A Class Act by Rob Beckett

 

Rob Beckett never seems to fit in. At work, in the middle-class world of television and comedy, he’s the laddy, cockney geezer but to his mates down the pub in south-east London, he’s the theatrical one, a media luvvy. Even his wife and kids are posher than him.

In this hilarious exploration of class, Rob tries to understand the life he lived growing up as a working-class kid in comparison to the life he lives now.

Will he ever favour a craft beer over strong lager? When did it become normal for kids to eat sushi? Is he still working class? Why does he feel so embarrassed about success? And, will it ever be acceptable to serve pie mash on a wooden board?

Tackling the questions big and small, A Class Act is a funny, candid, often moving account of what it feels like to be an outsider and why actually that’s the best (slightly awkward) place to be.

We all know how much of a funny man Rob Beckett is, I really enjoyed listening to Parenting Hell by him and Josh Widdecombe, so I had to grab this one before my Bookbeat subscription ran out.

He talks about growing up working class, and how different his life is now. The stories he tells of growing up, some were hilarious and I laughed out loud quite a few times. His brothers heckling him at his stand up performances, the laughs and memories he’s made with his family. But he also talks a lot about his mental health later on in life too, and my heart honestly went out to him. I’m hoping he’s been able to get any help he needs and is doing much better now.

A really good read (well I listened), and I think if you enjoy funny stories, and a glimpse into other peoples lives, you’ll like this one.