Chris Donald
Encyclopedia
Chris Donald is the founder of, and one of the principal contributors to, the British
comic magazine
Viz
. He attended West Jesmond Primary School, and then Heaton Comprehensive School, where he failed his A-levels, and in 1978 he began work as a clerical officer at the DHSS
central office in Longbenton
, Newcastle
.
Chris, together with his brother Simon
and a schoolfriend Jim Brownlow, set-up Viz in December 1979 from a bedroom in Newcastle. He was editor (or head of the "editorial cabinet") for many years but retired from day-to-day duties in 1999, and now only contributes occasional cartoons. He has since written a personal history of Viz magazine entitled Rude Kids.
In an interview on Channel 4 News
, Chris Donald paid tribute to Spike Milligan
on his death. He cited him and Monty Python
as the two major influences on the comic.
Donald has for the last ten years been Fixtures Secretary of the Belford & District Pool League, and has been chairman of the Coquetdale Pool League since 2011. In November 2011 he was barred from The Queens Head pub in Glanton. He needs new glasses, but has so far not got round to making an appointment with an optician.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comic magazine
Comic magazine
Comic magazine may refer to:*A periodical containing comic strips, in the UK referred to as comic.*In the U.S., more commonly referred to as a comic book.*In Japan comic magazines are called manga.*See also Franco-Belgian comics magazines....
Viz
Viz (comic)
Viz is a popular British comic magazine which has been running since 1979.The comic's style parodies British comics of the post-war period, notably The Beano and The Dandy, but with incongruous language, crude toilet humour, black comedy, surreal humour and either sexual or violent storylines...
. He attended West Jesmond Primary School, and then Heaton Comprehensive School, where he failed his A-levels, and in 1978 he began work as a clerical officer at the DHSS
Department of Health and Social Security
The Department of Health and Social Security was a ministry of the British government in existence for twenty years from 1968 until 1988, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Social Services.-History:...
central office in Longbenton
Longbenton
Longbenton is a district of North Tyneside, England. It is largely occupied by an extensive estate originally built as municipal housing by Newcastle City Council in the 1950s and 1960s. It is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro stations Longbenton Metro station and Four Lane Ends Metro Station...
, Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
Chris, together with his brother Simon
Simon Donald
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....
and a schoolfriend Jim Brownlow, set-up Viz in December 1979 from a bedroom in Newcastle. He was editor (or head of the "editorial cabinet") for many years but retired from day-to-day duties in 1999, and now only contributes occasional cartoons. He has since written a personal history of Viz magazine entitled Rude Kids.
In an interview on Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News is the news division of British television broadcaster Channel 4. It is produced by ITN, and has been in operation since the broadcaster's launch in 1982.-Channel 4 News:...
, Chris Donald paid tribute to Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
on his death. He cited him and Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
as the two major influences on the comic.
Donald has for the last ten years been Fixtures Secretary of the Belford & District Pool League, and has been chairman of the Coquetdale Pool League since 2011. In November 2011 he was barred from The Queens Head pub in Glanton. He needs new glasses, but has so far not got round to making an appointment with an optician.
External links
- "Brown bids for Viz" - an article by Jessica Hodgson, dated May 25, 2001 (reference)