Smug Roberts

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Smug Roberts
Pseudonym Smug Roberts
Birth name Andy Robert Wilkinson
Born 1960 (age 57–58)
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, Manchester, Wilkinson attended North Manchester High School for Boys before taking various jobs such as a relief pub landlord and the coach of a football team in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [1] He also ran a signwriting business for a time. [2]

Stage name pseudonym used by performing artist

A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers, such as actors, comedians, singers and musicians. Such titles are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and may be similar or nearly identical to an individual's birth name. In some situations, a performer will eventually adopt his or her title as a legal name, although this is often not the case. It should be noted that Personal names or Nicknames that make up the professional name should not necessarily be considered as a "fake name" like Lady Gaga : for example: Miley Cyrus: born Destiny Hope Cyrus, uses her personal nickname "Miley" and her maiden name "Cyrus" as her professional name, in 2018 she legally changed to Miley Ray Hemsworth.

Harpurhey inner-city area of Manchester, England

Harpurhey is an inner-city area of Manchester in North West England, three miles north east of the city centre. The population at the 2011 census was 17,652.

Manchester City and metropolitan borough in England

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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 A.F.C. 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]

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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 .

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Maxwell, Tom (11 January 2008). "The comedy gods smile on Roberts". Edinburgh Evening News (Johnston Press).
  2. 1 2 3 Margolis, Jonathan (7 October 1999). "Shut up, dad". The Guardian (Guardian Newspapers): p. 2 (G2).
  3. 1 2 Taylor, Paul (25 May 2006). "Smug laughs off his grief". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
  4. ↑ Jenkins, Russell (6 January 1998). "Comic's hymn to meat pies sweeps football terraces". The Times (News International Newspapers): p. 3.
  5. ↑ Meat pie, sausage roll, come on England, give us a goal! Archived 2010-06-25 at the Wayback Machine .. Chorley Citizen
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