Matt Rudge interview

In this interview Matt Rudge talks about stand-up comedy, and his move into documentary filmmaking. His new TV show with Radio 1's Chris Stark - The Celeb Hunter - is now on Channel 4.

Hi Matt. How did you get started in stand-up?

I always wanted to do it I didn't have the guts for years. Then one Edinburgh Festival I went along as a punter. There was an open mic night, and I went for it. It wasn't disastrous like I feared it might be (it wasn't amazing either), but I kept doing any open mic nights I could.

You're appearing at the Leicester Comedy Festival soon. What's your show about?

I'll be honest, it's a bunch of unconnected stories and anecdotes.

I've been hectic this year - I've made two documentaries - and so I nearly didn't do a show this year, but kept getting asked by people 'when can we see you again?'. I kept saying 'when I've written new stuff' and they'd answer 'but I want the old stuff'. I thought 'if people want to see me, I'll do it'... so it's a selection of new thoughts, and also some older routines.

Where do you draw your inspiration from, for your stand-up?

I'm not surreal and I'm not really a jokey joke person, I want to share anecdotes and stories. I like narratives and tales, be it disastrous escapades or surprising moments in life. I also like audience interaction and ad-libbing with the crowd.

How do you balance comedy and documentary filmmaking?

It does mean I have NO social life. I suppose it's the same for all people that do a variety of things. How does Ricky Gervais balance acting and stand-up? How does Simon Pegg balance writing, acting and directing? You focus on a project, finish it, and then think 'what's next? - do I fancy doing a solo stand-up show, or shall I try and make a film?'. I do worry I will burn myself out, but I have a big work ethic and passions that drive me.

The subject matter in your documentaries is often very moving. How does it balance with going out at night and making people laugh?

I don't see them as so separate. I think you can tell a story because you know it's funny, or tell a story because you know it is moving. You can tell it on stage or you can tell it on film. They aren't diametrically opposed. You also have to remember tragedy and comedy are two side of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other. A good documentary will show you light as well shade. A good film will make you laugh as well as cry. You can also have deeply moving stand-up comedy that moves you to tears or makes you think like you have never thought before.

How did Celeb Hunter - your new Channel 4 show in which you and Chris Stark (pictured) try to make a mobile chat show - come about?

When Chris and I started talking about this, it was such a ridiculous idea I couldn't stop laughing. That's why I knew it would work.

The project was a perfect marriage of comedy and documentary, and I am so glad we got somewhere with it. Chris had this idea to make his own chat show. He had gone viral the year before because he works at Radio 1, and they sent him to interview Mila Kunis, and it was so awkward, people shared it online, like a car crash cringe fest.

I couldn't help him get a chat show. Who would actually give him a chat show? But then I thought it would be funny to follow him with a camera, as he tried to make it happen. How do you make a chat show when you have no guests and no studio? Well Chris does it by turning up at events with two camping chairs and trying to persuade them to be interviewed whilst I film it!

Whereas most celebrity chat shows are really just pre-scripted promotional chats for the rich and famous, this is exactly the opposite. Then when Chris starts talking to them in his somewhat individual style, you just never know what's going to happen.

When we started this ludicrous idea, neither of us knew where it would end up. Being able to make something with a mate was so much fun, it was like being a student all over again. I still can't believe Channel 4 are showing it. That comes across in the documentary. It's very improvised. But what you can expect to see is confused celebrities, huge awkward moments, plenty of failures, but then some amazing successes where celebrities buy in to the idea and have fun with it.

Was it easy to get hold of interviewees?

No. We had to try every single trick in the book. You will see it in the show. Chris is phoning agents, but they want nothing to do with it. He is sending letters, presents, he turns up at events, but can't get to the stars. He even does a football pitch invasion to see if 20,000 football fans can somehow help him contact ANYONE famous. But the work does pay off eventually! You might be surprised just who gets involved!

To find out more about Celeb Hunter and discover broadcast times visit Channel4.com

Matt Rudge - Let's Do This! is on at the Leicester Comedy Festival on the 21st and 22nd February 2014. For more details about the show and Matt, visit mattrudge.com