Rouse is on a roll (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Rouse is on a roll

9:00am Friday 15th January 2010 in

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Geography teacher turned stand-up Rob Rouse will be headlining the Watermans’ Comedy and Curry night on Sunday.

Rouse’s big break came when he won Channel 4’s So You Think You’re Funny in 1998 and his career has gone from strength to strength ever since. He spoke to Claire Fox.

  Claire Fox: Your last show, My Family...And The Dog That Scared Jesus, was a big success for you – did your family mind being included in the act?   Rob Rouse: Well, I never asked their permission but I think that, so long as what you are talking about is true, it’s all right and people like being involved.   I’d never go out of my way to upset my family. The dog doesn’t mind either. I was talking to him about it and he said he was quite happy.

  CF: The dog takes a starring role in the show – tell me about him.

RR: He has a voracious sexual appetite, predominantly for cushions, and he has no boundaries!

  CF: Do you find yourself mentally logging your family life on the look-out for future jokes?

RR: Actually, I find it’s when you’re not really trying that something pops up. You sit there trying to think about these things, but the harder you work, the harder they are to find. You can’t spend your life constantly looking for things to find funny because you stop being involved. You need to live through it and think about it afterwards, otherwise there’s not much depth to your jokes.

   CF: You are being supported at Watermans by Dougie Dunlop and Dave Ward – have you worked with them before?   RR: Yes, I’ve worked with them both a number of times. They are great guys and I’m really looking forward to it.

CF: Is there ever any rivalry on a comedy line-up?   RR: I think that depends on the kind of person you are, and maybe the secret to life is to not compete. People have different styles and get laughs in different ways.

  CF: Which comedians have inspired you?

RR: When I was growing up, I used to watch Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Fry and Laurie, Vic and Bob, Blackadder and Fawlty Towers. We have a really rich history of comedy in this country and there’s a constant crop of people coming through. Of today’s comedians, I like people like Bill Bailey, Eddie Izzard and Ross Noble.

  Rob Rouse, Comedy and Curry Night, Watermans, Brentford, January 17, 7.45pm, £10 for two tickets (concessions £5). Call 020 8232 1010 or visit watermans.org.uk.