Sunday Times columnist Andrew Clover explains his Dad Rules (From Harrow Times)

Sunday Times columnist Andrew Clover explains his Dad Rules

5:33pm Friday 19th February 2010 in

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BALANCING home life and work is a tricky high wire act for parents, especially during school holidays. Help is at hand, however, as Andrew Clover delivers anecdotes from his acclaimed Sunday Times column, Dad Rules at The Maltings Arts Theatre this Saturday. Like the column and bestselling book, the show chronicles how he changed from a bloke who’s terrified of kids to a father of three young daughters who’s contented and fulfilled.

To date, Andrew has taken five shows to the Edinburgh Fringe, he is the author of Baby Man, a fantasy novel and wrote the script for the animation Heavy Pockets, which was nominated for a BAFTA. He has numerous other writing, acting and radio credits to his name including a regular appearance in Ashes To Ashes. Most recently he starred as Gary, the keyboard playing dad in the BBC’s comedy drama series, My Almost Famous Family.

So is there anything the parenting guru can’t do?

“I’ve done a lot of things,” admits Andrew disarmingly. “But I’m not a musician, I have to mime. I’ve always wanted to be an actor but that’s gradually turned into something else.”

I was terrified I’d turn into my own dad – a huge man sitting on the sofa like a whale washed up on the beach. I was also scared my career would die

Andrew Clover on becoming a parent

Born in Maidstone in Kent, Andrew’s family moved to Luxembourg where his mother ran a play school.

“In my teens I worked as a play school teacher,” recalls Andrew. “At one point I had the whole school on the floor and I told them you’re all sausages and I’d sprinkling butter and pepper on them while they rolled across the floor.”

Andrew, who has lived in Muswell Hill “ever since school became an important factor” says he began looking after the children when his wife Livy became the major breadwinner. Since the success of Dad Rules they’ve been able share the childcare and Andrew has grown from a reluctant father figure into an inspiring educator.

So what was he so scared of?

“I was terrified I’d turn into my own dad – a huge man sitting on the sofa like a whale washed up on the beach. I was also scared my career would die and I was right because I didn’t work for three years – as much as we love our children, men don’t take to that. Men expect rewards and cash not changing nappies at two in the morning – but it turned out it was my big break.”

Like many parents, Andrew is concerned about the target obsessed state of our education system.

“I think there’s a lot of pressure for people to succeed and be tested and what you lose is playfulness. That’s what the show is all about, I’m the guy who’s good at playing.”

Dad Rules comes to The Maltings Arts Theatre on Saturday at 8pm. Details: 01727 844222