Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Rob Brydon

Episode Date: July 5, 2018

This week Emily goes out for a walk with Rob Brydon and Patience, a golden retriever from The Dog’s Trust. They talk about Rob’s childhood in Wales, his friendship with Steve Coogan, his extraordinarily successful career and he gives Emily a burst of his Hugh Grant, his Anthony Hopkins and of course, his Tom Jones. He also tells Emily all about his new movie Swimming with Men! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where are we now? We are ours. I didn't think with bare grills once and I wasn't just scared as I am now. I'm so sorry. This week on Walking the Dog, I went out with the much-loved comic and actor Rob Bryden. Rob and I took out an adorable golden retriever called Patience, who actually belongs to one of the team at the Dogs Trust. And by the way, you can find out all about the wonderful work they do at dogstrust.org.

UK. Rob was an absolute delight. We talked about his childhood in Wales and the years he spent knocking on doors just before finding the huge success he has now. But you leave an afternoon with Bob Bryden feeling genuinely a little lighter and like you've just been sprinkled with goodwill. We chatted about his new movie too which is called Swimming with Men and it's a really sweet life-affirming story about a male synchronised swimming team which I really hope you enjoy because I loved it. It's out today on general release so do go and see it. Oh, and finally, remember to rate, review and subscribe, please. Okay, here's Rob.

You're going to have the dog as well, or are you going to see GI it in later? Dogs here. Oh, great. Just going to put some little panting and barking later. So we should say, I'm going to start the podcast right now because Rob Bryden has just taken control of patients. Control is the right word. Patience is this beautiful golden retriever.

And, oh, and Patience is really. rearing up on her hind legs because she wants a treat. Here we go, patience. Now, open palm. Six? Oh, ha, ha, ha. Good girl. What's that dog, Rob?

That one over there. Nothing to do with me. It's a what? Bimurana. Banana ramarama. It's Karen. She's let herself go. Or is it Chivorn?

But whoever it is, she's not looked after herself, honestly. That we should say, that wasn't a member of banana. That was a Vimarana. Vimurana. Are you not familiar with those? No, I'm unfamiliar. Wow. They're sort of grey looking, aren't they?

Well, they're not grey looking. They're grey. Shall I walk this side of you roll? Now, where do you want to go? Do you know your way around here? Not really. Well, it's nicer if we go cross-country and we'll get more shade. Okay, I'm following you.

All right. Come on. Patience, come. Let's go. Watch the bikes here, Anne. You don't want to go assaulting that young man. Not after everything you've been through, hey? We don't want another court case.

Come on. I should say. Yes. Rob Ryden's making me lose my shirt. She's already. He's so funny. But this is Walking the Dog. It's my time as podcast, and I'm with, I'm really excited about this,

because I'm a huge fan. I'm with Rob Bryden. And we're with Patience. You met her earlier. And what are your first impressions of her, Rob? She's a golden retriever of, but what do you make of her? I love her. The golden retriever to me is the closest in the dog family to the lion.

The mighty lion. You know what I mean when I say lion? Don't you're familiar with that? Well, I went on safari once. There's cars, we're going to cross over. Oh, we're in Richmond Park, we should say, Rob. Yeah, that's important. Yeah. I went on safari once and we're in the back of a Jeep going around and you get, come here, you get, you see lions and of course they're part of the cat family, not the dog family, but there's something so approachable about them and I actually lent out of the Jeep and we're something very appealing.

And I think that golden retrievers have some of that lovely sort of, I mean, they're majestic, they're beautiful creatures, aren't they? I haven't got one, you see? That's why I was thrilled when you asked me to do this and I could request a golden retriever. I know, it was like your rider, it was like your M&M's. I'll have a golden retriever please in the dressing room.

Do it if I can have a golden retriever. But I'm surprised about that about lions because I mean, in terms of words that I would use to describe them, approachable, wouldn't be in my top five. But have you ever been near one when he's sitting majestically on the plane?

The Savannah plane, not the plane. They don't allow them on. On easy, Jed. Yeah, no, no. O'ie, where are you, come? Patience. I think Patience is taking us for a walk here. Wait.

I think we should take patience. What, let him on. Are you allowed to in the park? You are here? We should explain who we're talking to. This, Patience is, we're with a lovely lady called Anna from the Dogs Trust. And she's brought along Patience. He's actually her dog.

So here we go. But Patience does, yeah, have a home now. So you can't have her, but you can have lots of other lovely dogs, trust dogs. She is absolutely gorgeous. But you know, here's the thing. I think imagine, because we've got a very nice floor, and I imagine it's a wet day, and she comes in then with muddy wet pores. I don't think I'd like that.

Is it a cleanliness issue for you? Well, it would be, yeah. Really? I'm not a cleanliness freak, but, yes, I would. Well, what you need to do is do what Dynamo does, which I think is a good. life maxim anyway. But Dynamo has a sort of, he's got one of those,

you know the huge newfoundland, like the Peter Pan dogs? Oh yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. Sort of Greg Davis size, they're huge. He has one of those, but he almost has just a little area outside where he washes the dog down and... Yeah, but think realistically about this. That's great when you're in dog mode. But on a day where you're just getting on with living,

you're not going to necessarily think, hey, let's go out and power wash the dog. You're going to really want to just come in, aren't you? See, we have a cat. Oh, yeah. And a cat is no trouble other than the kills and things. You know, he brings a lot of... And have you got one cat?

What's the cat called? Just one, Crumble. Well, that's a cute name. It's a nice name. No, it was my idea, actually. But they all agreed with it. Oh, thank God for that. Yeah, no, they all liked it.

I think a two-syllable name, Roger, Crumble, biscuit. I mean, they're all quite appealing. Did you have dogs growing up? Yes, when I was a boy. So there was a golden retriever in the family. This is in Swansea where you grew up. Well, we grew up in a place called Baglan, which is near Pottalbert.

It's in between, right next to Pothalbert, before you get to Swansea or Neath. And yes, there was honey and there was Goldie. Now, one of them belonged to my grandparents. I get a bit hazy about which I think honey was out. I think she was a Labrador. Oh, right. And we had a lassy-type dog for a while, yeah, called Shep. But in the same colour as Lassie, so not a border collie, like Lassie.

But he kept running away from memory, so he wasn't happy. Look at patience, can I just say, she's very good. She's crossing the little road here. Well, I thought we were left. Careful, Rob, the tractor. Oh, my word. Is patience okay? Patience stay.

I like that we nearly ran into the oncoming path of the tractor, but patience had this good sense to avoid it. Come on, patience. We've taken off the lead now, but it's all very responsible, and we've got poo bags. So anyway, yeah, so you had these two dogs that you think of your grandparents. Well, the one belonged to the grandparents. And then we had a Yorkshire terrier who I'd forgotten about called Purdy,

who I think was named after Joanna Lumley's character. Oh, in the New Avengers? It must have been. Yeah. That's where there was ending. Yeah, I was going to say, they didn't cut their dog's hair in that fashion. No, and there was no hint of Joanna, who was far, you know, too beautiful and refined. This was a little yappy Yorkshire Terrier.

