Alan Davies says his own brother ‘stopped speaking’ to him after he had his father arrested for abuse as he discusses traumatic childhood

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Alan Davies mentioned that his brother no longer communicates with him following the incident where their father was arrested for alleged abuse.

During a recent interview on Friday, the 59-year-old comic revealed that his troubled childhood experiences. In doing so, he acknowledged that his family might have preferred if he remained silent about these matters, given the strained relationships he has with his siblings as a result of the revelations.

Alan experienced sexual abuse at the hands of his father, starting when he was eight years old and continuing until he turned 13. This trauma occurred following the loss of his mother due to leukemia at the age of six.

In my journey towards stardom, I wrestled with alcohol abuse and anger, deeply rooted in my past experiences. However, it wasn’t until a therapist guided me through understanding and accepting those experiences, that I felt empowered enough to seek help from the authorities, eight years ago.

Since then, he’s talked about the mistreatment and the impact it had on shaping a difficult journey for him, as depicted in his memoir titled “Just Ignore Him,” published in 2020.

Alan shared with The Telegraph that if the mistreatment typically happens within a family (as is often the case), there’s an inclination to conceal such incidents because families don’t typically stand by the victim.

I went on to confess: “Ever since I took the bold step of having our father arrested, my elder sibling has chosen to sever all communication with me. Not even my children’s birthdays receive his well-wishing in the form of cards anymore. Fortunately, I still maintain some level of connection with my sister; occasionally, I get glimpses of her son.

They’d have much rather I hadn’t spoken up at all. However, this situation is too important to be ignored. Despite finding it slightly uncomfortable, it’s crucial to shed light on it.

In the year 2017, I found it necessary to report my elderly father who, despite being alive, faced challenges due to advanced age, dementia, and residence in a nursing home. However, it was explained to me that, given his condition, he wouldn’t be able to stand trial.

In an interview with Cat Deeley on Lorraine in 2021, he expressed that it’s burdensome for a child to hold secrets and feelings of shame, as they were the themes he addressed while discussing his memoir, Just Ignore Him, which delves into the abuse he suffered.

As a die-hard admirer, I can’t hide the fact that it’s taken me quite an age to discover the right words to delve into the complexities of my past, Cat. You see, those sensitive chapters were never meant for the limelight during my stand-up acts.

In a conversation, the actor who plays Jonathan Creek shared that friends confided in him about their personal experiences of childhood abuse following the publication of his memoir. For him, this revelation was one of the most significant outcomes of writing his autobiography.

He shared that he had struggled for a while to locate an appropriate platform to discuss some challenging aspects of his childhood. Unlike in stand-up comedy, these topics have found expression in the book he has written instead.

In more conversational terms: ‘A few individuals, some familiar faces even a couple of notable ones, have approached me saying they’ve read my book and shared experiences similar to what I wrote. We’ve had casual chats about these incidents, much like discussing a common cup of tea.’

In his words, he emphasized that the book’s most significant takeaway was fostering connections between people. His intention behind writing the book was to inspire others to find someone they could confide in, as carrying the burden of secrets and shame is an incredibly heavy load for a child to bear.

Similarly, these habits or beliefs often stick with us from childhood and continue throughout our lives, influencing everything we do. They can color our entire life journey, impacting all our relationships and experiences.

When inquired about whether the process of writing the book holds any benefit for him, he explained that it indeed does, as daily he is confronted by persistent thoughts and memories that resurface.

Writing this took me a couple of years. It was like drawing out an idea from within, making something meaningful in the process. I strove to choose the most effective words.

Alan experienced a particularly tough childhood, as he lost his mother to leukemia when he was merely six years old. The challenges worsened when he endured physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from his own father.

During the interview, Alan fondly discussed his mother, Shirley, who tragically died from leukemia at the age of 38. He hinted that her life might have played a role in shaping his chosen profession.

He mentioned about her: ‘She always found joy in laughter… She developed leukemia and passed away when I was six years old, leaving me with little. Yet, what I recall isn’t being scolded but rather trying to bring a smile to her face or others doing the same.’

Once upon a time, there was a person working on some painting inside our home. I believe I was around 3 or 4 years old. He mentioned the name “Engelbert Humperdinck,” who happened to be a popular artist at that moment, leading the music charts.

She burst out laughing at that point, leaving me puzzled and questioning the situation. It certainly wasn’t a name being said, so I inquired, “What’s your name?” To which he replied, “Engelbert Humperdinck.” This only caused her to laugh even more, indicating she was quite entertaining.

Perhaps my early inspiration for comedy came from performing for her, as she is no longer with us. This loss might have significantly influenced or driven me towards becoming a comedian, although I’m not entirely sure.

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2025-09-05 16:33