John Fleming

Malcolm Hardee, 'The spiritual father of Alternative Comedy' Independent on Sunday, was born in Lewisham in 1950 and has been causing uproar ever since. In his youth he lead a life of petty crime and was in and out of prison for various misdemeanours including the theft of a cabinet minister's Rolls. After falling into comedy by accident he soon became a legend for his stunts - which include driving a tractor naked through the Edinburgh Festival - and nuturing of new talent from Vic Reeves to Harry Enfield. He runs the Up the Creek comedy club in Greenwich and lives on a floating pub, The Wibbley Wobbley, in Rotherhithe.