Rob Brydon says he’s happy not to be ‘cool’ and reveals his surprising friendship with Noel Gallagher
You might not put rock star Noel Gallagher and host of BBC1's Would I Lie To You? Rob Brydon together. But Brydon, one of Britain’s best-known comedians, is full of surprises.
The dad-of-five appears in some of Britain’s most-loved TV shows, yet as he tells presenter Kate Thornton on Yahoo's White Wine Question Time podcast this week, he's a family man who remains close to friends from school, including Ruth Jones, his Gavin & Stacey co-star.
Read more: Rob Brydon has 'one hell of a bond' with Gavin & Stacey's Ruth Jones
The down-to-earth, 57-year-old comedian switches comfortably between weekend camping at CarFest with his wife Clare, his kids, and 'another couple of families', to singing in front of thousands with Coldplay and hanging out with Noel Gallagher.
"I've never been concerned with being cool and, as a result, never have been," he cheerfully told Thornton in his trademark Welsh lilt.
Indeed, it was as much of a surprise to Brydon as anyone else when he became friends with 'super cool' Gallagher, partly bonding over their shared excitement at meeting Bruce Springsteen.
"It's a funny thing when you find yourself becoming chums with someone like that, when you sort of hit it off," the comedian admitted.
"Every time I've met Noel, we’ve always got on like a house on fire."
The relaxed approach of a man who once played Noddy is echoed in the appreciation he shows for his whole career, even the less starry, early parts. The disappointment of losing a few early lines in his first film, the 1995 medieval blockbuster First Knight, for Brydon, quickly became a positive.
"I mean it’s bloody Sean Connery and Richard Gere," he chuckled. As a result, Brydon shared scenes with Gere. "I got to observe him at close quarter," he added. "He was suitably dazzling and film star-like."
Brydon’s later, own stellar career led to friendships with his personal heroes such as Ronnie Corbett, who lent Brydon his famous glasses as he did an impression of Corbett on stage. "I'm thinking, 'Oh, my God, what's he doing?’" Brydon told Thornton. "The audience just went crazy. I mean, it was very special."
While Brydon said it’s "very rare" he’d ask a fellow celebrity for a selfie, he did break the rule with Bruce Springsteen. Brydon’s friend took the photo of them. "He said, 'Oh Bobby. It was hilarious, your hand was shaking.'"
Today, Brydon is trusted by his celebrity circle to interview them on his popular podcast, Brydon &. It's a place where guests such as Kenneth Branagh, Chris Martin and Martin Sheen tell Brydon their funny, personal and sometimes emotional stories.
As for his own emotions, Brydon claims to keep that for his family. "The kids will often say, 'Oh, Dad's filling up,’" he said, before adding that he cries on "birthdays" where he feels "the passing of time", and "nice moments" with his children that make him "feel very proud. That will make me want to have a little cry."
Watch: Rob Brydon discusses singing with lifelong friend Ruth Jones