Steve Brown obit

Steve Brown, composer for Alan Partridge and Harry Hill, dies at 66

Brown was a prolific composer, and also played bandleader Glenn Pounder on 'Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge' 

He was not on the list.

Steve Brown, the comedy composer known for his work with Steve Coogan and Harry Hill, has died aged 66 after a lung disease.

Brown played the bandleader Glenn Ponder on Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge, and wrote and arranged all of the show’s music. He worked on a wide range of British television comedy shows, including Spitting Image, Dead Ringers, Not Going Out and Harry Hill’s TV Burp.

The news of his passing was confirmed by his agent Vivienne Clore on social media earlier today (February 3). “Devastated to share the news that our much loved client Steve Brown has passed away,” she wrote. “Sod fibrosis lung disease.”

Harry Hill one described Brown, a long-term friend and collaborator, as “the best kept secret in showbiz”. Brown worked on a number of projects with Hill, including Tea Time, Alien Fun Capsule and The Harry Hill Movie.

Brown was also a celebrated record producer, helming ‘Seasons of My Soul’, the 2010 debut album by Rumer, as well as Laura Mvula’s 2013 debut ‘Sing to the Moon’.

He also had a hand in a number of stage productions, including Spend Spend Spend, I Can’t Sing and TONY! The Tony Blair Rock Opera. The latter show’s producers paid tribute to Brown, writing: “We are deeply saddened to hear that our wonderful composer Steve Brown has passed away. A musical and comedy legend who brought joy to so many people through his genius writing. Thank you Steve for all the laughter – we shall miss you.”

Brown is survived by his two sons Alfie and Lenny, from his first marriage to comedian and impressionist Jan Ravens. He married the actor Deborah Cornelius in 2010.

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.