Alexander Armstrong: Music was my love but it felt pointless to try

Armstrong put music “on the backseat” as he “couldn’t see how to make a career out of it”
Singer: Armstrong with Electric Jukebox
William Morgan
The Weekender

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Alexander Armstrong says he did not pursue a career in music, despite it being his “first love”, as he could not see a way to make a living out of it.

The comedian, 46, who co-presents hit BBC quiz show Pointless, went to Cambridge on a music scholarship and is a classically trained baritone. But when he graduated in 1992 he decided to move to London to work in comedy.

He was introduced to comedy partner Ben Miller and four years later they were nominated for the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Armstrong told the Standard he made the difficult choice to put music “on the backseat” as he “couldn’t see how to make a career out of it”. He added: “I could see how comedy would go but with music I just couldn’t.

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“There are so few classical singers out there compared to comedians and it is a tough job, it really is.” In 2013, he began his group Alexander Armstrong And His Band. Two years later, he released his debut solo album A Year Of Song, which topped the UK Classical Charts. This year, he released his second, Upon A Different Shore. He also presents on Classic FM.

“I am finally following my first love,” he said. “I have been given a massive queue-jump in terms of being successful, let’s be honest. So I am making the most of it and really taking this opportunity. I don’t just do covers of songs but really go for it with big ensembles and brass bands. It has been an extra- ordinary process. And such fun.”

Armstrong, who has four sons with his wife, events organiser Hannah Bronwen Snow, has been announced as the latest celebrity to back Electric Jukebox — a no sign-up, no subscription device that users plug into a TV to access 29 million songs. He is curating a playlist of classical music for the device, which he said had “some nice surprises”.

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