Express & Star

Robert Webb, Glee Club, Birmingham - review

Half of the Mitchell and Webb double act, he's best known for being Peep Show's favourite slob Jeremy among other countless sketch show characters.

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Robert Webb

And on the back of his hit new memoir How Not To Be A Boy, Robert Webb has been taking the book on the road across the UK.

Last night, he was welcomed to the second city by a sell-out crowd at Birmingham's glorious Glee Club venue.

The evening even happened to coincide with the debut of his and David Mitchell's new Channel 4 sitcom Back.

The show featured an in-depth discussion on the book and two readings from Webb before the audience were invited to ask their questions.

From childhood experiences to the saddening and sheer amount of death he went through – Webb was intriguing and honest throughout.

Handling some pretty sensitive subjects remarkably well, he was hilariously charming during the hour-long show.

He opened up on a same-sex teenage relationship and spoke passionately on the struggles and expectations boys and men face on a day-to-day basis.

The brainchild of Harry Potter JK Rowling is among those to praise the book: “Quite simply brilliant. I (genuinely) cried. I (genuinely) laughed out loud. It’s profound, touching, personal yet universal . . . I love it.”

And her words sum up the evening's affairs quite aptly.

Closing with some unusual questions from the crowd, we found out what he's scared of (North Korea and Brexit), his opinions on Jez and Mark (terrible men) and how he likes his steak (medium rare).

But he heartbreakingly ruled out any plans for a Strictly Come Dancing appearance in the near future.

The evening came to an end and, after a rush to catch the next train, Mitchell and Webb were Back on the telly at 10pm.

Here's hoping it can fill that Mitchell and Webb void the sickening end of nine Peep Show series has left in our lives. It's off to a good start!