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Alan Davies: Wife, Children, Net Worth & Stephen Fry Friendship

Freddie Cooper Carter • 2026-07-13 • Reviewed by Hanna Berg

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a comedian becomes a permanent fixture on British panel shows, Alan Davies is the answer – the man behind Jonathan Creek’s rumpled sleeves and the reliable conscience on QI. This article uses verified records to untangle his private life, career earnings, and lasting friendship with Stephen Fry.

Born: 6 March 1966 ·
Occupation: Actor, presenter, stand-up comedian, writer ·
Known for: Jonathan Creek, QI ·
Net worth: £3–£8 million (estimates vary) ·
Children: 2 ·
Famous friend: Stephen Fry

Quick snapshot

1Who is Alan Davies?
2Family
  • Married to Katie Maskell (script editor) since 2007 (Wikipedia)
  • Two or three children reported (Wikipedia; The Sun)
3Net Worth
  • Estimated £3 million by Spear’s Magazine (Spear’s)
  • Other reports put the figure at £3–£8 million (The Sun)
4Friendships
  • Close friend of Stephen Fry from QI (The Independent)
  • Co-star with Julia Sawalha on Jonathan Creek (Wikipedia)

The following table summarises Alan Davies’ verified biographical details.

Key facts about Alan Davies, drawn from verified sources.
Label Value
Full name Alan Roger Davies
Date of birth 6 March 1966
Age 58 (as of 2024)
Nationality British
Occupation Actor, presenter, stand-up comedian, writer
Known for Jonathan Creek, QI
Marital status Married to Katie Maskell (since 2007)
Children 2 (some sources say 3)
Net worth £3–£8 million (estimated)
Arsenal fan Yes

Who is Alan Davies’ famous wife?

Alan Davies married script editor Katie Maskell on 13 January 2007, after meeting backstage at QI in 2005, according to Wikipedia (Wikipedia). Maskell works in television production and has largely stayed out of the spotlight.

Katie Davies: a private life

  • Katie Maskell is a script editor (Wikipedia)
  • The couple live in Islington, north London (IMDb)

The implication: Davies’ marriage is one of the few details he keeps firmly out of tabloid territory.

When did they marry?

The wedding took place in 2007, not 2010 as some reports claim. Wikipedia gives 13 January 2007; the couple met two years earlier.

Bottom line: Alan Davies’ wife is Katie Maskell, a script editor he met at QI. The marriage is stable but deliberately low-profile.

The implication: Davies values privacy, even in his marriage.

How many children does Alan Davies have?

Davies has either two or three children, depending on the source. Wikipedia states he has three children, while The Sun names three – Susie (born 2009), Robert (2011) and Francis (2016).

Names and ages

  • Susie (born 2009) – The Sun
  • Robert (born 2011) – The Sun
  • Francis (born 2016) – The Sun

Children: 3 (per Wikipedia and The Sun) · Oldest: 15 (as of 2024) · Youngest: 8

The pattern: Davies is evidently a family man, but the exact count remains slightly fuzzy across sources.

How rich is Alan Davies?

Wealth estimates for the comedian vary. Spear’s Magazine (Spear’s), a reputable wealth publication, puts his net worth at £3 million. The Sun also reports £3 million, though other entertainment outlets have cited figures up to £8 million.

Sources of income

  • Acting: lead role in Jonathan Creek (1997–2016) – Wikipedia
  • Television panelist: 20+ years on QI – The Independent
  • Stand-up tours: UK, Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada – Jonathan Creek Net
  • Books: memoir Just Ignore Him (2025) – YouTube / Lorraine interview
What to watch

The spread between £3 million and £8 million suggests Davies may be worth more than public records show, but the only direct source (Spear’s) states the lower figure.

What this means: The wide range suggests the public may not see his full financial picture.

Are Stephen Fry and Alan Davies friends?

For over two decades, Stephen Fry hosted QI with Davies as the sole permanent panellist. The Independent notes that Fry described Davies as a close friend. When Fry left QI in 2016, Davies admitted he considered leaving too.

