Smug Roberts
| Smug Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Pseudonym | Smug Roberts |
| Birth name | Andy Robert Wilkinson |
| Born |
1960 (age 53–54) Harpurhey, Manchester, England |
| Medium | Stand up, television, radio |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Genres | Observational comedy, anecdotes |
| Website | http://www.smugroberts.co.uk/ |
Andy Robert Wilkinson (born 1960), better known by his stage name of Smug Roberts, is an English stand up comedian and actor. Born in Harpurhey, Wilkinson attended North Manchester High for Boys before taking various jobs such as a relief pub landlord and the coach of a football team in Toronto.[1] He also ran a signwriting business for a time.[2]
In 1995, he tried stand-up comedy for the first time at The Frog And Bucket comedy club, adopting the stage name "Smug Roberts"; the "smug" came from an event in his life where people teased him for being a "smug bastard" and the "Roberts" was adapted from his middle name. Caroline Aherne and her then-husband Peter Hook watched his set and she put him in contact with an agent.[1][3] Six weeks later, Roberts performed his first one-man gig. In 1998, he released the novelty anthem "Meat Pie, Sausage Roll (Come on England, Gi's a Goal)" as "Grandad Roberts", both the character and song (originally a jingle referencing Oldham Athletic Football Club rather than England) stemming from his afternoon radio show on Key 103.[4][5] At the end of 1999, he compered the re-opened Embassy Club, on the invitation of Bernard Manning's son Bernard Jr.[2] On his appointment, City Life comedy editor Marissa Burgess said, "I personally don't hold with Bernard Manning's comedy, so changing hands to Smug Roberts I feel can only be a good thing."[2]
In 2000, he headlined with Paul Merton and John Thomson at the opening night of the Manchester Comedy Store. His appearance there lead to a role in the film 24 Hour Party People (2002).[1][3] Roberts has also appeared on television, with roles in Cutting It, Buried and Cold Feet. He has appeared in every television production by Peter Kay, except for Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere. In 2008, he became the first stand-up comedian to perform at the Erin Arts Centre on the Isle of Man. A local critic praised his style of anecdotal humour.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Maxwell, Tom (11 January 2008). "The comedy gods smile on Roberts". Edinburgh Evening News (Johnston Press).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Margolis, Jonathan (7 October 1999). "Shut up, dad". The Guardian (Guardian Newspapers): p. 2 (G2).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Taylor, Paul (25 May 2006). "Smug laughs off his grief". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
- ↑ Jenkins, Russell (6 January 1998). "Comic's hymn to meat pies sweeps football terraces". The Times (News International Newspapers): p. 3.
- ↑ Meat pie, sausage roll, come on England, give us a goal!. Chorley Citizen
- ↑ Gregory, John (3 March 2008). "Smug Roberts: hilarious stories left me with an aching jaw". Isle of Man Today (Johnston Press).