PROFILE:
RHOD
GILBERT
Comedians’ comedian Rhod Gilbert talks to Buzz about celebrity obsession, plans for
the future and the ‘problem family’ on the estate. words: REBECCA BRYNOLF
L
ast year’s Royal Variety Performance had critics hailing Rhod Gilbert It’s probably something he’ll have to deal with even more now, especially after a
as a “royal discovery”. He turned to Prince Charles and talked about brilliant hosting gig on Never Mind The Buzzcocks last month. His appearance
Llwynywermod, the town where Gilbert is from and His Highness has prompted a collective sigh of relief from Never Mind fans, who were still solemnly
taken up residence: “Are you down on the council estate? With the big shaking their heads after James Corden’s attempt in the previous week. “I loved
caravan and the flashy satellite dish. There’s a lot of vandalism though, they’ve hosting Never Mind the Buzzcocks and would relish the opportunity to be the
graffitied the bus shelter for the third time this month… I’m not saying it is permanent host.” Well, it seems like the beeb are impressed – is there anything
your two boys…” It went down well with the audience, but how did it go down else in store? “I’ve starting filming a series for BBC Wales. Basically, it’s me trying
with HRH? “He admitted to me backstage that his boys had done the bus shelter. out jobs like bin man and househusband. BBC1 are looking for a vehicle for me
He reckoned they got it from their great-grandmother who was a terrible one so there are loads of ideas floating around. I might give acting a shot one day, but
for graffiti, apparently; she once wrote ‘Port Talbot FC rule’ all over the walls of it terrifies me; I just stand around waiting for my lines and forget that I have to
Buckingham Palace.” react to what other people are saying. I’m determined to have lessons and face my
On stage, Rhod Gilbert is a wide-eyed, ranting, flailing beanpole of highly-strung demons, though.”
exasperation. Offstage, he’s much more relaxed and very down-to-earth, a I ask him about his new DVD, The Award-Winning Mince Pie. In it we get to see
character trait that’s contributed to his success. With a hit tour on the go, a DVD the fictional town of ‘Llanbobl’. How did it come into existence? “One night some
coming out, a show on Radio Wales and fans coming up to him in the street, it’s bloke was giving me stick about being Welsh, asking me where I was from, so I
good to know that his growing celebrity status isn’t going to his head. How do you said ‘Llanbobl’. I knew he’d say he’d been there – he was that type of bloke – and,
deal with random people come up to you and asking for autographs? “It’s part sure enough, he laughed and said it was ‘a dump’. I told him I was surprised that
of the territory and you know what you let yourself in for when you get into this he’d been, as it didn’t exist. He looked a bit of a twat. He was right about it being
business. I don’t go in for all the Twitter crap. We’re all too obsessed with celebrity a dump though. I think on the sign it says ‘Llanbobl’ in Welsh and ‘shithole’ in
and should get on with our own lives. To me, following a celebrity on there is a English underneath.”
sad reflection of where we are these days, but each to his own, I guess. When I’m Now that you’ve lived in Cardiff for a while and have built a life and career there,
out and about, though, if people want a photo or an autograph, I’m happy to do is there anything you miss about Carmarthen? “I miss Morgan’s chip shop,
it. Those are the people who pay my bills, so I’m grateful to them.” How about the specifically the fryer cabinet thing on the left with the pies and battered sausages.
media attention? Do you read reviews? “I used to read reviews religiously, but I try I don’t miss the fryer cabinet thing on the right, with the fishcakes; that one can
not to now. They can be very hard to deal with. I say that, though I’m very lucky get fucked.”
in that I’ve had almost exclusively positive reviews since I started, and those good
reviews have put bums on seats and will almost certainly help with DVD sales. But
when you get a slightly disappointing one, it’s tremendously disheartening. That’s
why I try not to read them anymore, even when they’re positive, as I’ll always find Rhod Gilbert & The Award-Winning Mince Pie is released on Nov 16. Rhod
something in there that pisses me off.” Gilbert is touring nationwide until April.
BUZZ 18
NOVEMBER 2009.indd 18 28/10/09 10:42:32
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76