Rhod Gilbert returns to Liverpool for double date at Philharmonic Hall

Aug 25 2010 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

RHOD Gilbert can’t quite remember the date of his last gig in Liverpool – but it’s nothing against the city.

It turns out the Welsh comedian is about 101 shows into a 150 date tour, so you can forgive him for being hazy.

But the 41-year-old, who returns to the city next month for two evenings at the Philharmonic Hall with The Cat That Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst, always remembers his Liverpool appearances themselves.

He explains: “Partly because it’s always good fun and I enjoy going to Liverpool generally. And I can remember some of the heckling – there was loads about John Bishop.

“It was at that moment when he broke big, and for some reason we started talking about him for half the show.”

Inevitably, our conversation includes other references to the Runcorn-raised comedian whose profile has gone stratospheric in the past year.

Mainly because, as Rhod points out, the pair have taken similar trajectories.

Rhod himself only started doing comedy eight years ago after a girlfriend nagged him into giving it a go. At the time he had a good job he enjoyed.

“I was a director of a market research company and about to become managing director,” says the Welshman. “I was 33 and just about to take the company over, myself and two others.

“Basically I started doing comedy alongside my job, very much like John.

“Most stand-ups are serially unemployed, and we were the two unusual ones in that we both had quite good jobs and we were both doing stand-up alongside that.”

Still, 18 months in, Rhod decided to make the jump into full-time comedy and has never looked back.

Alongside stand-up, the self-confessed shy star has a busy TV and radio career, and is attempting to write a sitcom.

He has regularly appeared on panel and satirical shows such as Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You, and also as a guest comedian on Live At The Apollo and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.

“I like making people laugh,” he says. “That’s all I’ve ever really been interested in.”

Rhod Gilbert can be seen at the Philharmonic Hall on September 11 and 12. Shows start at 7.30pm and tickets are £20-£25, to book phone the box office on 0151 709 3789 or visit www.liverpoolphil.com.

Alternatively, Rhod will also be at The Lowry in Salford Quays on September 3 and 4. Shows start at 7.30pm and tickets are £20, phone 0843 208 6000 to book or visit www.thelowry.com