Allen was born in
Nyasaland (now
Malawi), where his father was a tobacco farmer. He was also the lead actor in the
Associated-Rediffusion adventure series
Crane (1963–65) and in the
BBC1 series
Brett (1971). Allen played Moriarty's deputy
Colonel Sebastian Moran in
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and
The Return of Sherlock Holmes. Allen made regular appearances during the 1960s and early 1970s in the
ABC Television television series
The Avengers, and in numerous
ITC television series including
The Power Game,
The Baron,
The Champions, and ''
Gideon's Way'', although he never had a recurring role in any of these series. He was featured in one episode of the Tempean Films television series
The Saint ("The Man Who Could Not Die"), broadcast in the UK in July 1965., and also appeared in 1971 in the "
Timelash" episode of the
Century 21 Productions television series
UFO. Allen also worked with the
Royal Shakespeare Company in a number of stage roles, along with many BBC productions, including appearing as
Mr Gradgrind in a television production of Dickens'
Hard Times in 1977. In 1967, Allen and his wife
Sarah Lawson appeared together playing a married couple in the
science fiction film,
Night of the Big Heat. Allen's distinctive, authoritative voice was familiar across the United Kingdom, even amongst those who did not recognise him as an actor. He dubbed
Leon Greene, who played Rex, in the 1968
Hammer film
The Devil Rides Out. Allen narrated the British Government's
Protect and Survive series of
public information films in the 1970s; some of his lines in that production were re-recorded and
sampled into the single "
Two Tribes" by the band
Frankie Goes to Hollywood. He also appeared in and voiced numerous commercials for house builder
Barratt Homes and car manufacturers
Ford and
British Leyland among many others. His voice-over work led him to start up his own business, running a successful recording studio for voice-over work. Allen provided the narration (the voice of Captain Star) for the 1989 children's series
TUGS. Allen remained uncredited for his work, which was revealed in an interview with the show's producer
Robert D. Cardona. Allen's voice was heard at the beginning of videocassettes distributed in the UK by Video Network in the 1980s, welcoming viewers and reading an anti-copying warning. He also narrated the first series of
Blackadder, and appeared in the last episode, "
The Black Seal", as Edmund's nemesis, Phillip of Burgundy – known to his enemies as "The Hawk". Allen's voice became synonymous with British alternative comedy in the 1990's after his recurring role as the Announcer for shows written by and starring
Vic Reeves and
Bob Mortimer, including
Vic Reeves Big Night Out,
The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer and ''
Bang, Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer''. In 2005, Allen became the voice of the British television channel
E4, providing voiceovers for many of its
idents and promotions. Allen was also the voice of the ''
Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show'' on
XFM, the late show on
103.2 Power FM,
Hirsty's Daily Dose on
Galaxy Yorkshire and briefly
Virgin Radio. ==Personal life==