Born in Maryhill, Glasgow, in 1952, Allan moved with his family, at the age of five, to East Kilbride where he grew up and went to school. Allan studied at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), and after graduating, taught drama for two years before moving to Sweden in 1976. In Malmo, he taught English as a foreign language and was also a member of Clogs Mobile English Theatre. Returning to the UK in 1981, Allan taught drama in Leicestershire before moving to Cheshire in 1988 where he began working with children in public care. Allan is also a guitar player and singer. He performs solo, as one-half of the acoustic duo The Entertainment, and with the Dylan tribute band With Bob on Our Side, which he formed in 1998.