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Philip Differ
After
Dinner Speaker
Philip Differ
Born 6th May 1956, a former pupil of St.Modans High
School, Stirling. Despite this excellent pedigree -same
birthday as Graeme Souness, same school as Billy Bremner
-he failed to make the grade as a footballer.
Left school in 1974 with a master's degree in pontoon
and three card brag and settled for a career with
British Telecom as an accounts clerk. Six years, one
demotion, one promotion and one proposed demotion later
he decided a 'career' as a Clerical Officer and a
gentleman wasn't for him and sadly said farewell to
Public Service.
After a brief spell as a trainee Driving Instructor,
academia called and he enrolled at Glasgow College of
Technology where he completed an S.H.N.D. in
Communications Studies. It was during his time at
college he first started writing comedy material.
1981-82 wrote script for television series, 'The
Evergreen Years’. Nostalgic archive and music show
hosted by John Dunne.
Wrote material for Naked Radio, A Kick up the Eighties,
Spitting Image, Not the Nine O'clock News.
Wrote stand-up comedy material for Robbie Coltrane and
Craig Ferguson.
1982-96 Joined the Comedy Unit at BBC Scotland as
Assistant Producer eventually attaining the assignation,
of Senior Producer, Comedy.
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During this period was directly involved in such
shows as.. |
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A Kick Up the Eighties (Series II) |
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Laugh??? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee (Script
Editor) |
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Naked Radio (Writer/Producer) |
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Naked Video (Script Editor/Co-Producer) Scotch and
Wry (Script Editor/Producer) |
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2000 Not Out (Producer) |
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The Ferguson Theory (Producer) |
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The Jolly Trilogy (Executive Producer) |
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Only An Excuse? (Producer/Director) |
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Pulp Video (Producer) |
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And was indirectly involved in such shows as..
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Rab C. Nesbitt |
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City Lights |
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Para Handy |
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Bad Boys |
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Punch Drunk |
Picked up awards for Naked Radio and Only an Excuse? (TRIC
Award, Best LE Radio)
Scotch and Wry (Royal television Society) Best Regional
Programme. Hamlet 'Photo Booth' Ad (DADA Award Best 60
second Commercial)
1996-present Decides it's time to go freelance.
The Comedy Unit has by now left the BBC and is now an
independent production company. Worked on such shows
as...
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A Game of Two Halves (Scottish) Producer (Two
series)
Yes, Yes. (Channel Four) writer/director
The Golden Years (BBC Scotland) Producer (Two
series)
Only an Excuse? (BBC Scotland) Producer/Director
Only an Excuse? Theatre Shows, written and directed.
Chewin the Fat (BBC Scotland) Associate Producer -
Series One
Taxi for Cowan (BBC Scotland) Associate Producer
Offside (BBC Scotland) Associate Producer - seven
series
Watson’s Wind Up (Radio Scotland) Producer, 1999 -
present |
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Also dipped a toe in the waters of presenting with..
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Right to Differ (BBC Scotland) Presenter (Two
series)
The award-winning In God They Trust? (BBC Scotland)
Presenter
(Andrew Cross Award for Best Religious Programme)
Seven Days (Scottish) Guest Contributor
On/Off the Ball (Radio Scotland) Stuart Cosgrove's
stand-in.
Irregular guest on Janice Forsyth Show, Leslie
Riddoch Show, Fred MacAulay Show, Ex-S .
Philip Differ Meets.. Live chat show staged during
the Comedy Unit's Citizen's Theatre week. Guests
included Dougie Donnelly, Tommy Sheridan, John
Millar, Graham Spiers. |
In the past five years has been a columnist with The
Daily Star, The Scottish Mirror and The Daily Record.
Currently writes a weekly column for the Evening Times
while continuing to contribute articles on a regular
basis to The Sunday Mail, Daily Record and Sunday
Herald. Was media columnist in the now sadly departed
Business AM.
Also appears irregularly on the after dinner circuit
either as a speaker or host of 'Question and Answer
Sessions' with Tam Cowan.
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Philip’s Latest Appearances and Contributions |
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Ex-S-Lager Lovelies-contributor
There’s Only One Craig Brown-Documentary Contributor
Monday Night Live-Sporty Pundit Type Material-2
quest appearances
Football Songs-documentary on Football Chants-guest
appearance
Caledonia McBraynes-guest team member
The Oor Wullie Story-contributor
Offside – guest |
In 2005, Philip fulfilled a life ambition and
turned to stand up comedy. One year on he is now a
regular on the Scottish stand up circuit appearing at
venues across the country. He is also currently working
with Tony Roper on a play based on the life of former
friend and colleague, Rikki Fulton.
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