biography

I was born in Camberley, Surrey, on March 28th 1943, the third child of John and Joan Stilgoe. I had a big sister, Dawn, who died in 1996, and a big brother Robin, who died in 2017. When I was three we moved to Liverpool, where my little brother George was born in 1948.

I went to school at Liverpool College from 1949 – 1959, then to Monkton Combe School near Bath. After a year at Clare College Cambridge reading first engineering and then music, I started in 1962 as a cabaret artist in London. Brief stints as a pub pianist and an advertising copywriter followed.

I have been married twice – first in 1964 to Lizzie; we have two children. In 1975 I married opera singer Annabel Hunt, who is famous for singing L’Humone Fragilta - Human Frailty - in Peter Hall’s memorable production of Ulisse by Monteverdi in 1972. We have three children , one of whom – Joe – followed us into showbiz.You can find out all about him and his excellent music on www.joestilgoe.com.My dear children – Rufus, Jemima, Holly, Jack and Joe – have produced thirteen grandchildren, all of whom are wonderful.

Professionally, I have done a lot of radio and television, many concerts and cabarets (either alone or as part of a double act with Peter Skellern), and helped Andrew Lloyd Webber write three musicals. All this is described in more detail in the pages that follow.

My hobbies are music and theatre (which have also been my living, happily), cricket(I was president of Surrey in 2005 when they got relegated for the first time in their history), sailing, demolition (I have a JCB digger) building and architecture.

But my greatest delight is my five children and my thirteen grandchildren. Watching the first lot bring up the second lot is the light of my life. That and Annabel.

I have a JCB digger.

• Family History

  Stilgoe is an odd name, and nobody seems to know where it comes from. My Dad and my grandfather were both very keen on family history, and traced the family ...
  Read more>>

• Programme Notes

  Official words for use if I'm appearing at your event.
  Read more>>

• Helpers

  I am hugely grateful to this list of people who encouraged me and aren’t still around to decide whether it was worth it.
  Read more>>