Coren, Alan (1938–2007)

English humourist, journalist, and broadcaster. Sharp, erudite, and highly articulate, he was a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4 satirical programme The News Quiz 1977–2007 and a team captain on the BBC1 television game show Call My Bluff 1996–2005. He also had a long affiliation with the satirical weekly Punch magazine, serving as its editor 1978–87.

He published several collections of his news columns and articles, including The Collected Bulletins of Idi Amin (1974), imaginary monologues by the Ugandan dictator that were adapted into a comedy album in 1975; and six collections about Cricklewood, the area of North London in which he lived. He was known for his social commentaries about modern life and his fascination with the intricacies of language.

Coren was born in London and studied English literature at Oxford University, Yale University, and the University of California at Berkeley. After succeeding John Cleese as the Rector of the University of St Andrews 1973–76, he wrote for The New Yorker and Atlantic Monthly magazines in the USA as well as The Times, the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday, Sunday Express, The Observer, and Tatler in the UK. He joined Punch in 1963 as an assistant editor, and became literary editor in 1966 and deputy editor in 1969. He also served as editor of the BBC's weekly paper The Listener 1988–89.