Yeah. And I'm not a fan. Yeah. Not really a fan of small dogs. Really? Not really. Well, I don't know how to break this to you, Rob, but I have... Oh, what have you got?

I've got a small one. Oh, God. What sort? Well, I don't know. Do you carry it as well? It's got a showbiz connection. Mine is the brother of Catherine Ryan's dog. Is it?

Yeah. My dog is called Raymond. Yes, nice, two syllables. Yeah, do you like that? Yes. He's a Shih Tzu. I want to talk to you. We've got lots to talk about today.

So much. So much to cover. You're a busy man. I'm worried I'm a bit too relaxed with you. Why? Because I think I'm not making any effort. It's such a nice environment. I should strive to be entertaining as well, shouldn't I?

I'm just having this really low-energy-relaxed chat, which is very nice. That's what it should be. I don't want you to come on. I mean, I'm not going to say, do you're Tom Jones. Although, do you're Tom Jones. Although, you know, it would be nice. I'm going to see him tonight, actually. You're not.

Shut up. At Hampton Court, yeah. He said about you. I mean, not personally, but I remember it might have been that documentary when you were your 50th, you know, that in celebration of your 50 years. Imagine having a documentary just because you turned 50s. Really amazing. But Patience is doing a business maybe. He said, he's got something.

Isn't that amazing? He said that. Yeah, he's a pretty amazing blog, isn't he? Anyway, we're going to go back to the early days. Yes. And I get a sense of. your childhood as being pretty happy actually and Howard and Joy your mum and dad. I was with them yesterday. It's funny isn't it because I think wrongly actually whenever someone is

not from London and becomes hugely successful as you have in this business people tend to assume there's some sort of Billy Elliot's story of the granddad and sleeping in the sitting room whereas you were quite you're quite middle-class well-off family weren't you? Yes yeah we were yeah I was um the main thing I always think about when I think about my childhood is that I was myself quite a nice little boy I was quite sociable and friendly there was there wasn't a rebellious bone in my body from a young age right through teenage years I never really did that rebellious thing and I always used to hear people say well obviously you know when you're that that age or

whatever age they're talking about. You sort of hate your parents, don't you? And everything they stand for. And I remember thinking, well, no, not really. I never did. So yeah, we grew up in mostly in a place called Baglan, which is next to Port Talbot. And we moved to Porthcall for a while,

which is where I met Ruth Jones. Yes. And you have a brother, don't you? Yes. Pete's eight years younger than me. So that's an interesting, because that's not like there's not the competitiveness, you know. It's almost more paternal, I think, if you're eight years older.

Also, depending, I think, on your personality too. Because I have boys who are just three years apart now, my younger children, and, you know, they can really go at it with each other in ways that I never really experienced. So it's... Do you look at that sometimes and think, what's this? Well, not anymore, but I did initially, you know, yeah. Yeah, yeah, definitely, yeah.

And so that's interesting that, yeah, you just, it feels like there was probably quite a sort of, I don't know, just quite a benign household. Well, I was always encouraged, you know, that's the thing. Again, you also hear of someone saying they want to be an actor or a comedian or going to any branch of show business and of them being discouraged, but my memory is that it was always, oh, he's very good, isn't he?

You know, relatives would say, oh, he's very funny, he's very good. So I was always encouraged. And as I look back on it now, as an adult and a parent, I think, wow, you know, because when I did my O levels, as they were then, I got two on my first attempt, which is, you know, quite poor by anyone's standards. So surely my mum and dad were worried, but they say they weren't because I knew what I wanted to do. Yeah. I always knew what I wanted to do, which is what I'm doing, you know, walking.

in the park with you. That was always my goal. I thought, how can I do it? But do you think that is quite unusual, isn't it? Or is it? I mean, is that... I, well, I, interesting. What, knowing what do you want to do? No, I, well, both of those things, actually. I'll take both of your answers, Rob Bryden, because I think it's interesting knowing from a certain age, having that sense of destiny, but also that your parents... Oh, I think that's odd, yes, Because I certainly hear more and more about the opposite, you know, about being worried. And I think it's from the best of intentions. It's very easy to just want to wrap your children up in cotton wool.

Because you don't want to see them come to any harm. You don't want to see them disappointed. But of course, that's part of life, isn't it? But then you would probably, I would say, be more, not more wary, because I don't know about your situation with that, But I'm just saying, coming at it from the business that you're within and you're very successful within it, you know, you know what it's taken and you know that. Do you think there's a sense of if you know nothing about it and there are no contacts or you're almost, the ignorance is bliss thing. Oh, absolutely.

When I look back now, I get a shiver when I think about starting out and not knowing. Sometimes I'll be going around London and I look at a building or a street and I think, oh, God, I remember. I remember so and so, the casting director used to be there, and I remember I could not get through the front door. You know, I remember trying to get them to look at my VHS show reel and stuff. Or I remember going for interviews and not getting the job. Yeah. Or trying to get an agent is a challenge.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, yes, you're constantly reminded of that when you go around London. and how it looked so different in those days because now it's very welcoming of me. But back then, all the doors were shut and there was a mystery,

well, how can I get past this secretary? How can I get past this assistant and get to this person? With a sort of mistaken belief that if you could, they would turn everything round for you. You know, that I think that's... Although that wasn't mistaken because it did happen in your place.

Well, it was in a way, but you have to do it for yourself. Yeah. They are not going. There are people who will help you, and I certainly came across those. And there are key people in my story that made a big difference. Yeah. But you have, they're only going to do that if you've got something that they want. Right.

So you, for me, it was Marion and Jeff. Yeah. But you've got to have something that they look at. Because they're not going to do it out of charity. Yeah. They might give you a little helping hand. but for anything of any substance. My theory is big, they've got to go, oh, right, yeah, that's good.

Well, I'll benefit from that. Yeah. And actually, your autobiography, which I loved, I really loved your autobiography. And I can remember, because you know those things stick in your mind somehow? And I remember you talking about, you quoted that if you build it. Oh, yeah, yeah, field of dreams. Yeah, and I love that. Yeah.

And I think the reason I like that is because you made the very good point that almost, because it took you about 50 years. Yes, yes, yes. To get to that Marin and Jeff where you both. And I sort of had the sense of you finally thought, well, actually, maybe I didn't have a product to give them. Maybe I was just so focused on bashing the door down. Yes, yes, yes.

