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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Interview by Liam Pape

Tom Rosenthal: ‘I quickly forget nice gigs and will take bad ones to the grave’

‘It’s an annoying job to have, by its nature’ … comedian Tom Rosenthal.
‘It’s an annoying job to have, by its nature’ … comedian Tom Rosenthal. Photograph: Jack Margerison

How did you get into comedy?
I was in a public speaking club at school and competed internationally. I am greatly indebted to Reading Blue Coat school for giving me the confidence to express myself from a young age, particularly Mr Holleley. When I left, I had incredible confidence that I had something to offer the world, neatly wrapped in a deep ignorance of what the world actually was.

I was handed a flyer for a comedy competition outside a charity fundraiser gig my dad took to me at the Royal Albert Hall. It was called comedystars.tv, where you uploaded a video to get voted into a final at the Edinburgh festival. It was brilliantly hosted by Simon Amstell, who eviscerated the entire endeavour on the basis it contained no stars or comedy.

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