Comic relief : Rhys Thomas on XY
Essex-born comedian Rhys Thomas got his break working on Shooting Stars and has also appeared on The Fast Show. He can currently be seen starring in the new Channel 4 sketch comedy series, Blunder, which he also did some co-writing for...
I think Russell Brand is a nice person but I can’t watch him on telly... I don’t think it’s fun and clever making a career out of the fact you took drugs and love sex.
Do we really need another sketch show?
No we don’t, but I think the reason I wanted to do Blunder is that it’s going back to being silly and daft again. I got sick of sketches trying to be clever, I want funny stuff again. I don’t think we need other sketch shows unless they’re funny and exciting. Blunder is in front of a live audience. If we make a muck-up we leave it in, because those are the funniest bits.
One of your characters in Blunder, Frank, has a problem with bodily functions. What’s the most embarrassing thing that you’ve done in public?
I did have the runs once and I messed myself in my pants. I had to run to the portakabin and do it in there: that was quite embarrassing. But you know, there are disabled people who have to do that everyday…
What’s been your greatest career moment?
Probably writing a sitcom called Fun at the Funeral Parlour when I was 20. I was the youngest person to write a sitcom in the world and (Queen guitarist)Brian May did the music for it.
Do comedians get groupies?
Not really. I’ve heard stories about Reeves and Mortimer at their peak when they used to go on tour and comedy was like the new rock n roll. It’s not like that anymore. I’ve only got my girlfriend and I was sort of a groupie of hers when we met: she’s in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Who’s the funniest person in comedy?
I think that’s Simon Day. He’s a bit lazy at times, but he’s the funniest person I’ve ever met and the funniest person in comedy.
Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross?
It would have to be Jonathan Ross - definitely. Jonathan Ross is watchable. I think Russell Brand is a nice person but I can’t watch him on telly. His stand up is fine but I can’t watch his television programmes at all. Maybe it’s because I'd have to be a girl. I find it unwatchable. I don’t think it’s fun and clever making a career out of the fact you took drugs and love sex. I don’t think that’s a good moral example to set the world. Pete Doherty’s the same…
Who’s the most annoying celeb you’ve ever come across?
Mike Smith. He used to host the Late Late Breakfast show with Noel Edmonds. Now he’s a Radio 1 DJ and I was a runner on shooting Stars when I was about 17. He said to me ‘What do you do?’, I said ‘I’m a runner’ he said ‘Fuck off and run then!’ He wasn’t even in it! Also Damien Lewis…I hate people that pretend they’ve never met you before and he’s guilty of that.