So I can look back now and realize, you know, I'm young actors and comedians, you know, often ask me for advice. And the thing I say is just be great, you know, find your voice, find what you're good at, be yourself. Yeah. I mean, it's a well-known piece of advice. Find yourself what you are. You can take stuff from other people,

you can be influenced by people and make it your own, but don't shy away from who you are because you're going to be the best at that. Yeah. But yes, I do think what you're saying is, yeah, I sort of realised, well, hang on. It was only when I'd made this tape of Keith Barrett in Marion and Jeff that I finally looked like I had a voice, that I had my own voice.

I wasn't just aping other people. Yes, and that took me a hell of a long time. Prior to that, you'd met Ruth Jones at school, hadn't you? Yeah, yeah. Which I love that you were at school. Yeah, well, I knew her. I've known her since I was about 14. We moved to Porthcall.

And I was driving past the school yesterday. I showed my daughter in the car where she'd never seen it. And I remember I pointed this out to my daughter yesterday. Two roads are virgin a wood? Well, I think the one less travelled. They both look fairly unrequainted. Yeah, I mean, they've both been trod and, let's be honest. But I think this one, less trod.

Your version is the road less trot. Yeah, less trod, yeah. I mean, there's been sun trotting, certainly. But this one, I would say, well, isn't it beautiful? You could imagine Errol Flynn. We should describe, Rob, describe it. You're a sort of Welsh poet. You'll be able to describe it.

Around us, the verdant greens, the luscious greens and brown to the trees, the trees, the barks of the tree, brown creeping, plunging upwards to the sky, the blue azure sky, God laying out a blanket of blue beside the swimming pool of destiny. And these green leaves, brambles, thickets, brambles, thickets, thickets and brambles.

Now it's lovely, isn't it? It's a lovely path. There's a brown path. they often are and and uh patience is now leading the way i'm just like i mean i feel like i'm an expedition i've ruth jones yes so went to this school you see so changed schools went to porth call comprehensive and that was from a private from a private school from a sort of yeah very nice it was lovely little school in swansea that where i'd been i was you know very very happy there yeah we moved and and i went to the school and i was nervous about it because why well but

because to me, in my ignorance, a comprehensive school was going to be like a sort of Grange Hill. And to my little genteel mind, Grange Hill was a dreadful slice of life, urban decay, sort of... Who's that? Stepper? Was it Whippert? Well, I think I'm older than that. So I go back to Todd Carty. I go back to the very beginning. I know Todd Carty. Well, Todd Carty was in it when I... Tucker Jenkins. Yes, yes. And then there was Tucker's luck, which was the inevitable. offshoot, the Frasier to the cheers of Grange Hill. And so I went there. So I was kind of nervous, and I remember being in the headmaster's office with my mother,

and he was saying, well, what's he interested in? And I just started to kind of properly express an interest in acting, and we'd put on a production at the other school of Star Wars. Wow, that was ambitious. It was ambitious, wasn't it? Yes, it was. What were the special effects like? Well, I will tell you what they were like. We had, the Stormtroopers were dressed in cricket whites,

a white skateboarding helmet, because skateboarding had just come in. It was all the rage. Everyone was doing it. And a Stormtrooper mask, plastic mask from Swansea Market. I bet that looked good. It was very convincing. And lightsabers, you know, with batteries in the handles. So you got those from the...

We had, obviously, C3PO, quite easy to do. It's gold, basically, just put someone in gold. Put your mum's tights on. R2D2, very challenging. Yes. So we settled as a compromise. Do you remember in Doctor Who? Do you remember K-9?

Of course I remember K-9. Yes, much easier because just a box and another box. Essentially a cardboard box was an antenna eye on the rear. So we had C-3PO and K-9, which is not as it's done in the film, of course. Well, no, because that's another franchise. Yes, yes. were really you know the way now in the Marvel films they they take some spider-man now appears with the Avengers and all that stuff goes on in many ways Emily I was so far

ahead of my time you really were yes yes you mixed it all up so we did that and we and and it opened of course you'll remember in Star Wars when Princess Leia's ship gets boarded by the baddies yeah and they break down a door well we made a door of tin foil and I think we did two performances and And of course the stormtroopers could burst through the tin foil. So there are, so then we move schools. Yeah. Can I ask you about that school thing, Rob?

I find it, shall we go? Where do you think, Rob? Well, I will, there's nothing to fear. I know this part like the back of my hand. Oh, it's so beautiful, isn't it? Gorgeous. Because I love that, but that's very open that. Yes, that's penponds for any listeners who know this area.

We're looking down at pen ponds. So I'm going to suggest we head back towards the thicket. Okay. So we'll take a little slight left, yeah. Sounds quite in a bright. Yeah, I wanted to ask you about the, you know, you went from, it's interesting what you were saying about private to confidential, yes. And I did that as well, except the other way around.

Did you? Oh, did you? Right. And Connie Hark did that. Did she? Yes. She's never mentioned it to me. But I find it interesting because I have a theory about that. And I'm not including myself in this necessarily, but I do say,

see it in you and I think you're about to express this theory. Yeah and it's a nice thing so don't worry which is I think um from that Rajad Kipling poem myth you know which is walk with kings nor lose the common touch I would say that kind of describes you in a way right it's a good thing walk with kings nor lose the common touch it means so you can go and see Tom Jones tomorrow tonight and at tonight and you can hang out with him yes but you don't get lost in that You don't have a sense of entitlement. You don't feel this is my new life now. Well, you certainly try not to.

No, you'd be unbearable. I think having that mix is just good, well-rounding things sometimes. I don't know, I think... Oh, yeah. Well, I certainly try to, but I think it's helped for the fact that I was 35 before I had any sort of success. And the success I had then really was... I realised once Gavin and Stacey hit, that the success I'd had around the time... of Marion and Jeff and Human Remains and the Keith Barrett show and different stuff like that.

It was quite cultish. It was quite, you know, I thought, I thought I was really quite well here. And then you do something that appeals to lots of people like Gavin and Stacey. And you, oh, this is different, you know, you sort of... Yeah. And there are many, many levels above that. But, yeah. And also, but I think also, I mean, I bang on about this all the time, but I've got five children yeah so so it's you know you um that's your life and all the work stuff is oh yeah i got to go and do that thing you know that that's how i always think of it oh i got to go do that that thing in

edinburgh or that that job or this job it's not the be-all and end all right and i think that's healthy but it's not not for everyone i mean i think if i know a lot of the people i know who are massively successful are very driven you know and they still you know it's really important to them and I'm I'm much happy doing something like this walking in the park are you competitive would you say yes and no I mean not maybe on a micro not a macro way little individual things I will be but not so would you say like would you Someone said to me the other day. I was doing some interviews to promote this film

and he said, he said, it was Hungarian, he was on the phone from Hungary and he said something about being jealous of other people's success who were perceived as being more successful. And I, genuinely, I said, are you serious? I said, well, of course not.

