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Chris Donald
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Chris Donald
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Chris Donald (born 25 April 1960) is the founder of, and one of the principal contributors to, the British comic magazine Viz.

Biography

[edit]

Donald was born in Newcastle, England. He attended West Jesmond Primary School,[1] and then Heaton Comprehensive School, where he failed his A-levels. The forerunner of Viz was a series of small comic booklets, titled "The Fat Crusader", drawn on the back of Esso Blue invoice pads and secretly circulated around classrooms at Heaton School – first amongst pupils, and later penetrating the staff room – between 1976 and 1978. In October 1978, having failed to achieve sufficient qualifications to continue his education, Donald began work as a clerical officer at the DHSS central office in Longbenton, Newcastle.

Donald, together with his brother Simon and a schoolfriend Jim Brownlow, set up Viz in December 1979 from a bedroom in Jesmond, Newcastle.[2] He was editor (or head of the "editorial cabinet") 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, Donald paid tribute to Spike Milligan on his death and cited him and Monty Python as the two major influences on Viz.

During the latter years of his tenure as the editor of Viz, Donald opened a restaurant at a former railway station at Ilderton in Northumberland. It opened in 1994 and closed in 1997.

Between 2002 and 2008, Donald worked as a shop assistant, and later shop manager, at Barter Books in Alnwick, Northumberland. At around this time he was also Fixtures Secretary of the Belford & District Pool League, as well as editor of the annual Powburn Agricultural Show programme.

In 2016 he became a top soul DJ on BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Radio Tees, presenting a weekly show, "Chris Donald’s Soul Club". In 2020, the show was taken off air during the pandemic. Since late 2020 he has presented "Chris Donald’s Imaginary Soul Club" on Nova Radio North East.

Publications

[edit]
  • Rude Kids, Chris Donald, 2004 (ISBN 0-00-719096-4)

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Chris Donald

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Chris Donald (born 25 April 1960) is a British comics creator and former magazine editor best known for founding Viz, a satirical adult comic magazine that parodies traditional British children's comics with crude, irreverent humor. Born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, Donald grew up in the Jesmond area and began his career in publishing in the late 1970s, initially working on local fanzines and match reports before launching Viz in December 1979 from his bedroom alongside school friends, including his brother Simon. Under Donald's editorship, which lasted until his retirement in 1999, evolved from a photocopied with an initial print run of around 150 copies—hand-distributed to local shops and pubs—into a national phenomenon, reaching a peak circulation of 1.2 million copies per issue in 1989. He created the magazine's earliest characters, such as and , and personally handled all written content for over two decades, overseeing its expansion into annuals, merchandise, and legal battles with entities like and broadcaster . Following his departure from Viz, which continues publication under new editors, Donald authored Rude Kids: The Unfeasible Story of Viz (2005), a chronicling the magazine's improbable rise and his own experiences, including an invitation to tea with Prince Charles and questioning by New Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Branch over satirical content. Since retiring from Viz, Donald has worked as a shop assistant and manager at Barter Books in Alnwick (2002–2008) and pursued as a DJ on stations including Newcastle and Nova Radio North East since 2015. As of April 2025, he temporarily stepped down from his radio role due to ill health, with hopes of returning. He has also engaged in artistic endeavors, creating spoof railway posters—humorous parodies of vintage advertisements—displayed at venues like Station and the Globe Gallery in , often shared initially on to alleviate post-retirement boredom.

Early life

Childhood and family background

Chris Donald was born on 25 April 1960 in , England. He spent his early years in the city before the family relocated in 1970 to a on Lily Crescent in the suburb, a relatively affluent area north of the city center. Donald grew up in this Victorian-era two-storey home, built around 1870, with his parents and two brothers: an older brother named Stephen and a younger brother, Simon Donald, who would later co-found the comic Viz alongside him. His mother lived with , which influenced family dynamics and prompted the move for a larger ground floor; she died in 1994. His father modernized the property in a style, including adding a false and lime green decor while removing some Victorian features but preserving others like the plaster ceiling rose. The house overlooked active railway tracks, providing a view that fostered Donald's childhood fascination with and led him to become an avid trainspotter from his bedroom window. The family's terraced residence, with its garden and proximity to Jesmond's residential charm, offered a stable yet modest environment during Donald's formative years up to age 11. This upstairs bedroom, which served as his personal space amid the railway sounds, later doubled as the initial production hub for early Viz issues in the late 1970s.

