There’s No Place Like Home, Radio East Gippsland (REG FM)’s weekly radio serial, is excited to welcome the show’s newest cast member: international comedian and actor Ross Noble.
Ross, who was in Bairnsdale recently to perform his new comedy show Cranium of Curiosities, agreed to pop into the REG FM studios and record a number of episodes of There’s No Place Like Home, playing football coach Albie Crimple.
“We’re incredibly excited that Ross agreed to join the cast,” Will Richards, writer and producer of There’s No Place Like Home, said.
“As well as being a fantastic comedian, Ross is a very respected actor and he played the character of Albie brilliantly.
“He spent an afternoon with us and took the process very seriously. He was a joy to work with and it was a privilege to see how somebody with his level of experience approaches a role.”
Ross’s character, Albie, is a dodgy footy coach who encourages his team, The Coochie Creek Possums, to engage in some questionable tactics such as hair pulling, nose biting and throwing potatoes at the opposition.
This is, as he puts it, “A creative way to make up for the team’s skill, fitness and coordination deficiencies”.
Albie’s involvement forms part of a storyline in which the Coochie Creek Possums – a team comprised of three local lads and a dog – play a grudge match (dating back to a pub brawl in 1973) against arch rivals Lake Miserable.
“So far, There’s No Place Like Home has had storylines relating to the local show, the local school concert, a food poisoning outbreak, a company trying to build a mine in the town and a local art show,” Will said.
“So we thought it was about time there was a local footy match. When we heard Ross was interested, we knew he was the perfect person to play the coach.
“There’s no reason why a Pom shouldn’t be an Aussie Rules coach and anyway, he doesn’t spend too much time on actual footballing tactics.”
When asked whether the character was inspired by any real-life individuals, Will was adamant: “Absolutely not. I am sure that all the football teams here in East Gippsland are fit, healthy and observe impeccable sportsmanship.
“I’m sure all the local coaches are skilled and professional individuals. Albie and his team The Possums are totally fictional. But I hope people enjoy a taste of how not to play football,” Will said.
As well as appearing in There’s No Place Like Home, Ross has been touring the world with his one-man comedy show. He also recently appeared in London’s west end, creating the role of Igor in the musical Young Frankenstein, working closely with comedy legend Mel Brooks, who describes Ross as having “pure funny bones”.
Will agrees.
“After he worked with us at REG FM, I saw Ross’s show in Bairnsdale and he is one of the most amazing and hilarious comedians I’ve ever seen. Relatives of mine recently saw him in London and I was pleased to be able to say:
I saw him in Bairnsdale first and he’s part of our show,” Will said.
“We know people around the world listen to There’s No Place Like Home and there’s no doubt that Ross’s involvement will bring even more international attention to REG FM and to East Gippsland.
“It’s great to be able to show the world what we can create here.”
There’s No Place Like Home airs on REG FM (90.7 and 101.5 on the FM dial) each Saturday night at 7pm and listeners can catch up on previous episodes via the REG FM website and the REG FM app.
Listeners can hear Ross Noble’s character putting his team through their paces on Saturday, December 13.
