Barry Fantoni

Barry Ernest Fantoni (born 28 February 1940) is a British author, cartoonist and jazz musician, most famous for his work with the magazine Private Eye, for whom he also created Neasden F.C.

He has also published books on Chinese astrology as well as a mystery novel set in Miami featuring 87-year-old private investigator Harry Lipkin.

Fantoni was born in to an Italian father and a Jewish mother of French and Dutch extraction, both gifted musicians, and grew up in London's East End.

In September 2007 he was a guest on Private Passions, the weekly music discussion programme hosted by Michael Berkeley on BBC Radio 3.

[3] Fantoni is the creator and writer of poems supposedly penned by one E. J. Thribb – the fictitious poet-in-residence at Private Eye.