Geoff Norcott visits Komedia Bath on 10 March as part of his new tour I Blame The Parents. We caught up with him to ask about his views on parenting and how he combines being a dad and a comedian
Hello Geoff, it’s great to hear that you’re coming to Komedia in Bath. Your new tour is called ‘I Blame The Parents’. What do you blame them for?
It’s a mixture of blame and credit. They left behind some great anecdotes. My mum once hid in a cupboard in my classroom because she thought a teacher was victimising me. It’s only when you become a parent yourself you realise that’s not normal.
As a dad yourself, are you falling into the same mistakes that most other parents do?
Like many modern dads I’ve over corrected. I’m pathetically needy with him. I always moaned my dad didn’t hug me enough. I suspect my son will moan that I wasn’t the strong silent type.
What’s the highlight of being a dad?
That moment between father and son when you realise you’re both thinking the same daft thing or laughing at the same fart joke.
How do you combine being on the road with a tour and being a dad?
I try to get home as soon as is reasonable. Anywhere less than three hours away and I’ll drive home that night. It sounds sad but we have podcasts now. I’ve spent many a happy hour on the motorway as the silent part of a three-way conversation between famous people.
What really winds you up about modern parenting?
People who can’t tell their kids off properly. You see it with middle class mums in Waitrose. They’re telling the kid off but still calling them ‘darling’. My mum had a lot more appropriate words for me when I was acting up.
What can you teach your son?
Probably too much. Me and my wife are great analysts of the world around us. Consequently, there isn’t a thing you could show him that he doesn’t immediately want to improve.
What part of your character do you not want to pass on to your son?
The worry, I guess. My family hit hard times for a while and the concern about providing has always been there. I guess I want to do well enough to be the kind of entitled middle class brat I’ve always taken the micky out of.
What do you expect from Bath parents? After all, there will be plenty of us in the crown when you visit Komedia.
Far be it from me to say Bath is fairly middle class, but put it this way: I’ve got a hunch how the mums tell their kids off in Waitrose 🙂
For more information on Geoff’s visit to Komedia Bath and to buy tickets, click here