Restrain the (not entirely unfounded) urge to burst out laughing, lol, but for me, it was always British comedians

There was the phase when I longed to be Michael Palin (I went through most of the Pythons, actually, apart from John Cleese, against whom I developed an inexplicable and unjust prejudice).

Then in my early teens I desperately wanted to look like (and I suppose really just to
be) Peter Cook, lol. That's actually where my username comes from - my sister and I would act out Peter Cook and Dudley Moore Derek and Clive sketches - she would be Derek, I would be Clive. I'm fairly certain she wasn't getting the same kick out of it that I was, though, lol!


And from childhood onwards, I've always wanted to be (stop it now, stop it, stop it - I can see that look on your faces, but it's true) Stephen Fry




I read his autobiography, 'Moab is my Washpot,' at about eleven (it was my Mum's copy, and I appropriated it and read it so many times and in so many varied, unusual and perilous locations that eventually it fell to bits) and there was this picture of him on the front cover lying on his stomach with his legs crossed behind him in the air...

...and I used to take great pleasure in imagining that was me - I would even, on special occasions, read the book
in that same posture, just to enhance the experience.
The wonderful thing is, that whilst I can only dream of achieving his intellectual prowess, I don't think I'd have to try too hard to look like him... I've certainly unintentionally (or perhaps subconsciously) perfected the hair

Clive:

Stephen Fry:

Oh please, please Sir, can Moab be my washpot too?