Simon Donald

Simon Donald
Simon Donald drawing Sid the Sexist in a copy of his book, Him off the Viz
Born	1964
Nationality	British
Occupation	Comedian
Known for	Co-founder of Viz

Simon Donald is a co-founder and was co-editor of the British comic magazine Viz until 2003.

He set up the magazine in 1979 with his brother Chris from a bedroom in Newcastle. His most famous creation for the magazine is probably Sid the Sexist.

When Chris quit as editor in 1999, Simon took up the role of co-editor along with Graham Dury, Simon Thorp, Davey Jones and Alex Collier. He and Alex left the magazine in 2003.

Born Newcastle upon Tyne 1964. Schools: West Jesmond Infant School 1969-1973, West Jesmond Junior School 1973-1975, Heaton School (comprehensive) 1975-1980, Newcastle College of Arts & Technology 1981-1983.

In 1976 Simon joined Newcastle’s People’s Theatre, training in theatre skills. He acted in several of the theatre’s ground breaking Young People’s Theatre productions He worked as assistant stage manager for the RSC on their People's Theatre visit in 1977. He also performed at the Gulbenkian Theatre. He left the People's in 1980.

Between 1981-1983 Simon was singer and lyricist with comedy rock band Johnny Shiloe’s Movement Machine. The band comprised Dave Rose (music writing and drums), Paul Rose (guitar) and Gary Shaw (bass).

In 1981, he appeared in an episode of BBC2’s Something Else programme. In 1983 he co-wrote and appeared in an episode Sparks, also on BBC2.

He specialised as an antagonist on Carlton TV’s live debate programmes in the early 1990s and moved on to play an important role in the BBC’s I Love series, and Channel 4’s 100 Greatest.

He presented a self-penned film at the launch of BBC Choice (now BBC3), and did the same for a project by Carlton ‘The Great London Debate’.

In 2004 he presented The Regionnaires, a six-part north-east regional panel show broadcast on ITV Tyne Tees, which he co-wrote with his former Viz partner Alex Collier.

In 2005 he met Hungover Stuntmen and in 2006 joined their management team. He became their sole manager in 2007. The band recorded an album in Ibiza, played the Ibiza Rocks Festival two years running and appeared at Newcastle Arena with Paul Weller. His work with the band stopped when Simon became full-time carer for his eldest brother Steve, who was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2008 and died the following November.