Born Phil Martin in Chorley, Lancashire, rubber-faced impressionist Phil Cool shot to prominence in the Eighties when, after many years on the cabaret circuit, a BBC producer spotted him doing audience ‘warm-up’ for Spitting Image.

His first appearance was on daytime show Pebble Mill, which led to a series for the BBC, Cool It, which ran for three series from 1985 to 1988. He then moved to ITV for one series of Cool Head in 1991.

He is a friend of Jasper Carrott, and the pair toured together in 1992 – which ran for 143 performances – and 2003. He continues to tour as a solo act.