British Comedy Guide
Rob Beckett
Rob Beckett

Rob Beckett

  • 38 years old
  • English
  • Stand-up comedian and presenter

Press clippings Page 18

Nina Conti - lately of Family Tree and the only reason you will ever need to use the words "amusing ventriloquist" - comperes this final episode of the standup comedy series. Conti specialises in a kind of elaborate, mechanical audience participation, and here she introduces acts of a similarly high polish. Jimeoin (latecomers: you say "Jim Owen") will reprise his gentle and not enormously surprising range of observational material, while Rob Beckett offers an amiable take on class.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 15th January 2014

Ventriloquist Nina Conti brings the current crop of comedy sets to a close tonight as she pulls her faithful Monkey out of a straw bag to help her host the show.

Also taking their turns in the spotlight are class-obsessed Londoner Rob Beckett and English-born Northern Irish joker Jimeoin.

The audience also gets a chance to take a starring role, as cheeky puppet master Conti yanks on their strings for a spot of puppet-based participatory entertainment.

Carol Carter and Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Metro, 15th January 2014

Radio Times review

Picking someone out of the audience to help with your act can be hit and miss. But Nina Conti gets really lucky when she asks a person in the front row to be her new puppet. The woman she chooses is an absolute natural, although to give Conti her due, it's a very, very clever idea.

She's followed by Jimeoin, who does such a spot-on impersonation of a catwalk model he could do it for a living if the comedy didn't work out. Then sarf-Londoner Rob Beckett takes to the stage with some nice observations on his childhood. But it's Conti and her new assistant who steal the show.

Jane Rackham, Radio Times, 15th January 2014

If you haven't seen or heard of 8 Out of 10 Cats before then you probably don't have a television and have no need to be reading this. It's your straightforward celebrity panel quiz show where the questions are based around various surveys and statistics, as is explained at the top of the show by host Jimmy Carr.

This week they aired a second episode of the show where the host and guests are, for no explained reason, playing a game of Countdown. I can only assume that the initial C4 mash-up was a big hit and they thought, "Aaah why not, eh?" As usual, Jimmy rattled off a number of scripted gags, ranging from fair to poor, and Jon Richardson was his usual dour self, taking the role of team captain.

Notably missing from the line up was Sean Lock, which was a big loss to the show. Sean usually adds a nice eccentricity with his obvious lack of ego, never afraid to pick up on jarring absurdities of 'celebrity' guests on the regular weekly edition. Lee Mack was a fair replacement though, quick witted as usual, with a number of nice one-liners. He even managed to score a nine-letter word early on leaving the ever competitive Jon Richardson with plenty of room to play up his comically-angry persona.

Lee was joined by Rob Beckett and Jon by Rhod Gilbert, both of whom were funny and likeable. Tim Key was in Dictionary Corner and although enjoyable, he didn't have as much of a chance to shine as I would have liked. Joe Wilkinson appeared around the halfway point to "assist" Rachel with the letters, however he had no real reason to be on the show. Wilkinson is undoubtedly a funny man, but the number of appearances he makes on the show is somewhat diluting the hilarity of his "crazy antics".

An entertaining and fun show, then, providing you're not put off by the odd Savile joke or sexual objectification. Just saying.

Shaun Spencer, Giggle Beats, 15th April 2013

For reasons never really explained - well, beyond the fact that the letters board presents a fine opportunity for puerile mischief - the Cats mob have become a little smitten with Countdown: this is the third mash-up between the shows in little over a year. Jimmy Carr again hosts, though Sean Lock is away on tour, so regular captain Jon Richardson pairs up with gruff Welshman Rhod Gilbert to take on Rob Beckett and panel show pro Lee Mack. Over in dictionary corner, Countdown veteran Susie Dent is joined by the marvellous Tim Key.

Gwilym Mumford, The Guardian, 12th April 2013

Playing the comedy-show mash-up game, afternoon favourite Countdown gets a prime-time makeover, with regular Cats Jon Richardson and Rhod Gilbert pitting their wits against opponents Lee Mack and Rob Beckett. Over in Dictionary Corner, the very funny Tim Key reserves the right to delete any wordy offerings that don't come up to scratch. And maybe he'll treat us to one of his comedy poems - they deserve a show of their own.

Carol Carter and Ann Lee, Metro, 12th April 2013

One of TV's most unlikely - but no less enjoyable for that - cross-fertilisations returns as the 8 out of 10 Cats comedy quiz team takes over (for the third time) the veteran words and numbers game Countdown. Once again, Jimmy Carr replaces Nick Hewer in the presenter's chair, while Jon Richardson is joined by Rhod Gilbert to take on fellow comedians Lee Mack (replacing absent captain Sean Lock) and Rob Beckett. In Dictionary Corner with Countdown's Susie Dent is performance poet Tim Key, while Rachel Riley gets less welcome assistance from beardy Joe Wilkinson.

Gerard O'Donovan, The Telegraph, 11th April 2013

Young comic Rob Beckett to host ITV2's I'm A Celebrity

Rob Beckett is to join jungle spin-off I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here Now!. The comic is replacing Russell Kane and will join hosts Laura Whitmore and Joe Swash when the ITV2 show returns this month.

The Sun, 1st November 2012

Rob Beckett - 10 Edinburgh questions

Cockney scamp Rob Beckett is a young comic on the rise - here's a little introduction to the fella ...

London Is Funny, 6th August 2012

Fringe factions: The Freshers vs The Sophomores

Chris Stokes and Rob Beckett are no strangers to the Fringe, but this year they're back with their very own shows; that 'difficult second show' can be a challenge for some performers, but Cariad Lloyd and Doug Segal are full of enthusiasm.

Lizzie Cass-Maran, The Skinny, 31st July 2012

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