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Biography -
Stats:
Born: Clapham,
South London
Age:
33
DOB:
15th May 1972
Eyes:
Brown
Height: 5ft
11"
Feet:
Size 10
Love:
Currently in a relationship
Lives:
Plush pad in Docklands
Family:
His
dad owns a cab firm and used to be married to Naomi Campbell's mum.
His uncle an 80’s star had a number one hit in the USA and in the UK.
Richard was brought up by his grandparents.
Where To Find Him:
Raving
at "Twice As Nice" AKA The End on a Sunday.
In
the Gym, Pinnacle in Norbury, London SW16.
Eating
out and mixing with celebrities at trendy eateries in the West End.
Inspirations:
Richard
Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock.
Quotes:
"You've
heard of Beverly Hills Cop - well I want to do a Brixton Hills Cop"
"I'd
describe myself as intelligent, kind, stubborn(ish), friendly, trustworthy,
bluntly honest and terrible at saving"
"My
quick comedy skills were born on the school bus, I'd sometimes get stick from
other boys. I learnt to deal with it by cutting down anybody that took me
on. That's when I knew I wanted to get into comedy"
"It's
flattering being compared to Will Smith because he's successful and brilliant at
what he does and he's a nice and funny guy. But at the end of the day, I
want to be known as Richard Blackwood"
"My
clothing budget has gone through the roof. Shop assistants just go to town
on me"
Football Team:
Manchester
United
Other Interesting
Facts:
He is
a Catholic, his grandmother gave him a cross when he was young, and he keeps it
above his bed and each night he kneels down and does the sign of the cross
before he goes to sleep.
When
Richard Blackwood is feeling low, he listens to 'Don't You Worry About A Thing'
by Stevie Wonder to make himself feel better
.
He
doesn’t smoke, drink or take drugs...
Career:
Richard Blackwood claims that he always wanted to be a
performer, but he did the sensible thing and took a business degree course.
After he graduated he did a one off gig at "The Spot" in Covent Garden
and from there
he's popularity grew. He also did
guest spots on BBC2’s late night black entertainment programme "The A-Force" as
well as sketches on "The Real McCoy" and
"Five Night Stand".
His hard work paid off and he was picked up by
MTV, where for the past two years he has been the host of MTV "Select".
Viewers phone in with video requests and Richard Blackwood keeps them entertained at
the same time. He also hosts "Singled Out" with Sara Cawood, which was originally
made for MTV and is now screened on Channel 5.
Channel
5 was the first TV station to realise his true potential as a comic host and
gave him his own comedy "Club Class", making him only the second
British black comedian to be given his own show to host.
Richard Blackwood has always written his own
material, however after a six-year period Planet 24 offered him his own chat
show, and he had to collaborate with writers.
His show was a success and had audiences eating out of his
hands. Each episode finished with Richard Blackwood showing his lyrical rapping talent.
Richard Blackwood says of himself
“I can go on TV and be very articulate and there are times when I’ll
go on and speak in street slang, 'cos I appreciate that everyone watches my
show, and I’m trying to tap into everyone.”
He also says that the possible reason why he is doing
so well is because his show is distinguished from others in it’s field, as it is fronted by a black British male, whose audience can really relate to the
host.
Next aim Hollywood…
Interviews:
Q1) You’re doing really well
on the TV, so why did you make a record?
A1) I don’t want to be type
cast as an MTV presenter - I always said I’d do MTV for one, two years tops
and I’ve been there for three years now. My uncle Junior was a pop star
in the 80s and he’s taught me all the tricks of the trade. He knows all
the rats in the industry, so they don’t approach me.
Q2) If you were a Singled
Out contestant, what question would you ask to find your ideal woman?
A2) I’d ask them to name
three things they could offer me in a relationship. I’d want them to say.
I’ll be behind you every step of the way, I don’t want you for anything but
you, and I’ll be your best friend as well as your girlfriend.
Q3) Are you a chat up fiend?
A3) Oh yeah, all the time.
I use stupid lines like “Lets go to the cinema – you buy the tickets and
I’ll buy the popcorn”, or “Lets have dinner at home – I’ll bring the
candles”
Q4) So have you got a
girlfriend?
A4) I have, actually. I don’t
really talk about her. She doesn’t work in TV or anything like that;
she’s just a normal member of the public. We’ve been together for a
while.
Q5) What qualities do you look
for in a girlfriend?
A5) Friendship and honesty.
Also I’m very attracted to confident women, cause I find it flattering if they
make the first move.
Q6) Who would you love to have
on your chat show?
A6) Will Smith, the American
actress Halle Berry and the actor Bob Hoskins.
Q7) Does it get on your nerves
being compared to Will Smith?
A7) Not at all – he’s
successful and brilliant at what he does and he’s a nice, funny guy. It’s a
huge compliment. I don’t think he’s got a problem with it either, cause a
woman approached him at the Brits and said “Richard?” and he turned round
and said “Blackwood yeah?” And he says “That’s cool, cause he’s the
man”
Q8) So would you rather be a
film star, a TV presenter or a pop star?
A8) Film Star, definitely.
Hollywood is where I want to be, and that’s what everything’s leading to.
I want to be a household name.
Q9) Sum up the real Richard
Blackwood in four words.
A9) Easy-going, witty, generous
and strong headed.
Just 17 - June 2000
Richard is not, incidentally a
fan of Ali G, although he gets on well with the character creator, Sacha Baron
Cohen. Blackwood believes that Ali G is misinterpreted by much of the
public. “Ali G is based on a white guy trying to be black and getting it
wrong. That’s been said many times, but I still get white people coming
up to me and saying Booyakasha! and I have to explain to them that it is not a
real black word. What that shows me is that they don’t understand the
character. When I watch the show
and listen to where the laughter comes, I think the joke is on the black man,
and that is a stereotype we are fighting every day”.
“Music is a bigger medium, so
if the song works, the name Richard Blackwood goes to a new level” For
similarly unromantic reasons, he has chosen to launch his career with an under
demanding commercial rap based around a sample of his uncle’s famous hit.
"It would have been stupid of me not to do it” he says “Its just good
marketing” He hopes his music will provide a platform to launch himself
in America, but the banality of his motivation could prove his undoing. He
knows it too. “It’s make or break” he suggests "If it doesn’t work,
I’ll be considered a failure”.
Incorrigible optimist that he
is, Blackwood does not dwell on this notion for very long "I would say that
it’s already working. I mean you’re interviewing me now, but you
probably didn’t even know who I was a few weeks ago"
The Daily Telegraph - 1
June2000
The aura surrounding Richard
Blackwood is electric; he comes bouncing on to the stage full of life and rich
in spirit. He is extremely intimate to his audience and also reassures the
white members of the audience that we love them. He says this because a
lot of his work is on the differences between the two races. Desperate not
to offend, he refers to whites as 'cousins'.
His response from the audience
is excellent. He keeps us focused right through to the end by using the
whole stage to animate his comedy. His subject matter is topical and his
angle often controversial.
After fifteen minutes of
Richard Blackwood the place is in stitches. He goes on for over forty
minutes and when he attempts to close his set the audience are begging for more.
Well worth the wait and by far the most passionate performer of the evening.
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