Education and early influences

Chris Donald attended West Jesmond Primary School in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he developed an early interest in drawing through art classes. He later progressed to Heaton Comprehensive School, also in Newcastle, during the mid-1970s. There, alongside friend Jim Brownlow, he began creating cartoons and comic strips, including The Fat Crusader, which he sketched on his father's invoice pads and shared with classmates. At Heaton Comprehensive, Donald's art teacher discouraged his comic pursuits, advising him to pursue a "proper job" instead. Despite this, he continued experimenting with satirical drawing and writing. He did not complete his A-levels, forgoing university and entering clerical work shortly after leaving school. Donald's early comedic influences stemmed from the absurd humor of , particularly through The Goon Show records and books in his family home, as well as the satirical style of , which he accessed via record libraries since his family lacked a television during his childhood. These inspirations shaped his affinity for irreverent comedy. Additionally, exposure to underground like and , introduced by Brownlow, fueled his interest in fanzines and satirical publications; he co-created small-run efforts such as The Daily Pie and Arnold the Magazine, selling copies for 2p at local pubs.

Professional career

Early jobs and pre-Viz work

In October 1978, Chris Donald began his professional career as a clerical officer at the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) central office in Longbenton, near , where he handled the administration of contributions for individuals working abroad in countries without reciprocal agreements with the . His role provided him with initial exposure to bureaucratic processes during his time in the North East. During his tenure at the DHSS, Donald demonstrated an aptitude for writing by contributing match reports and player profiles for the office's five-a-side football team newsletter, which caught the attention of his manager. This led to his promotion to assistant editor of The Bulletin, the in-house magazine produced by the DHSS sports and social club, where he gained foundational experience in publishing. Donald remained at the DHSS for approximately 2.5 years, departing in June 1980 after building basic skills in administrative tasks and rudimentary editorial work that would later inform his journalistic pursuits.

Founding and editing Viz

Chris Donald co-founded Viz magazine in December 1979 alongside his brother Simon Donald and schoolfriend Jim Brownlow, producing the first issue from a bedroom in their parents' home in , . The inaugural issue was a photocopied fanzine-comic hybrid with an initial print run of 150 copies, sold for 20p each primarily in local pubs and among friends, though it incurred a financial loss despite selling out. As the magazine's editor from 1979 until 1999, Donald oversaw content creation, artistic direction, and operational expansion, transforming Viz from a homemade publication into a nationally distributed known for its crude humor and of British traditions. During his tenure, he co-created iconic characters such as —a lecherous based on a real-life acquaintance—and , two chain-smoking, promiscuous sisters embodying exaggerated North East stereotypes through irreverent . Under Donald's editorial leadership, evolved from bedroom-based production to widespread availability through partnerships like Virgin Books by the mid-1980s, achieving national prominence with circulation exceeding one million copies by the end of the decade and peaking at 1.2 million in the late , briefly ranking it as the third best-selling in Britain. This growth reflected Donald's hands-on role in curating content that resonated with a broad audience seeking escapist, boundary-pushing .

Key achievements and challenges with Viz

Under Chris Donald's editorship, achieved remarkable commercial success, reaching a peak circulation of over 1.2 million copies per issue in the late 1980s, which positioned it as the third best-selling magazine in the behind only the , , and . This surge transformed the once-local Newcastle publication into a national phenomenon, with sales exceeding one million copies by the end of 1989 and sustaining high volumes through the mid-1990s. The magazine's ascent brought Donald into high-profile social circles, including hosting celebrity events such as a party with comedian and dining with actress , highlighting 's growing cultural cachet among entertainment figures. At its zenith, exerted profound influence on British adult comics, pioneering a blend of rebellious , regional humor, and profane that inspired subsequent generations of comedians and creators with its anarchic, self-referential style. However, this success was marred by significant challenges, including a high-profile legal dispute with in 1996, where accused the corporation of plagiarizing the format and name of its iconic "Top Tips" feature for advertising campaigns, leading to an out-of-court settlement donated to . Internal tensions also escalated with publisher John Brown due to differing visions, straining operations during the late . These conflicts, amid declining sales post-peak, ultimately factored into Donald's resignation as editor in 1999 after two decades at the helm.