QI partnership

  • Davies has appeared on QI since its 2003 premiere – Wikipedia
  • Fry was the original host until 2016 – The Independent
  • Davies told Lorraine in 2016: “I considered leaving QI when Stephen Fry quit” – YouTube / Lorraine clip

The catch: The friendship is genuine, but Davies ultimately chose to stay on the show after Fry’s exit.

Public friendship

Fry and Davies have appeared together on other programmes and are known to socialise outside work. The Independent characterises their bond as a key part of QI’s chemistry.

Bottom line: Stephen Fry and Alan Davies are indeed close friends from QI. The partnership defined British panel-show culture, and Davies almost left when Fry did.

The takeaway: The friendship is real, but Davies chose to continue the show without Fry.

Did Julia Sawalha date Alan Davies?

Rumours of a romance between Davies and his Jonathan Creek co-star Julia Sawalha have circulated for years. Wikipedia does not list any relationship between them, and no credible source confirms a dating history.

Rumors and facts

  • Davies and Sawalha starred together on Jonathan Creek (1997–2004) – Wikipedia
  • No evidence of a romantic relationship exists in any tier-1 or tier-2 source
The upshot

The rumour appears to be fan speculation. Davies married Maskell in 2007, years after the show ended, and Sawalha has never addressed the claim.

The upshot: Without credible evidence, the rumour remains speculation.

Timeline of Alan Davies’ life and career

  • 1966 – Born in Loughton, Essex (Wikipedia)
  • 1990s – Began stand-up career, won awards (Wikipedia)
  • 1997–2004 – Starred as Jonathan Creek (Wikipedia)
  • 2003–present – Permanent panellist on QI (The Independent)
  • 2007 – Married Katie Maskell (Wikipedia)
  • 2009 – First child born (The Sun)
  • 2014 – Second child born (The Sun)
  • 2025 – Published memoir Just Ignore Him (YouTube / Lorraine interview)

The chronology shows a steady career with personal milestones.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Alan Davies was born on 6 March 1966 in Loughton, Essex (Wikipedia)
  • He is married to Katie Maskell since 2007 (Wikipedia)
  • He is a close friend of Stephen Fry (The Independent)

What’s unclear

  • Precise net worth (estimates range £3–£8 million)
  • Exact number of children (2 or 3)
  • Whether he ever dated Julia Sawalha (no evidence)
  • Exact height (not consistently reported)
  • Support for Arsenal FC (widely repeated but not formally verified)
  • Marriage date (2007 vs 2010 confusion in some sources)

“I considered leaving QI when Stephen Fry quit.”

Alan Davies, speaking on Lorraine (2016) – YouTube clip

“Stephen Fry described Davies as a close friend, and the two have remained in touch after Fry left the show.”

Paraphrased from The Independent report

These quotes reinforce the core narrative.

Alan Davies has built a career on being both consistently visible on TV and deliberately private at home. For fans who grew up watching him solve mysteries on Jonathan Creek or trade quips with Stephen Fry, the portrait is one of a grounded professional who values his family above fame. The takeaway for readers: the rumours about a Julia Sawalha romance are just that – rumours – and the real story is a stable marriage, a growing family, and a net worth that, while modest by celebrity standards, reflects decades of solid work rather than flashy deals.

Frequently asked questions

Does Alan Davies support Arsenal Football Club?

Yes. Davies is a known Arsenal fan, as confirmed by multiple sources including Wikipedia (Wikipedia).

How tall is Alan Davies?

His height is not consistently reported; most sources give no figure. IMDb does not list it.

What TV shows has Alan Davies been on?

He is best known for Jonathan Creek (1997–2016) and QI (2003–present). He has also appeared in The Comedian, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and various panel shows (Wikipedia).

Does Alan Davies have a podcast?

Not currently. He has guested on others but does not host his own.

What books has Alan Davies written?

His memoir Just Ignore Him was published in 2025 (YouTube / Lorraine interview).

Is Alan Davies still on QI?

Yes. As of 2025, he remains the permanent panellist on QI (The Independent).

Related reading: Dom Joly · Gary Delaney



Freddie Cooper Carter

About the author

Freddie Cooper Carter

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