Reading through your professional rap sheet, you have packed in an enormous amount of work into your 34 years, has your huge success at such a relatively young age surprised you?

I am really fortunate that my first big TV gig on Rove lasted for ten years, you can’t ask for a better launching pad. Then ‘Before the Game ‘ came along as well as different opportunities, I think the key to my success has been choosing work wisely, I have said no to a lot more than I have said yes to. I also really love working and writing which helps.

What did you think you’d be doing as a grown up?
As a kid I quite liked the idea of being a zoo keeper until I realised that I didn’t enjoy handling animals which made this line of work problematic. I was a really keen cartoonist as a teenager and pretty good at it but then I stopped drawing and became not so good at it. I turned to journalism, I love writing and then comedy came along at 21 but my aim was always to one day write a movie.

You are performing your new show, Dreamboat, at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, what should audiences prepare for?

An honest but funny look at relationships, marriage and kids. After 10 years of sitting on a couch I am a little more mobile so prepare for a pretty high energy show.

How do you go about writing a new show and who do you test it out on?

Usually I‘ll have a joke or scenario in my head and it can take years for that idea to work into a routine. I slowly build on it and from there I might do a 20-30 minute routine at a Club to check out the material using new and old stuff and build up to a test show. I bounce ideas on Lehmo, who is a great mate and extremely talented and he will give me feedback and tips, the wife has been banned as a judge.

How did your feature film I Love You Too come about and what’s it about?

Eight years in the making and out in cinemas May 6, of all my work I am most proud of this film. When I was on Rove it was great doing the topical gags but this is a more personal piece of work. It’s a romantic comedy that shows
off beautiful Melbourne.

What’s your secret to balancing family, writing, TV appearances, stand up, morning radio, legends footy matches and training and film producing,
do you ever sleep?

I do, I have really improved at balancing my time, physically it’s OK but it
becomes hard mentally to keep up with doing so much. I have learnt to compartmentalise things now, I try to concentrate on one thing at a time but occasionally things overlap. I left ‘Before the Game’ to spend Saturdays with my kids, I used to make Mondays my Saturday but it became hard to hang out with them when they had school on.

What’s it like being Peter Helliar at home, any celebrity treatment?

Certainly not! At home I’m a husband, father, brother and son just like anyone else, there’s no celebrity treatment.

Views on Docklands?

I think we were all a bit worried at first when building started but I think
its become a good area to hang out. It’s a great part of Melbourne.

Dreamboat Tour March 25 - 17 April,
Forum Theatre
www.comedyfestival.com.au