Post-Viz business ventures

After retiring from his full-time role as editor of Viz in the summer of 1999, Chris Donald shifted focus to independent pursuits, avoiding commitments to large corporate structures. One of his key entrepreneurial efforts during the later stages of his Viz tenure was the restoration and operation of a at the disused Ilderton railway station in . Opened in September 1994 under the name The Station House, the venue transformed the former station building into a dining space adorned with North Eastern Railway memorabilia, including a bar installed in the original booking and restored Victorian fireplaces. Donald, who owned multiple disused stations along the former Alnwick-Cornhill line, ran the until 1997; the project directly reflected his longstanding enthusiasm for railways. While Donald had dabbled in supplementary publishing and media initiatives alongside Viz in the 1990s, his post-1999 activities emphasized smaller-scale, personal endeavors over expansive business expansions.

Later activities

Employment at Barter Books

Following his departure from the editorship of Viz magazine, Chris Donald took on a role at Barter Books, a prominent second-hand bookstore in Alnwick, Northumberland, starting around 2000. He began as a part-time shop assistant, handling tasks such as counter sales and shelf stocking. This position marked a deliberate shift toward a more low-key lifestyle in the countryside after the high-pressure world of comic publishing. Donald was later promoted to assistant manager at Barter Books, where he oversaw daily operations including staff coordination and inventory management. The bookstore, housed in a grand Victorian railway station building designed in 1887 and measuring 32,000 square feet, with the bookstore occupying a substantial portion, boasts one of Britain's largest collections of second-hand books, with more than 350,000 titles ranging from to niche subjects like and vintage . His time at Barter Books, which extended intermittently until approximately 2005, immersed Donald in an environment rich with printed materials, aligning closely with his longstanding passion for books and eclectic cultural artifacts. This period provided a creative respite and likely sustained his appreciation for diverse reading matter, which would inform his subsequent artistic endeavors.

Radio broadcasting and DJing

Following his retirement from editing Viz magazine, Chris Donald transitioned into radio broadcasting in 2016, hosting the weekly program Chris Donald’s Soul Club on and BBC Radio Tees every Friday night from 10pm to 1am. The show focused on , drawing from a playlist that expanded from around 200 records to over 2,000 selections during his tenure, reflecting his passion for the genre and the local Newcastle scene. Donald's presenting style was informal and self-deprecating, often critiquing previous soul shows for their repetitive rotations while engaging listeners with personal anecdotes tied to North East England's . The program gained popularity, reportedly peaking at 35,000 listeners on platforms in one survey quarter through manipulated listener participation, though Donald later described actual figures as low. It was taken off air in 2020 amid the . Later that year, Donald moved to community station Nova Radio North East, rebranding the show as Chris Donald’s Imaginary Club and maintaining the same night slot. He continued broadcasting weekly, blending soul tracks with commentary on life and , temporarily stepping down in April 2025 due to a period of ill health before resuming, as of November 2025.

Publications and contributions

Authored books

Chris Donald published his first major solo-authored book, Rude Kids: The Unfeasible Story of Viz, in 2005 through HarperCollins Publishers. The memoir chronicles the history of the satirical magazine Viz, which he founded in 1979 and edited until 1999, tracing its evolution from a rudimentary fanzine-style publication to a commercial phenomenon with peak monthly sales exceeding 1.2 million copies by the early 1990s. The book delves into personal anecdotes that highlight the grassroots origins and chaotic growth of , including its initial production in Donald's childhood bedroom in a terrace house, where the first run of just 150 copies was hand-distributed around Newcastle pubs. It also recounts memorable celebrity encounters, such as parties with comedian and a dinner with actress , underscoring the unexpected glamour that accompanied the magazine's success amid its irreverent content. These stories provide an insider's view of the cultural and personal dynamics behind 's rise, blending humor with reflections on the challenges of sustaining a countercultural publication outside London's media . Donald has described the writing process for Rude Kids as particularly challenging, contrasting the ephemeral nature of comic strips—which could be discarded after reading—with the permanence of a published that would endure for potential errors or poor . Initial drafts were self-assessed as " awful," requiring multiple revisions at the urging of his agent to inject more humor and pace, ultimately transforming the manuscript into a lively, engaging narrative. This effort marked a significant departure from his collaborative work on Viz, offering a reflective capstone to his editorial tenure.