And I'm not, you know, I'm just, I'm happy for people if they if they do well I mean that's probably while I'm doing just fine maybe if that changed I might feel differently but but I don't know I tend to think you're either like that or you're not you know I mean I tend to think that's like because I think it's about you either think there's enough for everyone oh yeah you have a sense of yes you know and I know you've talked about that actually I don't if you mentioned that in an interview yes I remember Hugh Lorry up I read it was a quote attributed to It was something he said that he became a lot happier when he realised there was not a finite amount of success in the world.

And somebody having some success did not necessarily mean there was now less of it available for him to have. Come on, patience. I try and, you know, subscribe. I really like that. I think that's true. And actually, Hugh Laurie's, he's full of wisdom. Because he said something else which I really like, which is a phrase I try. And he said, there is no such thing as ready.

There is only now. You know, when people say, oh, when I'm ready, I'll do that. I'll get a dog or I'll get married or I'll do that, you know, get my show wheel together. Well, now you've hit on an interesting thing. There's a guy called Tim Ferriss who does a podcast. I'm quite interested in. And he talks about, and I'm a paraphrase. here, sort of living your life in reverse. So he met a friend of mine and he said to a friend of

mine, well, what's your ambition? This is a guy who's done very well in business. Yeah. And he said, well, I don't know. He said, well, what do you want? Do you want like a, this idea of a house by the sea came up. He said, yeah, I'd like to do that, yeah. And he said, well, when are you going to do that? He said, I don't know. He said, what, maybe when you retire? He said, yes, yes. And he said, no, you're going about it all wrong. Do it. I mean, you have to be able to afford it, but don't think of things as one day. Yeah. Because certainly as you get older, it rushes by.

So I'm currently very much in a mind frame of do it now. Do everything now. Don't wait because you don't know. Is that how you approach work then? Because I've always had that sense with you that, well, we should say, I mean, the Robbredon story, it's so great. And actually, I'm sure you can still buy the book, so you should. Anton Giac played me in the film, isn't he? It was very well done, I thought.

And I will say, I'm not as light on my feet as he made me look. Have you ever got mistaken for him? Oh, constantly. Really? Him and Ben Miller. Oh, yeah, Ben Miller, of course. And when sometimes on... Bruce Bingsteen.

Well, really good light, Hugh Grant. But when they made Hugh look very old for Jeremy Thorpe, there was so much stuff. Oh my God, he looked... When they made him look haggard, right? And browbeaten. Then he really did begin to play by the pressure of... Playing, a man who really was pushed to the edge. Then everybody said, look like me.

I have to say, I took a slight insult. Oh my God, that's incredible. You see, you get all this, you get insight, you get the impressions. I love the fact that you do the impressions because some... I know Steve Kugan's talked about this and obviously the trip that you guys do together. I know Steve. Yeah, do you know Steve? He's the one I did the trip with, isn't he?

The Mancunian. Yes. Yes. But he always said he's... Now what's he up to these days? He's a curious one. Good Lord, I forgot. Yes.

But he, I like it when he says, because he sometimes gets a bit grumpy about having to do the impressions. Steve, a bit grumpy. I mean, do you know the same man that I know? Good Lord. But you, I like that you've kind of forced him because the competitive urge forces him to take part in it. And now it's like, you're Michael Cain's better, by the way. A hundred times. Those things are all, like, you know, beauty in the eye of the beholder.

I think it depends on, well, at a certain level. I mean, you know, some people are better at a lot. But, I mean, when you get to the gold standard level that Steve and I occupy, I do think that it's just in the ear. I think it's how it sounds to you, you know, does it sound as Michael King sounds to you? No, I tell you what I want to talk to you about. Is that period when, I'm not saying I want to talk about you. Your bad, period.

Yes. But you did have a sort of, was it about 10 years, Rob or 12 years, when before you broke through? Oh, yeah. And you worked at the shopping channel. And even though I was at the shopping channel, I was still sending off letters. Were you?

I wrote one to Richard Curtis, wanting to be in four weddings. I wrote to Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. No, but you got that? No, I did. I didn't. I got first night. Okay. Oh, yeah, first night.

But that was because of Du Grace Scott, my friend, the actor, Dugray Scott. He got me in to see Mary Sond. Selway, the casting director, she's not with us anymore, but this huge casting director, and he very kindly got me in there. And I went to her, you know, this is the time when I could not get arrested. So bless him, Dugray. So he'd go to see my friend Rob and, you know, da, da, da, you've been at drama school with him. Yeah, sorry, Dugray and I were at drama. We were big friends. So, yeah, we were, that was my fault. We were big friends in drama school. Yeah. So he,

and he was doing great guns and he got me to see Mary. And I remember sitting there. And she had my CV in front of her, and she also had the breakdown of parts that were left in First Night, which starred Sean Connery, Richard Gere, John Gielgud, and Julia Ormond. Oh, yes. Right. And she sat then, she went, right, now, what have we got for Rob? And she looked on this, and she went, Marauder. And then she looked at my CV, and she went, five foot seven. No, maybe not.

I was too short to be a marauder. I didn't realise there was an entry level point. You see, if you are going to maraud, is it like going on a roller coaster where they have the height? They show you. You must be taller than this sign to maraud. That's a very funny idea.

My wife doesn't like it when I do that. If she says something funny and I go, that's really funny. Oh, does she not like that? Why? Well, it's patronising, isn't it? It's as if I'm saying, well done, you little thing. It's actually properly funny.

I tell you what, the little lady's made a bit of, got some material. I didn't take it that way. I was, I was just thrilled. I think I've worn her down over the years. For you, it's new and fresh. It's probably, it's almost charming. But obviously, give it time and it'll become a pain. It hasn't become a floor yet.

Exactly. So anyway, so I got this part, so I played a villager whose village was being set on fire. Very exciting. Were you confident, Rob, then? You know, when you were working for the shopping channel and was there a sense of you sort of thinking, this isn't what I want to do, and I want to be performing as an actor,

not presenting and not... But was there an innate confidence? Because I think there must have been, for you to have sent those... There was, there was also a naivity, and there was a lack of worldliness, I would say. A naivety, but there was a self-belief. because I'd grown up, you know, always being told,

very good, very funny, very good. By mom and dad? Yeah, and by everyone really. You know, I was, you know, at school and everything, you know, I used to play the lead roles and the shows, and it was just what I did. I was very lucky in that sense. You know, some kids are good at football, some of, you know,

and I had the acting and being funny. So I was still confident, but it was very well. very hard once you've... I fell into radio presenting because when I was at drama college I had a double act with my friend James and got seen by the BBC and and then was offered a radio show. So I left college early because I was interested in radio when I was a lot younger I'd wanted to be a DJ. I thought it's very glamorous hugely glamorous the idea of sitting with these double decks you know and playing on the radio not not in a not in a disc or the radio. Not the Rob Bryden's mobile disco.

No, no, not that. Everybody walked the dinosaur. Yeah, yeah. Boom, boom. A calacca boom. Yeah, so anyway, so the confidence thing, you still had that sense of... Yeah.

