Chris Donald


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. His Arts teacher, John Dixon, had seen the original draft Viz cartoon drawings and advised Chris.."to give it up, and find a proper job!". 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 Jesmond, Newcastle. He was editor 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.

Publications