Cartoons and other creative outputs

Since retiring from his full-time role as editor of in 1999, Chris Donald has maintained loose ties to the publication by contributing occasional cartoons, allowing him to stay connected without daily involvement. In the , Donald began creating spoof railway s inspired by vintage British travel advertisements, often incorporating local humor and cultural references. These works classic designs from railway companies, featuring exaggerated or satirical takes on regional landmarks and attractions. Notable examples include a "Tynemooth" poster depicting modern locals with chips and seagulls, a Vera-themed piece highlighting and other local sites, and a Doctor Who-inspired titled "The Sex Invasion of ." Donald initially shared these illustrations on before they gained wider attention. The posters have been exhibited publicly, including at Station's Bridge Gallery and the Globe Gallery in , where they were displayed under titles like "Jolly Days" in late 2024. Prints of the works are available for purchase in various formats, blending Donald's cartoonish style with nostalgic parody to appeal to local audiences and train enthusiasts. His trainspotting interest subtly informs these creations, tying into his broader creative pursuits.

References

  1. https://www.harpercollins.com.au/cr-133180/chris-donald/
  2. https://books.google.com/books?id=uSGhAgAAQBAJ
  3. https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Story-Viz-Rude-Kids/dp/0007330340
  4. https://www.culturednortheast.co.uk/p/interview-chris-donald
  5. https://uk.linkedin.com/in/chris-donald-70873132
  6. https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/popular-north-east-soul-legend-steps-down-from-radio-show-due-to-ill-health-station-chiefs-hope-he-may-return-in-near-future/
  7. https://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/property-where-i-grew-up-i-got-my-own-room-and-then-i-became-a-trainspotter-1234089.html
  8. https://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/property-where-i-got-my-own-room-and-then-i-became-a-trainspotter-1234089.html
  9. http://jesmondlocal.com/2013/01/made-in-jesmond-simon-donald-and-the-viz-comic/
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shv_yRbw0Ms
  11. https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1999/nov/27/weekend7.weekend4
  12. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jul/26/how-we-made-viz
  13. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/oh-lordy-it-s-viz-at-20-739097.html
  14. https://www.peep.ltd/journalism/viz-comics-with-chris-donald/
  15. https://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/articles/2005/05/12/picture_britain_chris_donald_feature.shtml
  16. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/may/25/pressandpublishing2
  17. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/viz-magazine-happy-35th-birthday-8255636
  18. https://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/the-unlikely-rise-fall-and-rise-again-of-viz-comic
  19. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/viz-sale-could-big-draw-1464688
  20. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/nov/07/viz-comics
  21. https://www.the-independent.com/property/house-and-home/living-above-their-station-1567138.html
  22. https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/html/About%20Us/The%20Bookshop.php
  23. https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/html/About%20Us/About%20the%20Station.php
  24. https://www.theawl.com/2011/10/the-vicious-trademark-battle-over-keep-calm-and-carry-on/
  25. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/07/bbc-presenter-chris-donald-joins-nova-radio-ne/
  26. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/viz-founder-chris-donald-joins-18686118
  27. https://www.novaradio.co.uk/presenters/chris-donald
  28. https://books.google.com/books/about/Rude_Kids.html?id=GyuEOQAACAAJ
  29. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2001/may/27/pressandpublishing.media1
  30. https://viz.fandom.com/wiki/Chris_Donald
  31. https://www.culturednortheast.co.uk/p/roger-melly-will-be-getting-his-chris
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