I think when you're the person going on the... I hesitate to use the word journey, but when it's your story, you're always looking ahead, aren't you? So when I did write my book, I remember my dad read it and he said, God, I didn't realize how hard it was, what a struggle it was. And I must say, when I read it back, I went, I thought,

if I'd been my friend, I might have said to me, maybe this isn't for you, you know, because it doesn't seem to be working out. Just the rejections that you were getting. Yes, yes, from, yes, certainly trying to get in the acting work, but also presenting. I was applying for tons of presenting stuff. I now know a lot of people who initially,

rejected me years and years ago. Is that what agents and producers? Well, my agent now, Maureen, Vincent, at United, I've got two separate rejections from her, three years apart. I've got the letters at home. I think in my carrying on, maybe that's what defines somebody who eventually succeeds.

Yeah. Because had I given up, had I said, oh, this isn't for me, then I wouldn't be in Richmond Park now. Were you confident, Rob, like with girls and things? I was confident up to a point. Yeah. But not for, if I can use the terminology of the salesman or woman.

I wasn't confident in closing the deal. Are you with me? You're following the analogy? 100%. All right. Yeah. I was confident. In a Glenn Garry, Glenn Roth's way.

Yes. So you weren't a closer. So would you get... I want a terrible acne as a teenager. I mean, Olympic level acne. I've absolutely. But it was funny and I could always make them laugh, but I didn't drink. Yeah.

So what a dreadful combination. Witty, acne, sober. I mean, play with those cards. You're never going to win, are you? And I would see at the end of the night at the school disco, positively neanderful contemporaries of mine, snogging girls. girls and I of course had been afraid to make that leap towards the kiss for fear of rejection

because I wasn't slightly drunk. Were you in the friend zone then? Were you friends on? Oh that's funny, the friend zone. Yeah. That's in Daddy's home too, isn't it? Yeah, that's in quite a few. I think where did it start the friend zone? I'm not sure, but I love it. But were you friend zoned then? Yes, a lot of the time. Although I think now with hindsight, had I tried to close the deal, I would have found a level of success. But I didn't have a fear of rejection, you say. Well, that's the thing.

And also I think... This is like being with Dr. Phil. It's fine liberating. You know what? Dr. Phil said that I always remember. What? Greatest indicator of future behaviour. What?

Past behaviour. Oh, Dr. Phil. I want you to think about that for a while, Emily. Oh, don't. That's a terrible revelation. I want to ask you this, because you've told me that you struggled when you were... younger. Not because you couldn't get the girl because you're a handsome man and you've got the gift of the gab. But... I agree with you're one of them. No, but it's true. So that to me just does feel

like you didn't, for whatever reason, you didn't feel confident in making that, as you say, putting yourself out there. Yes. Sometimes, I'm not saying always, but sometimes when someone who's had early experiences like that, then becomes super successful. super famous in my law. I'm not talking about Michael Jackson here. We're a bloke from Kevin and Stacey. No, but what I'm saying is there can be a sort of, wow, I'm going to fill my boots, which I think is totally understandable.

Of course it is. And I get it. We make no judgments. No. But what I would say is why, what I would ask you is, why do you think that wasn't the case with you? Because you always struck me as someone who's a bit of a one man, one woman man. I had a brief period in between. marriages where I had about a year of it being normal to get a text at two o'clock in the morning.

I can't imagine you like that more. No, I know, I know, I know. Whereas now, if I get a text at two o'clock in the morning, it's red alert. Collic. So, but what, how did that make you feel then? I mean, did it, did you feel a bit depressed? Well, I found it wasn't really, uh, overall, I would say, um, yeah, it wasn't happy. I, I, I, I, wasn't happy. I, I, I, I, I found, it wasn't, I seem to be somebody who wants to be in a relationship. Don't mind me, I've stripped off. You don't mind you. No, you haven't said anything, that's all.

Well, it's interesting you should say that because you have stripped off recently. I know, just back there. Yeah, no, in a movie, Rob, because I've just been watching your film, which is just out. It's actually out today when this comes out. How the chances of that? It's called Swimming with Men.

I just thought I'd let you know. Oh, it's today. Yeah, so if you see posters and stuff, come on, patience. And I really loved it, Rob. Oh, thank you. Thank you, thank you. If we can explain to people, I mean, I would say, and I hope this is okay to say this, there's a slight full Monty vibe to it. That's interesting, you should say that, yes, I would accept that.

I would accept that. I love the idea of an actor saying, well, I really don't know what you mean. Well, I think our film is very different. But it's that you play, it's sort of about the bonding power of male friendship as well, isn't it? Yes, it is. It's about a group of men who, well, you see, this is a true thing. Male synchronised

swimming in middle age, in middle age is a real thing, and my character, Eric, is sort of unhappily married, he's a bit lost. His wife is now starting to blossom. Their kid is now mid to late teens. That's Jane Horrocks. Jane Horrocks, is brilliant in it. Jane Horrocks, fantastic Jane Horrocks.

Yeah. And she's becoming a local counsellor, so she's now getting some fulfilment and feeling good and I'm a I'm a man as I've made clear I you know it's quite boring sort of life yes a boy he's an accountant you see cinematic shorthand for boring life I'm sure there are happy accountants out there and anyway I'm hiding from my wife at the pool I love being at the pool swimming at the pool can't get enough of it and one day I see this group of men sitting at the bottom of the pool made up of

Some of our finest actors. Lovely Jim Carter is in there. Adele Actar. Rubah Graves, Danny Mays. I mustn't forget anybody now. Come on. Thomas Tergoose. Thomas Turgoose, yes.

And there they are sitting on the bottom of the pool because they are a synchronised swimming team. Anyway, cut a long film short. I join their team. You do? And we enter the World Championships. Yeah. You do?

And I like it because it's really, it's just a... kind of firstly I like it because it's about I think it's nice to have a film about male friendship yeah and as a woman watching that I like I like I like I also like the fact that it's with respect apart from Tom I guess yeah sort of middle aged men to be honest rather than you okay for that yes it is very much about middle age men not not Thomas but yeah yeah because I think that's important to reflect those kind of friendship women women seem to respond to it especially well yeah that's that's my experience is that they seem to like

these men being very honest and open and vulnerable. You know, there is a vulnerability, just in, they're there in their trunks. Now, if you're an actor, that's no problem. We strip off at the drop of a hat. But most people, someone like Eric, who I play, the idea of being close with these guys is not a straightforward one. And because they have to support each other physically. Yeah.

To reach out and hold an ankle or touch, and they have to be in sync with each other. So it's interesting. and then the sort of response I've had so far is, oh yeah, well, I knew it was going to be funny, but I've had several people sort of, I've been crying, having a little tear, it's quite moving. I had a response to, and I mentioned this to you briefly when we were getting coffees when we first arrived,

and you look, you said something to me because I told you that there was a bit in the movie I particularly like. Oh, right, yes. Again, I won't give too much away, but you're outside your family home, and it's sort of... Oh, that's ruined it now for people. Well, I'm not going. I know there's a scene where he's outside his family home.

