Ross and Rory |
It’s very handy when the mother of your most favourite comedian just happens to be a good friend of your grandma. You get to sit with your parents, your grandma and your favourite comedian’s mother at his gig at the City Hall in Newcastle. Plus backstage access is arranged so you can meet the man himself.
Saturday night was a dream come true for Rory. He has loved the offbeat, surreal humour of Geordie comic, Ross Noble, for many years. He has all of the DVDs and we have seen him perform live in King’s Lynn and Cambridge. But seeing his new comedy show, Mindblender, in Ross’ home town, was something very special.
My mum and Mrs Noble have been friends since their husbands both attended a hospice in Newcastle. My dad and Ross’ dad both sadly died within a year of each other but the two wives have continued to meet up. They are both vibrant women, full of fun and both keen singers. Mrs Noble is a member of a number of choirs and keeps trying to persuade my mother to join her. Mum, whose past experience was more that of a soloist, finds the group singing a bit of a struggle, so prefers it when they shoot off in the car together and have afternoon tea and a gossip instead.
The gig itself was brilliant although we did worry we wouldn’t get there in time as the taxi taking us was delayed. When we eventually piled into the cab the relief so was so great that my mother was more garrulous than usual, talking to the driver about where we were going:
“We’re off to see Ross Noble!”
“Never heard of him.”
Undeterred, Mum carried on:
“You must have done, he’s often on QI and Have I Got News For You.”
“Nah,”
“He used to live in Australia, but his house burned down…”
At this point, Rory looked at me and rolled his eyes. We were both thinking the same thing. If the bloke didn’t know him from his TV appearances, he was hardly likely to have a sudden clarity of thought with the mention of a conflagration Down Under.
Thankfully when we picked Mrs Noble up from her house, we discovered a woman who was a match for my mother, so the two of them talked all the way to town, giving the cabbie a well-deserved break.
The wonderfully effervescent Mrs N was obviously very proud of her boy and chuckled in her seat when he mentioned her during his set. After the gig she muscled her way through the crowd, waving her ‘Access All Areas’ pass, with us following meekly in her wake. She entered her son’s dressing room and gave him a huge cuddle. We all trooped in and stood with big smiles on our faces, temporarily losing the power of speech. Photographs were taken, programmes were signed and then we watched as Ross, trying to locate a photograph on his mobile phone, was chastised by his mother for not listening to what she was saying. Just like any mother and son.
I smiled at my boy and he grinned back.
Lucky Boy!! Its good to know Grandmas in the right places!
Indeed! Grandma came up trumps.
Love your blog name, by the way!
Awww, what a lovely story. And lucky Rory to be able meet one of his comedy heros, have you invited yourself around for Sunday lunch yet?
I'm working on it!
Rory over the moon.
Ooh what fun and what a marvellous moment for Rory. He looks dead chuffed.
It's one of the best photos I've taken of him for ages – a really natural smile, you can tell he's in his element.
Beyond jealous – I luff RN!
"He used to live in Australia, but his house burned down…" – fabulous, you cannot beat a Geordie non sequitur can you?
She laughed when she read this post today. She was reminded of Peter Kay who, in his stand up routine, says there is always one person who makes conversation with taxi drivers, usually asking, 'Have you had a busy night?'
It's so refreshing seeing a celebrity pointing his finger at a young person instead of the opposite always on the news.
Haha! Very topical.
'When Ross Noble met Rory'.
How lucky to have met him…he is indeed very very funny….and 'conflagration down under' made me smile like a 10 yr old saying something naughty. Your mom and Mrs Noble sound like a great pair…bet they have some laughs together now.
Mrs Noble is younger than my mum but the two do seem to have hit it off. When she got into the taxi I could see she was going to be good fun: just the tonic Mum needs.
It's not what you know….! How fantastic – Rory looks made up and the bit about the conflagration down under made me laugh out loud – that's the sort of thing only someone's mum could say!
Can't beat a good bit of down under conflagration!
The conversation also went off at a tangent when the chap's radio messages kept cutting out. She started asking which old comedian did that: Norman Collier I think , but no-one could remember at the time and I suspect the taxi driver had switched off by then.
Now that is a massive difference between men and women. I can imagine 2 woen at a hospice visiting, chatting away and the whole staying in touch etc. Men, never. I think your mum should redo her Hugh green moment and you refilm it 🙂
Whoops missed a big point……nice one Rory!
I shall have a word about the Hughie Green re-filming though I suspect she would prefer to just remember a younger self singing the song. I can hear her now; "I don't want my old face on any video!"
Well, now I know who Russ Noble is, and thank you! Have been sitting here chuckling away in front of YouTube. Love the photo – Rory looks absolutely delighted! Wonderful description of his proud mama waving her access card and pushing through the crowd – I could picture it perfectly, right down to the rest of you trailing through in her wake.
He is a very funny comedian: takes an idea and runs with it, goes off at a tangent with mad creations. No two gigs are the same. Your boys would love him.
His mum is quite a character, very warm and generous but full of life.
Brilliant story. I too like Ross Noble, and love his accent as we lived in the NE for 4 years. I met Matt Lucas's Mum a couple of weeks ago, but she didn't have her son with her!! He looks so much like her ( though she has a nice head of hair!)
There's the basis for a great Tv programme or magazine article – comedians and their mothers! Glad Mrs Lucas has a nice head of hair (that made me giggle)
Lucky old Rory. Ross Noble is just BRILLIANT.
Isn't he just! He does all his gigs on his own, no warm up act, so is performing with high energy for a good couple of hours. He must have been exhausted when we turned up.
Bet Rory loved that! How nice that such a lovely friendship was formed out of something so sad…
It was good to meet Mrs Noble after hearing so much about her. She and Mum have a good friendship. They have lots of laughs but their shared experience means that they can talk about their loss when they need to.
I love the image of RN's mum telling him off for not listening – just like the taxi driver. Lucky Rory, to have a chance to meet RN with his mum, presumably just being himself.
We didn't know we were going to meet the man himself until his mum got in the taxi so Rory became quite excited then. Yes, good to see him acting normally, discussing what time he was meeting her the next day and, of course, being distracted!
Ross still annoys me on the telly but not as much. I must be mellowing. 😉
He says the same about you Steve 😉
How incredibly cool for Rory! I must watch some of RN's stuff on Youtube, don't think we get him here. I am still waiting for one of my family to know a famous person.
Yes, Jody, look him up and see what you think. His humour is a bit off the wall so teenagers love him, but I've always loved him too.
I see you boy is a keen follower of tartan fashion.
If he seeks other fashion tips about which type of Oxford bags are in, i am your man.
Just in case, Oxford Bags was a type of trouser back in the day.
Ah yes, the famous Jack Wills clan!
Depressingly I too remember Oxford Bags but I'll be certain to direct him to you for more sartorial advice.
I must confess that I do not know Ross Noble, on stage, on the telly or otherwise… You should have told him to consider a German tour (yes, just like Bon Jovi)!
Lovely post, and I am pleased Rory got to meet his favourite comedian. xx
Thanks to me, Ross is being introduced to an audience in Korea, the US and Germany. Well, three of you anyway!