Matt Rudge began his showbiz career young, providing voices to cartoons and radio programmes while still a child before going on to study at drama school.

While working as a runner at MTV studios after graduation, he was asked to keep a studio audience entertained while Ruby Wax was being hypnotized, starting his career as a warm-up act.

Presenting work followed, including fronting off-the-wall reports for The Wright Stuff on Channel 5, BBC News and ITN. In 2004 he was the voiceover and warm up act on Channel 4's Kings of Comedy.

He also claims he may be the only person to have died twice on Casualty, in two separate episodes as two different characters. Once by smoke inhalation, once by brain hemorrhage

Matt Rudge supporting Stewart Francis
Live Review
High Wycombe Swan

On the cheeseboard of comedy, Matt Rudge is the mildest of cheddar. With a calm, gentle delivery he chats amicably about quotidian subject matter, unlikely to cause any dissent. Indeed, the state of the train network *is* shocking; who’s so lazy they have to buy grated cheese? and isn’t it strange weather for the time of year…

OK, the last one is exaggeration, and his routines are flecked with a little more wit than that description suggests – but Rudge is not comedian that will particularly stick in the memory, even it the routine about his surname tries to plant those seeds in the brain. Not that this relative youngster’s name is particularly unusual enough to warrant material, mind you.

Occasionally he raises his performance to a mini-rant, or even a Dr Seuss-like rhyming exchange, which don’t fit naturally with the usual placid demeanour, but trigger an obligated round of applause. Yes, when he drops the c-bomb he get a laugh from the jarring effect – and it is a funny line – but other out-of-character episodes only have the effect of making his persona harder to pin down, even if the edge they flash is welcome.

He is warm and inviting, with easy control of the stage, but the chilled conversational approach means the chuckles are more sparse than they could be. In a crowded market, Rudge seems to be a comedian who’ll suffice rather than excel.

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Saw Matt during the summer in Farnham, supporting Stewart Francis, He was just excellent. Good contact with the audience, much to my friend's chagrin! Also better than Mr Francis, Definately one to see again!

Jessica, November 2012

Saw Matt support Stewart Francis at Brighton Dome and he was extremely funny. To come out in front of people who've paid to see someone else and get the reaction he did, he's surely destined for greater things. I'd pay to see him again!

Jacqueline Poole, June 2012

I strongly disagree with 90% of this. I have seen Matt Rudge 'Rhymes with Fudge' twice now, and both times I have enjoyed watching his act and he made me laugh - which is what he is there to do. I am sorry you can only laugh when the "c-bomb" is dropped, it's nice to see a comedian who doesn't feel the need to swear to get a laugh! The fact that he has variation in his act in my eyes makes it enjoyable and different from the usual. Would definitely recommend seeing this comedian.

Cheryl, May 2012

He does stuff that we all relate too, so what?! Is this a review or a personal attack as i saw Matt at Watford Colosseum and he was unbelievably funny. If you can get 1400 people crying with laughter he must be doing something right! Class act.

James, May 2012

I watched Matt last night when I went to see Stewart Francis. I was crying sooo hard with laughter I would love to see him again.

Km cowley, April 2012

Agree with the below. Saw Matt twice, in Cambridge and Norwich and was thoroughly impressed each time. Warm, friendly, but with a slight edge in his material at times.

Linda, June 2010

Saw him as a warm up act for Stewart Francis in Norwich very funny, would like to see more

James C, May 2010

I saw Matt supporting Stewart Francis in Bristol. He was by far the funniest support act I have seen, and I have seen a few!

becky, plymouth, May 2010

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