Oh! I would describe it as something of an inciting incident. Like the moment is oddly significant after that. Yes, yes. But you've had a few ales in that scene. So you're having to play drunk. With my drunk acting, yes. But you're doing what, I believe it was Oliver Reed.

No, no, who was it who said? Michael Kane. Michael Kane. What did you say? When you're acting drunk, you must not act drunk. He says something like, you've got to act like you're trying not to be drunk. Is that what he said? He had a rule, didn't it? It was like the actor. I like that I thought that was Oliver

Reid. It was just drunk. No, Oliver Reed. It was just drunk. There's another dog here, well. What's that? Jack Russell. How do you feel about that? I don't like that. That's what Russell Howard's got that one. My parents have a Jack Russell. I was with her yesterday and she's lovely once you get to know her. But I'm just being

very honest, it's not my first choice. But I've got to know their Jack Russell now and of course I've got deep wells of affection. But as I look at patience his bottom wiggling ahead of us it's a lovely sight but no there's a scene

where you are emotional in this scene but I interpreted it as you know you're someone their character has trouble expressing emotion that's correct and oh good it's not 15 to 1

would it be easy if it was multiple choice but I felt to me that was one of the most powerful moments in the movie Thank you. And when I mention that to you, you looked a bit surprised. Tell me why. Well, because it's a bit of the film that I was sort of dreading doing. Why?

Because it's, number one, acting drunk can be a challenge. I think it's very easy to get it wrong. Yeah. And he's drunk and he's very vulnerable in the scene and he's totally without defences in the scene. And he has to shout in the scene. and then he has to talk quietly. So there's the full range of my acting capabilities there.

And yes, when I went to the screening, I was dreading that scene coming up. So I was delighted that you, particularly, and somebody else actually mentioned that moment to me. So that's a great relief. Well, I really enjoyed it, and I think everyone should go and see it and it is out today if you want to see it.

Oh, Rob, look, so what's this bit here? Now, this is a pond. Is this why I went with Lee Man? Oh no not again I've told him you're not interested and it's not just you the number he's notorious I've had coming to me in tears no bushy park he took me to well I don't mean I think people are making their own jokes at this point don't they there's no need for me well patience is running off towards the water so when you got you had your big break with human remains which I still watch to this

day quite It's a good show. It's a good show. I'm very proud of it. Well, I just remember looking at it thinking, God, this is it. This is like what I love. It's everything I love. These people are extraordinary. It stands the test of time, I think. Oh my God. The scripts are very, very dense. So there's loads in there.

And Julia, of course, is, you know, as good as it gets. Yeah. So, yeah, it's, I'm very, I'm glad you like that. And Marion and Jeff were sort of the same time. Yes, it was. Those were your game changes, weren't they? Yes, they were very much. Look, patience by them.

Oh, it's so cute. Patience by the water, that's the advice I live by. Be it, be it's a lake, a pool or a bathroom. Is she going in? Patience by the water. It's hard to say. She's not yet, no. No, she's just... I don't know what this little pond is actually.

This one is near for the avid listener, we're near pen ponds, which are the two big ones here. Yeah. This, I'm not even sure I've seen this one before. Oh, look, she's really going in now. And this is where it would be a worry for me to be a worry for me to do. own a dog because those pores when we get home listen to that that's the sound of patient slapping go on have some water this is where of course they had that

chemical spill last week she no it's not oh terrible it was awful yeah truck came by full of toxic um anyway never mind so when that happened i was bumbling along getting the odd little part in i did a sitcom with russ abbott very nice man very helpful to me everyone says he's not. Oh, yeah, yeah, top bloke. I did one with, I did a few episodes of a sitcom with Gwen Taylor, but I wasn't getting anywhere and these were tiny parts which frankly patience could have played and nobody would notice. And then out of the blue, I somehow got an audition for lock, stock and two smoking barrels. Yeah. And I met and met Guy Ritchie, who in those days was unknown. And I got the part of playing playing

this traffic warden who gets beaten up and when the film came out the it was reviewed in empire and I would in those days I was a huge film fanaged to read Empire all the time and they mentioned my name in this review even though it was a tiny part yeah they said on an extremely unlucky traffic warden Robert Bryden and I can remember where I was on the upper Richmond Road stood yeah my oldest daughter would have been very young sitting there on the pavement and I went oh my God I couldn't believe it. And I instinctively thought, now I must be able to use this to my advantage somehow.

Right. So what I did was, by then I was doing okay financially because I was now doing very well in voiceovers. I was the voice of a million products on the television for adverts and animations and all sorts. So with that money, I made a video of a few different characters. And in those days, you couldn't, It's not like now where you could edit it on your computer.

You had to rent and edit and then a dub and everything. And the last character was Keith Barrett from Marion and Jeff. And it was a character I'd done on the radio in Wales where I was a DJ. I'd had this character. And it was funny. It was a bit more cartoony then. And the camera on the dashboard. So filmed this thing of Keith sitting behind the wheel talking la-di-da-di-da-da.

So I had that tape then and people liked it and then I had two fortuitous meetings. One was with Hugo Blick who was a guy that I'd been at college with. I'd know... Yeah, producer, yeah. Yes, producer, writer. He'd been an actor. And I was very... I mean, you know, good fortune plays such a part.

I used to carry... That's a very Rob Brydon way of explaining success. It does. But listen, well, let me tell you these things that happened. I used to carry around this to the VHS with the four characters on it. And I was going to the BBC to be the voice. I used to do for a while. I was bloke who said,

And with Match of the Day at 10, that's Saturday night on BBC 1. I used to do that. Oh, I remember you wrong. That was me. There's troubling casualty at 8. At 9, Piers Brosnan has a recipe for guilt. So I was doing that. And I was walking around that donut-shaped building.

Yeah, in the old TV centre, which isn't our private members club? And I was thinking to myself, I hadn't sent this tape to Hugo. Because we'd been students together, the thought of being rejected by him was too much to bear. So I thought, no, I can't put myself through it. But I thought if I were to bump into him, I could casually offer it to him. But of course, the BBC employs thousands of people. What would be the chances of bumping into him?

Now, those are horses. All very big dogs. I wonder how patience is with the horses. I hope she's good with them. Hasn't she got a great Beyonce bumwiggle? Yeah, really moves, and she's working it. Yeah. So I was walking through the corridor and thinking, well, if I were to bump into him, wouldn't that be great?

