Cambridge News | cambridge-news.co.uk | May 22, 2014 | 25
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Comedy
Matt Richardson R
ETURNING to Cambridge Junction after a visit in November, comic Matt Richardson is scraggy haired, ever one for a natter and going to be huge. Growing up in Oxford, he’s been a professional stand-up since quitting uni aged 20 and has previously won Leicester Comedy Festival’s Best New Show award and Latitude Festival New Act of the Year 2011. ELLA WALKER quizzed him on his current show, what it’s like hosting the Xtra Factor and being heckled by his dad.
What made you want to become a comedian? I was 14 and watched Jimmy Carr’s DVD and couldn’t believe he did that for a job, it made me want to try it out. Ever since that moment I pined for it. Now I do it, I can’t believe my luck.
Tell us about your show Hometown Hero. What should people expect? It’s fast paced, silly, rude and fun. No message, just a load of things I think are funny.
How do you handle hecklers? With love and care. Mostly they want to just join in and are excited. If they’re being horrible, chances are other people aren’t enjoying you either, so you can’t be aggressive or you’ll lose the audience even more.
How did your first ever gig go? Amazing. It was at Oxford Brookes University on November 5, 2009. I had a brilliant one; I spoke mostly about it being my first gig and the awful uni campus. I didn’t sleep all night I was so wired after. My second gig was pretty ropey though!
Have you had any particularly disastrous moments on stage? I once forgot my whole set, I was dying so badly. And I once had my dad heckle me at a gig and it got the biggest laugh of the show. Who always makes you laugh and why? My mum, my brother and my dad. They say things that are horribly embarrassing but they make me laugh in retrospect! You’ve done quite a few comedy panel shows now – is it fun or just stressful? It depends on the show – I loved doing Buzzcocks but I was SO nervous because I used to
worship that show! What was it like working on the Xtra Factor? Did you get to hang out with the judges – and do you have an all-time favourite judge? It was surreal. I spent six months hanging out with Sharon Osbourne and the others most nights on the audition tour. Her and Gary I loved – I still stay in touch with them both. Can you sing? I can sing well enough to be in a 90s boy band. So no, I can’t! Are you excited about Cheryl Cole returning to the show? I’m not sure if I’m back yet, so I have no clue! I’m sure it’ll be great; I’m more excited to see Simon return. Do you have a career highlight so far? Selling out my tour show in my hometown. That was very special and I felt like I’d really achieved something. What would you like to do next? Maybe host a comedy show or a panel show? Maybe some more entertainment stuff, and I’ll start writing my next tour show. Growing up in Oxford, does it make coming to Cambridge feel like entering enemy territory? Quite the opposite – I think the townies have lots in common in each place. I feel like Cambridge folk are my kindred spirits! Finally, do you have a favourite cracker joke? What’s a bit like an F? A Fish.