Born:
January 24, 1959
in
Leeds
Best Known For:
Being Bob Mortimer's mate.
Early-life:
Born James Roderick Moir in Leeds on January 24, 1959, but he is better known by his stage name Vic Reeves. He moved to Darlington with his parents and younger sister, Lois, at the age of five. He left school without any qualifications and after his plan to attend art college was dashed, he became an apprentice at a mechanical engineering firm. A move to London in 1979 changed his life. Vic appeared in several bands before turning to comedy, naming himself after singers Vic Damone and Jim Reeves. His friends still call him Jim, while his family knows him as Rod.
Career:
In 1986, Reeves received an Enterprise Allowance grant to finance the stage show Vic Reeves' Variety Palladium, which later became Vic Reeves' Big Night Out. He met Bob Mortimer during its run, and their partnership was formed. A TV version of the show appeared in 1990. Reeves and Mortimer went on to create hits such as The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Shooting Stars, Families at War and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). Away from the partnership, Reeves has featured in various adverts, hosted historical series Rogues Gallery, been a contestant on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and presented Brainiac: Science Abuse. He's also published an acclaimed autobiography, Me: Moir. Shooting Stars was later resurrected - then unceremoniously axed - by the BBC, but Reeves and Mortimer continue to work together, including on the sitcom House of Fools.
Quote:
"Vic Reeves is really just a character on TV. He's an exaggerated version of me, I suppose. He's more brusque and self-confident."
Trivia:
Reeves now uses his real name when appearing in straight acting roles, such as the 2011 drama Eric and Ernie.