Rob Beckett is set to appear in Celebrity Gladiators, and despite his success, he’s candid about the challenges he’s faced. The 39-year-old comedian tied the knot with his long-term partner Louise Watts in 2015, having met her in their early twenties.
He shared with the Daily Mail how Louise, a history teacher, was the breadwinner for three years, covering all expenses while he pursued comedy without financial success. The couple are proud parents to two daughters, with Rob declaring fatherhood as “the best thing I have ever done”.
Speaking to the Guardian, he expressed that moments like his daughter cuddling up to him on the sofa surpass any material or social achievements: “When your daughter snuggles up to you on the sofa to watch telly, that’s better than a promotion or the smell of a new car. That’s the real stuff, not your status in society.”
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Known for hosting ITV’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! spin-off and narrating E4’s Celebs Go Dating, Rob also co-hosts the Parenting Hell podcast with fellow comic Josh Widdicombe. The podcast, which started during lockdown, gained such traction that it led to a live tour, reports the Mirror.
Rob opened up to the BBC about the ups and downs of parenting: “I love my kids to pieces and try my best but sometimes I’m rubbish at it,” he admitted. “And that’s life. And if you don’t accept you’re rubbish at it sometimes, you’ll never get better.”
The presenter, who enjoys a successful career and a happy family life in South East London, has opened up about his struggles in his autobiography “A Class Act.”
He recalls a moment of despair despite his success: “On January 4, 2020, I was nailing it,” he wrote. “I had just flown into Cape Town, South Africa, in first class to film a TV show. The show was watching cricket, drinking beer and going on safari with one of my best mates AND getting paid. This filming was squeezed in during a nationwide sell-out tour.”
He continued to describe his personal achievements and the contrast with his mental state: “Happily married to the love of my life, with two kids in a family home newly renovated, I had surpassed my wildest dreams,” the star added. “But I was the unhappiest I have ever been. I woke up on January 5 in a five-star hotel room thinking it would be better and easier for everyone if I was dead.”
Rob, known for his appearances on popular panel shows like Mock The Week and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, sought help upon returning to the UK, telling his wife and manager about his feelings and seeing a therapist for six months. He continues to have ‘refresher’ sessions to keep ‘the darkness’ at bay.
In an effort to encourage openness about mental health issues, Rob shares his experience: “I am telling you this as I always promote the message that people should talk about mental health, but I rarely do. So here I am, talking. I wanted to die when I had everything I ever wanted. So never judge yourself for feeling low. Tell someone and they will help you feel better.”
The comedian revealed that the pandemic offered him a chance to recover and reflect, leading to a boost in his podcast’s success and securing an acting gig in Disney’s Cinderella, featuring Camila Cabello and Idina Menzel. He commented on the experience: “That would have killed me before I sorted my head out,” adding, “But it was one of the first jobs after the pandemic I took on when I wasn’t being driven by fear – and I loved it.”
Discussing how his working-class background influenced his feelings of imposter syndrome within the predominantly middle-class TV comedy scene, he recounted an amusing incident when attending a Mexican-themed party at Jimmy Carr’s house with high-profile guests such as Sir Elton John, Kourtney Kardashian, and Jonathan Ross.
Unsure what to bring, he turned up with eight cans of Heineken and a bottle of tequila in a carrier bag. Recalling his entrance, he said: “I walked in with this big blue bag and thought: ‘F***, I know this isn’t the right thing to bring, but I can’t ditch it now, they’ve seen it’,” he shared about entering Carr’s mansion.
“So I just owned the moment and it was an open goal for Jimmy and Elton, me bowling in with a bag from the offie.”