And literally at that moment, he walked around the corner. And he said, oh, good luck, good. What are you doing here? And I said, well, I mean, da-da-da. And we went and sat down to have a drink. And even then I wasn't going to give him the tape because I thought, oh, no, what if he doesn't like it? It would be awful, be awful. And I can remember sitting there and leaning down off the stone going, look, I've got this thing.

actually did this thing, I never heard, gave it check. He said, oh, I'll have a look at it. And then I went into town because I was doing another voiceover, and I was at an old coffee house that isn't there anymore. And my phone went, and it was him. And he said, I just watched it. I like the last character. And he said, come in and let's have a talk about it.

So I went in the next day, and we got on like a house on fire with the same ideas. And that was when we built then. We built up the backstory and everything. and we ended up making this tape of what became the first Marion and Jeff. But at the same time, I already knew Julia Davis because we'd been part of an improv group in Bath in the early... Oh, yeah, that you were in with Ruth. Ruth was in that as well, yeah.

And Julia had... She'd kind of gone off radar for a few years, and then she'd landed in London, and instantly was working with the best people. She did stuff with Graham and Arthur, Graham and Arthur Matthews, and she'd gone and got this job with Steve on his tour. It was her and Simon Pegg. Oh, really?

And she called me and she said, I've got this... This is Steve Coogan. Yeah, yeah, and we were both huge fans of Steve because Steve was essentially doing what I wanted to do. And I sort of felt an affinity with him because he'd started doing voices like I had. And now he was doing this fantastic character comedy. I mean, the best, basically.

I think he's the best. the best and I remember the her first day of rehearsal for that show calling her afterwards and saying the words what's he like right it was like that yeah yeah and what did she say oh she told me what he was like and it was horrific but um that's a joke so anyway so I said look well I've got this um I've got this tape would you would you give it to him mm and she did and then I sort of waited and waited and responded and response came there not. But I was, he was by now, he was in the West End at the Lyceum. So I thought, right, I'm going to, I'm going to go there. I'm just going to happen.

I'll see Julia, I'll chat to Julia, and I'll bump into Steve. So you knew he had it by this point because Julia had given it. So I go into the pub, see Julia, and she says, oh, I'm really tired, I'm going home. I said, okay, so I sat there. And anyway, so then I can picture it now. There was Steve at the bar and everyone's, oh, it's Steve Coogan. And he sees me and he comes over and he says, He goes, oh, you're Julia's friend, aren't you? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I said, yeah, yeah, I have.

And he goes, yes, I've seen your tape. He said, very good. He goes, I think you've got something. He said, not many people have it. He goes, Julia's got it, Simon's got it. He goes, I think you have. I'd like to work with you one day, right? Well, I cannot overstate.

What a big deal that was. Yes, you must have been so excited. I was walking on air. You lose sight. And then you had to work with him. We say that we'd laugh. No, it's, I can't, you know, it was incredible. You lose sight of all those days.

You know, once you've, but you have to remind yourself of how unachievable that whole world that he was in seemed to be. So then Hugo and I made what became the first episode of Marion and Jeff, using a camera loaned to Hugo handed over by Noel Edmonds. Really? It was a spare one from the house party. It ended up being this 10 minutes and it was put into the controller of BBC 2 where it languished

for about eight to nine months. But in the meantime, I was showing it to people and the response was amazing. And I was, wow. Now, by then I knew Steve a bit more because of Julia, because we'd started to write human remains. And I knew Henry Normal, like Baby Cow.

And I phoned Henry. and I said, look, I know we're writing human remains, I think we'd started doing that, Julie and I. And I said, but you know that other thing that Marion and Jeff? Oh, yeah, we're like that, we like that. That made Steve cry, that did. Oh, we're in tears, you're in tears. This is Henry, I'm doing that.

And I said, well, look, would you want to do it as you're, because they were just starting their company, baby cow? I was, oh, wow, we'd love to, we loved it. So, yeah, and that's how it happened. But, I mean, talking about good fortune being important, I had the fortune to know Julia. Julia then knew Steve. I had the fortune to run into Hugo quite by chance,

one in a million, that he would be walking around that corridor that day. I put it to you, Rob Bryden, that you make your own luck, because you'd made that tape. You'd used your... I agree. I agree. I'm not being self-deprecating. Yes, yes.

That's true. However, I know a lot of times. people who don't ever, you just need that little, you know, that little, that little, I mean, we'll never know, will we? I mean, it's a fascinating thing because who knows, any actor like me knows tons of their contemporaries who are very, very talented and haven't had the brakes, you know. And the strange thing with Steve, I mean, I never lose sight of how bizarre it is that we've ended up doing what we've done together and we are sort of so, so, so, closely associated when I was just a fan. That's what I was. I was about as bigger fan as you could be.

And now it's interesting with the trip because you sort of feel it's become such a huge thing now, but your friendship, what I like about it, there's an element of performance there, isn't there? But it's still based on a relationship that you two have. I was with him in the early days being very frustrated that he would make no effort to be funny. I just did a film with Will Ferrell and one of the delightful things about Will is that he is funny off-camera and he enjoys being funny off-camera.

He likes, as does Leamack, likes to make you laugh. Frank Skinner's like that as well, I think. Likes to make you laugh. And I think in life, those people are very special because mostly we're in life. We're not in work, we're in life.

So, Steve, I really clearly remember So try and get him going, try and start him doing some stuff. And he'd look at me and say, well, what are you doing? It's always there sort of, you're taking quite seriously. But by doing the trip, we sort of ended up doing that sort of back and four. It started on a film called The Cock and Bull Story where Michael Winterbottom saw us sometimes doing a little back and four stuff. That's where it all developed from.

I think you are someone who has a reputation, There's nothing I can do about that. You surely got the email before the interview, in which I think you agreed that you wouldn't bring that up. You have a reputation, Rob, for being... Punctual? No. Incredibly nice to work with an easygoing.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone say a bad word about you, honestly. I'm not sure they're out there. No. But are you consciously like that? Do you think you think, right, I... I'm lucky to be here. You know, I don't feel like... Yeah, I think there's some of that.

I think because it took so long, I am very appreciative of it. I don't want it to stop. But also, I mean, it's very... It's quite a self-ser. Why will I want to piss anybody off? I mean, I'm always amazed when I see bad behavior from people like me on so many levels.

Number one, well, it's just rude. Number two, it's going to come around and bite you in the bum eventually. I mean, you know, when you see people... Now here's a whole other discussion. Does it come around and bite you in the bum? You know what? Perhaps it doesn't. I don't know if it always does.

I don't think it always does, actually. I think that's a bit too naive. But it's just, you know, I try me not. I'm sure I have my bad times and I'm sure I've been short with people at times. But generally speaking, I try and be someone nice to work with. Do you ever get angry? So what's what? Do me, Rob Brydon? That Tom Jones and you grant, do me Rob Bryden angry?

Angry. What do I get angry about? So if I'm sort of your other horp off or something, not? Yes. Yeah, go on then. You come in the room. Oh. Anthony Hopkins. Oh, I was actually Tony Hopkins. Well, I'm not too happy.

