Vic Reeves, also known as Jim Moir, has revealed in an exclusive conversation with The Mirror that he has given up television and plans to devote his time to pursuing a different interest.
Vic Reeves was a comedy sensation when he burst on to our TV screens in the 1990s. Alongside his equally funny sidekick, Bob Mortimer, his surrealist humour had the nation howling. But after a career spanning nearly 30 years, he has quit showbiz to devote his life to countryside walks and painting.
Although it may seem like a dramatic career move, Vic, 66, who is now known as Jim Moir, claims that the stage production of Vic Reeves Big Night Out was meant to be a work of art. He claims, “I stopped doing comedy years ago. Bob and I don’t have to watch TV to watch that chemistry. I initially thought of Big Night Out as a work of art rather than a comedy when I started doing it. That was it in the end.
Being famous is “all the work that goes around the production.” Just being on TV was never something I really enjoyed.
The last Vic and Bob episode was in 2017, so we had to put that on hold.
He never gets bored, though, despite turning his back on famous people. I wake up very early, go to the studio, paint, and go for a walk in the afternoon, Jim, who lives in Kent with his wife Nancy, 50, says. That’s much better for me.
He attributes his love of nature to his early experiences in Hurworth, near Darlington, Co Durham. And his fascination with the countryside is reflected in his frequently bird-themed artwork.
He recalls saying, “When I was younger, there were no laptops. ” He recalls making that statement before his most recent exhibition, Knot Twister Prologue. I spent my entire time outdoors, in nature.
“When I was out walking with Nancy twenty years ago, I would frequently say, “There is that bird,” and I would go into great detail about it.
You don’t know what you’re going to see, so it gives you a reason to go out, which is more random than train spotting. It’s a fantastic way to get outdoors in nature. It never makes me sluggish. It’s so lovely.
The Late Shows, Newcastle and Gateshead’s celebration of after-hours culture, will air Knot Twister Prologue on May 16 at The Biscuit Factory with special evening access starting at 6pm and running until 10:30pm. The entire work is available for purchase. until July 16 is the start date.
