Comedian Matt Richardson talks girlfriends, famous mates and the mile-high club
The TV host and radio presenter met with us at Flight Experience, London, to answer questions on his newfound fame while finally fulfilling his childhood dreams of flying a plane... sort of
COMEDIAN, TV host and radio presenter Matt Richardson talks girlfriends, famous mates and the mile-high club.
Fabulous meets the 26-year-old in a special interview at Flight Experience, London, to finally fulfil his childhood dreams of flying a plane.
When did you get into flying, Matt?
I wanted to be a pilot from quite a young age. At about 12, I bought all these video games and a yoke [control wheel] and pedals to fly at home.
I’d sit in my room and fly from London to New York in real time.
I would’ve trained to be a pilot, but I couldn’t afford to. I have the best job in the world now, though. I’m me for a living!
Are you a member of the mile-high club?
No. Well, not with another person! So I suppose I’m a member of the half-a-mile-high club.
I was coming back from Australia and it was really boring and far…
OK, TMI. How jet-set is your life?
I’ll have a period of it being really jet-set and cool, and then I’ll be driving to places like Stafford and Kendal.
Last year, when I did the I’m A Celebrity! spin-off show, I got upgraded to first class on the way back.
Everyone else went to sleep – what a waste.
I tried every drink on the menu. I was smashed by the end!
Have you kept in touch with Caroline Flack since working with her on The Xtra Factor?
Yeah, she gets on really well with my girlfriend [model Sam Rollinson, 23], so we all go out a lot.
I like being her friend better than working with her because that kind of show is quite stressful – now we don’t have that pressure.
How do you balance comedy, TV and radio?
It’s not too crazy as Virgin Radio is really cool about giving me time off to do other things.
In February I’m doing Celebrity Haunted Mansion with Christine Lampard, my favourite person I’ve ever met in telly.
Does Sam worry she’ll end up as comedy material?
I talk about her extensively in my stand-up show.
I feel bad because if you go out with a singer they write love songs about you, but with a comedian they talk about all the embarrassing things.
The best routine in the show, which she doesn’t like, is about helping her remove her tampon because she was too drunk.
It happened – what are you going to do?!
In your show you also talk about being cheated on. Do you mean by ex-MIC star Ashley James?
No, it’s another girl. My relationship with Ashley was no walk in the park. Maybe she cheated, who knows?
But it’s annoying people assume it’s her and it ends up in the papers. We talk, but we’re not mates, we’re respectful.
Is it nice being in a more low-key relationship now?
In fashion, Sam is mega-famous, but I’m not in that world so it’s just dead normal really.
She’s amazing. She’s the best human being I’ve ever met. She’s super-northern and down to earth.
We’re about to move in together after two and a half years.
Ashley and I moved in after two months, so I’ve been reluctant to do it too soon.
Do you have major career goals?
To keep selling tickets and play bigger and bigger venues. I want to keep all the different plates spinning and blag this for as long as possible.
I’d love a TFI-Friday-type show and I’d jump at Strictly.
I’d be the novelty act and in a crab suit quicker than you can say Scott Mills!
- Matt is touring his stand-up show Slash until January 20 ()