Very, very angry, very angry. Angry? What's the matter with you man? Ah, I can't find the hummus. Where do you put it? What in the fridge? Ah, hummus is the quickest way. Hummus on a cracker. I want hummus from my cracker. I want it now. Where do you put it? When is it? That's the other one I'm angry.

So what do you genuinely get angry about? Come on. Where are we now? We are ours. I didn't think with bare grills once and I wasn't just scared as I am now. I'm so sorry. What makes you cross? Or do you not get cross? Yes, of course I get cross. Do you? Do you shout? Yes. Um, oh you can lose your patience with the boys with my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, you know, I'm, you can lose your patience with the boys with my, my, my, my, my. my voice because they're full of that energy. Yeah.

But I don't, I... You're not grumpy type of personally. Well, it can be, yes, of course. But, yeah, I don't know. I can never think of the answer to these very specific questions. I struggle with when someone says, tell us a funny thing that happened to you. I thought, I don't know, I'm better. But you're sunny-natured?

Well, I try to be. I think you are. Right, okay. Well, I don't think you do struggle. you haven't today struggled the question that's the only time you struggle but I think I respect that because I do think there's a part of you that's I imagine about the gross national gross national product of Uruguay I imagine you want to get that out but I did I stumbled on that didn't I know I got there in the end but I doubt it'll make the edit I was disappointed because that was my

killer question no but I get the sense with you Rob I think there is you do draw a bit of a line in terms of who you are off screen oh of course and I respect that I think that's very Right, right. Where are we going now? Okay, we're going this way, this way? Where are the Sherpers? Yeah. Okay, well I do want to ask you about what I like to you. Oh, of course. No, I love that show. I mean, who doesn't? Who doesn't? Is that, that's 11 series or something? 12? I think the 12 one hasn't gone out yet, but we've shot it. And is that something that people often come up to you about, you know, in terms of all your projects? Yes. Is that, would you say that's something that's, because I don't know anybody that doesn't like that show? It's a very, yeah, it's a nice show. It's a lovely show.

They are mostly Gavin and Stacey. Oh, yeah, of course, yeah. That really seems to occupy a place in people's hearts. Mostly that. And then I suppose... And you nearly didn't do, Bryn. Yes, because... Why not?

Well, I'd been doing the Keith Barrett show, playing this sort of naive Welshman. And Bryn, while he's different to Keith, is, you know, you're not a million miles away. And I remember thinking, oh, do I really want to go down this road again? I mean, I'm very glad I did. That was one of my better decisions. The script was terrific.

Yeah. When you watch that show, it's exactly as it is on the script. There's no improvisation. Really? None at all. No. It's as they wrote it. Yeah. And I see it, you know, it's on Dave or Gold.

all the time and sometimes I'll stay with it and watch a bit. I saw a bit the other night that I hadn't seen for years. Would you watch that? If it came on, would you think, oh? Sometimes, I did. Yeah, yeah. I sat and watched a bit one the other night with Claire. And I said at the end of it, I said, my, I said, that's good, isn't it? You know, it's so, it's so strong. You know, the, first of all, the writing is fantastic. Yeah.

In its, in its, this comedy, but there's got a soap quality to it in moving the story along really economically and heavily and then the casting of it, the quality of the actors in it. Alison Stedman and everyone, wonderful. It's so good and you can watch it again and again. So I'm very, very glad that I did that. Well, we're glad that you did that, Rob Bryden. What else do we need to talk about before I let you go? Well, we've done what I like to you.

feel very strong. You've got your tour coming up. Yes, I've been back on the road. I've been doing my stand-up again, which I've enjoyed. The actual doing of it, not so much the schlepping around, but... Yeah. The being on stage I thoroughly enjoyed. I think it's a... Do you get nervous, Rob? Yeah, yeah. Does that still a thing, though? Yes, yes. You'll creep up on you.

I find it's best if it's a town where I don't know anybody. Yeah. Then I can think of them just as an audience. If I've got someone in that I know, that I, you know, want to impress, then that's... can make you a little nervous. I never imagine like really established performers and comics, but then I know obviously they do, everyone does because. We're getting nervous?

Yeah, just that thing of the energy. Oh yeah, because you never forget that it's a very, you know, when you break it down, it's a very difficult. Rob, there's a wedding car. There's a herse. Oh, it's a wedding car, right? See, you see wedding car, I see hearse, that says it all. Oh look, raw.

Oh, look, it's a cream-coloured hearse. It's actually a wedding car, Rob. Look, isn't that nice? But look, they'll see you on their special day, wave. Not a care in the world. Was she in tears? No, she was looking at her phone, at the selfies. Oh, that's not good.

But that's what they do now. Yeah, I'll wave to him. Rob is still just waving to people. You get a very good response, I've noticed, from the public. Yes, I'm very lucky. Not for her, though, you don't want to know. She ignored you. No, he liked you.

No, that. Bit of an England fan. You're big with the England fans. No, the nervousness, though. Yeah. Because, you know, generally speaking, the gigs, you know, they go well. And, of course, you judge it by your own standards. So you're judging everyone on them by the best it's ever gone.

Of course. But you can lose it, you know, and there's always that fear, no matter how much you've done it. Yeah. Of it going badly. and when it goes badly it's about as horrible as it gets because you're there all on your own. Yeah, but haven't you got the goodwill?

So the first 10 minutes, in a way, it's a mixed thing because you've got the goodwill of the room because they recognise you. But on the other hand, are they spending five minutes saying, oh, that's Rob Brighton. Oh, he's got that one. He's got those kids. Yeah, it's Kevin and Stacey.

You can sense the goodwill and that's fantastic. Yeah. You certainly didn't have that when you were starting out doing open spots. And that's great, and you can ride that wave a little bit. But then, you know, people pay money, you know, and it's not cheap. You come and see me, and certainly hope not, do you. You're not selling you at all, Rob.

No, it's not, is it, you know, and you forget. Babysitter. People paid money, they've got a babysitter. It's a big old palava. Patience. Patience is, there's no easy way to put it, Rob, is there? Impatient. She's defecating.

We're coming near to the end of our... chat now and well I've really enjoyed it well I'm worried that you haven't because it's too hot no I have I mean I've not liked the what didn't you like the heat okay but but you like patience yeah she's lovely beautiful dog I think we should finish can I choose someone to finish with in the style of how you would round this up go on then um how about in the style of Alan Bennett I'm going to get myself ready an enjoyable walk round the Royal Park of Richmond on a sweltering day. And Emily Dean, a sun lover, if ever there was one,

constantly leading me to my demise. Patience, by name, but not nature, scurrying to and fro. A rabbit here, a squirrel there. Oh, ma'am. leads. I really hope you enjoyed listening to that and do remember to rate review and subscribe on iTunes.