Rob Brydon

Rob Brydon

Date of birth: 03-05-1965
© Nick Rutter

Rob Brydon: My days of writing scripted comedies are behind me

Comic says he doesn't have the same hunger as his Marion & Geoff days

Rob Brydon says his days of writing scripted comedy are behind him as he no longer has the hunger to prove himself.

The comic also says that with five children, his family are a higher priority than career ambitions.

Speaking at the BBC Comedy Festival in Cardiff, the Gavin & Stacey star spoke about his breakthrough shows, Human Remains, which he created with Julia Davis and Marion and Geoff, which he created with Hugo Blick, both in 200.

He said: ‘Writing Marion and Geoff and Human Remains were done in collaboration with two fantastic talents and also at a time when I was so hungry.

‘When we were writing Human Remains I was desperate to prove myself, because I was in my early to mid 30s. And I was thinking that I missed the boat, that I was going to spend my life as a local radio guy and a voiceover artist. And that wasn't enough.

‘When I found Julia and Hugo, the chemistry was just wonderful. But because I was so keen to do it, I devoted my entire self to work, work, work, work.

‘Now, I struggle to focus on one thing. I like doing a bit of this, a bit of that. The last thing I wrote really was my autobiography some years ago, I really enjoyed that. That was nice at home every morning. I'd like the routine of that, but I've just gone in in other ways.’

He said he enjoyed his current multi-stranded career, which includes hosting Would I Lie To You? and touring his singing and entertainment show.

‘I think if I did just the one thing I'd get very bored,’ he said. ‘I've ended up doing all the things I loved as a kid, so I've always had a very wide interest in different things. I grew up loving talk shows, both studying the hosts and the guests.   I've ended up doing both and I liked doing both.’

He recalled making a comment to David Mitchell at a Would I Lie To You? taping this week as they walk on to the set in front of a fired-up audience at Pinewood Studios.

‘I said, because we're walking very casually, our heart rates are not raised, despite the whooping and the cheering. And I said, "God, if you'd said to me 30 years ago, that they would host this Big Show on BBC One, I'd be filming at your Pinewood Studios, and that I will be walking to the stage as if it were just another day at the office. I wouldn't have believed you". But you you suddenly find yourself in this situation and it becomes the thing that you do.’

He recalled his early years when he ‘found it very hard to get work as an actor as a presenter’ besides working  as a radio DJ in Cardiff.

But when asked by interviewer Ash Atalla whether he ever wanted to break into America like some of his collaborators, such as Steve Coogan, Brydon said: ‘I’ve got five children.

‘When people talk about careers, they never put them in the context of the family of the performer. It's as if the performer exists in a vacuum, where the only thing on their mind is their career. And I've met some! For them, that is the case.

‘But it's not for me. So by my kids go from 28 to 11. Two marriages. So I don't want to go to America. To make any impact you have to spend time there and being on their mind. And  I don't want that. Is that going to  make me happier? I don't think so.’

The 58-year-old added: ‘It also took me so long to get what I have here. I had a lot of closed doors. I have a ring binder of rejection letters from all the agents. I was rejected by every voice agency in London. Every one.’

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Published: 26 May 2023

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DVD (2006)
Keith Barret Live

DVD (2003)
Human Remains

Agent

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