Phone Hacker | |
| 8 | Paddy Fart Dog Whistle | |
| 9 | Wolfgang Reverse Call | |
| 10 | Billy Chopper | |
| 11 | Ina Unlucky 13th part1 | |
| 12 | Ralph Shooting Sparrows | |
| 13 | Ina Lucky 13th part 2 | |
| 14 | Plunge Camp America | |
| 15 | Wolfgang Crockery Crisis | |
| 16 | Paddy Pussy Zapper | |
| 17 | Billy On Last Parky | |
| 18 | Plunge Valet | |
| 19 | Wolfgang Burger King | |
| 20 | Ralph Budgie Reverse Call | |
| 21 | Ina Clock Change | |
| 22 | Billy Parking Ticket | |
| 23 | Wolfgang French Polisher | |
| 24 | Paddy Hearing Glasses | |
| 25 | Billy Rich List |
| Track Name | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ina call Mark | |
| 2 | Plunge Ned Awards 2009 | |
| 3 | Paddy and Mrs.Prentice | |
| 4 | Jack Ferry and Son | |
| 5 | Billy and Archie McPherson | |
| 6 | Ina T in the Park Ticket | |
| 7 | Plunge Jeremy Kyle | |
| 8 | Craig Levein 118 | |
| 9 | Paddy Thomas Cook | |
| 10 | Jack Ferry B and O | |
| 11 | George Burley Dutch Interview | |
| 12 | Gavin Strang Mall | |
| 13 | Wolfgang Special K | |
| 14 | Paddy Chatline | |
| 15 | Plunge Mothers Day | |
| 16 | Billy CNN USA | |
| 17 | Ina The Night Garden | |
| 18 | Paddy Post Box | |
| 19 | Jack Ferry Travel Agent | |
| 20 | Plunge Darth Vader Mask | |
| 21 | Tommy and Smeato | |
| 22 | Rab C X Factor | |
| 23 | Ina Halloween Mask | |
| 24 | Wolfgang Cuckoo Clock | |
| 25 | Come Dine With Jack | |
| 26 | Paddy Bingo Caller |
After McLean's 4 CDs were released, a special boxset was made compiling his first 2 CDs, including a total of 46 tracks.
McLean was brought up in the east-end of Glasgow and now lives in Robroyston with his wife Alison and son Harry.