How to lose friends and win fans

Sep 19 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Justin Moorhouse tells Vicky Anderson about being on tour and his Phoenix Nights memories

JUSTIN MOORHOUSE’S “cheeky chappy” persona means the Manchester stand-up has no shortage of friends.

Figuring out just who his best ones are has formed the basis of his latest solo show.

Straight from a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival, he plays St Helens Theatre Royal on September 25 and Southport Arts Centre on October 23 and his extensive tour will take him well into next year.

“Edinburgh was good, although it rained every day. It’s like a boot camp for comedians but it’s a good way of warming up for the longer tour, because it’s all about trying to create an audience when you’re on the road,” he said.

“Like now, I’m playing the St Helens Theatre Royal, I must have sold more tickets than last time I was there when I played the Citadel. The proof’s in the pudding.

“The hard thing is getting people there the first time.”

But, thanks to appearances on the likes of 8 Out of 10 Cats and The Comedy Store, he’s definitely on the up. These days, he’s even got “people”.

During a day of interviews, he’s under strict instructions to keep to an organised rota of 15-minute slots.

“It’s not me saying that,” he says cheerfully.

“I feel like Tom Cruise!”

The new show, Justin Moorhouse’s Ever Decreasing Social Circle, is “about getting rid of my friends,” he explains.

“I was on Facebook and realised I had 641 friends.

“But they’re not really my friends like I’d have them round for a cup of tea.

“That would be a nightmare. I’ve not enough cups for a start.”

He was motivated by the wisdom of his Nan, who told him a person is truly blessed if they can count the number of friends they have on one hand. With that in mind, he began a cull.

“So I did this survey, like an experiment, and sent everyone a message saying they had one month to fill it in,” he explains.

“It was a series of questions about our friendship, things we like to do.

“On that basis, I found five friends, like my Nana said, who are true, genuine friends.

“I don’t want to give too much away but I was pleased and surprised with who was left.”

His easygoing formula and way with words – even described as Alan Bennett-esque – has seen his live reputation steadily grow.

“I do most of my writing on stage. I get an idea, think about it and try out the new material, which is a lot easier now than it was trying to get that first five, ten, 15 minutes. That’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do,” he says.

“At the same time, you’re learning how to look more confident, find your style and everything else and once you’ve got that, write the jokes.

“I don’t really sit down and go ‘this fella walks in a pub’ – I just tend to talk about stuff with the crowd.”

New opportunities are also coming Justin’s way, including a radio show and film work with long-standing friend Liverpudlian Neil Fitzmaurice (he stars in the long-awaited Charlie Noades RIP, the latter’s latest film, also starring Dave Spikey, Michael Starke, and John McArdle, which was made in 2006 but will finally be released next year), but live comedy remains his passion.

“I’m a stand-up comedian. I’ve always done a bit of acting, radio and everything else, but it’s secondary to being a stand-up.

“I still have to pinch myself. When I was a kid, I didn’t even know what Radio 4 was.

“I have the 6.30pm comedy slot, and at that time of night when I was growing up we were watching Granada Reports and eating beans on toast for tea. It’s a different world, I’m quite excited.”

As Justin’s profile has increased, he is now known in his own right, rather than remembered for his role as Young Kenny in Phoenix Nights (the one who spent the whole of the second series with his face painted like a tiger).

Not that he minds, though.

“I’m not one of those people who won’t talk about things,” he says. “Like people who go ‘I’m not talking about Emmerdale!’ even though they were in it for 20 years.

“Phoenix Nights was brilliant.

“They were mates before we did it, and we’ve done things together since.

“I don’t see Peter [Kay] so much as he’s busy with his family and he’s a different character to a lot of us, he’s very shy and quiet. But a few of us – Neil Fitzmaurice, Paddy McGuinness, Steve Edge, we keep in touch and go out together and it’s nice.

“It’s good to see the alumni doing well. It’s interesting to look back and think of what’s come of it.”

JUSTIN MOORHOUSE appears at St Helens Theatre Royal on September 25, and Southport Arts Centre on October 23.

vickyanderson