Colin Sell
Encyclopedia
Colin Sell is a British
pianist
who has appeared on the radio panel game
s Whose Line Is It Anyway?
and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
. He has become famous mostly for his long service on the latter show, where he is frequently the butt of the host's jokes. He is the Head of Music at East 15 Acting School
, Essex http://www.east15.ac.uk/profile-colin.asp. Until 1998 he was Head of Music at Rose Bruford College
, Sidcup and was instrumental in the creation of the BA (Hons) Actor-Musician course there. He occasionally provides live musical accompaniment for The Comedy Store Players
, a comedy
improvisation
group based in The Comedy Store, London
.
Sell was born in Purley, London
and grew up in Croydon
. He does not have a degree in music. He instead received a Bachelor of Arts
in Spanish
and Latin American Studies
from the University of Bristol
in 1971. He wrote music for the University's revues in the early 1970s, leading to performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where Simon Brett
saw Sell perform and offered him the pianist position on Clue. He also appeared with the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
TIE company in the early 1970s, which also included two other well-known names; Elizabeth Estensen
and Clive Hornby
, both long-standing members of the Emmerdale
cast.
Sell appeared in an episode of Foyle's War
as a pianist, and composed the score for a 1984 television production of Shakespeare's The Life and Death of King John.
Sell has also accompanied Barry Cryer
and Willie Rushton
in their stage show "Two Old Farts in the Night". After the interval, he played (and sang) a solo: "We are the boys in the band".
Colin has a son, Rob Sell, who is a saxophonist and flautist
with various London area bands.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
who has appeared on the radio panel game
Panel game
A panel game or panel show is a radio or television game show in which a panel of celebrities participates. Panelists may compete with each other, such as on The News Quiz; facilitate play by guest contestants, such as on Match Game/Blankety Blank; or do both, such as on Wait Wait.....
s Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Whose Line Is It Anyway? is a short-form improvisational comedy TV show. Originally a British radio programme, it moved to television in 1988 as a series made for the UK's Channel 4, for a 10 series run...
and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, sometimes abbreviated to ISIHAC or Clue, is a BBC radio comedy panel game broadcast since 11 April 1972 at the rate of one or two series each year , transmitted on BBC Radio 4, with occasional repeats on BBC Radio 4 Extra and the BBC's World Service...
. He has become famous mostly for his long service on the latter show, where he is frequently the butt of the host's jokes. He is the Head of Music at East 15 Acting School
East 15 Acting School
East 15 is a British drama school in Debden, Loughton, Essex. At the main campus, Loughton, it occupies an 18th century mansion, Hatfields, and has its own theatre, the Corbett, which is adjacent. The Corbett Theatre is an adaptation of a 15th-century barn...
, Essex http://www.east15.ac.uk/profile-colin.asp. Until 1998 he was Head of Music at Rose Bruford College
Rose Bruford College
Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance is a British drama school, offering university-level and professional vocational training for theatre and performance and the BA and MA degrees, based in Sidcup, Southeast London.-History:Founded in 1950, Rose Bruford "pioneered the first acting degree...
, Sidcup and was instrumental in the creation of the BA (Hons) Actor-Musician course there. He occasionally provides live musical accompaniment for The Comedy Store Players
The Comedy Store Players
The Comedy Store Players is a group of improvising comedy performers known for their performances at The Comedy Store in London. The group first came into being in October 1985.Members of the group have included:*Dave Cohen*Jeremy Hardy*Kit Hollerbach...
, a comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
group based in The Comedy Store, London
The Comedy Store, London
The Comedy Store is a comedy club located in Soho, London, England, opened in 1979 by Don Ward and Peter Rosengard.It was named after The Comedy Store club in the United States, which Rosengard had visited the previous year...
.
Sell was born in Purley, London
Purley, London
Purley is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, England. It is a suburban development situated 11.7 miles south of Charing Cross.The name derives from "pirlea", which means 'Peartree lea'. Purley has a population of about 72,000....
and grew up in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
. He does not have a degree in music. He instead received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Latin American Studies
Latin American Studies
Latin American studies is an academic discipline dealing with the study of Latin America and Latin Americans.-Definition:Latin American studies critically examines the history, culture, politics, and experiences of Latin Americans in Latin America and often also elsewhere .Latin American studies...
from the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
in 1971. He wrote music for the University's revues in the early 1970s, leading to performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where Simon Brett
Simon Brett
Simon Brett is a prolific writer of whodunnits. The son of a chartered surveyor, he was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first-class honours degree in English...
saw Sell perform and offered him the pianist position on Clue. He also appeared with the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Surrey presents in-house productions which often tour and transfer to London's West End. Other performances include opera, ballet and pantomime. Named after the actress Yvonne Arnaud, the company has two performance venues, a main theatre and the smaller Mill...
TIE company in the early 1970s, which also included two other well-known names; Elizabeth Estensen
Elizabeth Estensen
Elizabeth Estensen is an English actress, mainly known for work in the popular television dramas The Liver Birds and Emmerdale.-Career:...
and Clive Hornby
Clive Hornby
Clive Hornby was an English actor, known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as farmer Jack Sugden.-Television:...
, both long-standing members of the Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
cast.
Sell appeared in an episode of Foyle's War
Foyle's War
Foyle's War is a British detective drama television series set during World War II, created by screenwriter and author Anthony Horowitz, and was commissioned by ITV after the long-running series Inspector Morse came to an end in 2000. It has aired on ITV since 2002...
as a pianist, and composed the score for a 1984 television production of Shakespeare's The Life and Death of King John.
Sell has also accompanied Barry Cryer
Barry Cryer
Barry Charles Cryer OBE is a British writer and comedian. Cryer has written for many noted performers, including Dave Allen, Stanley Baxter, Jack Benny, Rory Bremner, George Burns, Jasper Carrott, Tommy Cooper, Les Dawson, Dick Emery, Kenny Everett, Bruce Forsyth, David Frost, Bob Hope, Frankie...
and Willie Rushton
Willie Rushton
William George Rushton, commonly known as Willie Rushton was an English cartoonist, satirist, comedian, actor and performer who co-founded the Private Eye satirical magazine.- School and army :William George Rushton was born 18 August 1937 in the family home at Scarsdale Villas,...
in their stage show "Two Old Farts in the Night". After the interval, he played (and sang) a solo: "We are the boys in the band".
Colin has a son, Rob Sell, who is a saxophonist and flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
with various London area bands.
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/clue/interviews/colin_sell.shtml
- http://www.isihac.co.uk/people.html
- List of plays scored by Colin Sell