Nobby Doldrums

Nobby Doldrums is a fictional character played by Australian comedian, Shaun Micallef on the 1990s comedy sketch, Full Frontal. Nobby seems to have an almost obsessive fixation with Kerry O'Brien on The 7.30 Report. Nobby frequents as a guest on O'Brien's programme making spurious claims such as being able to communicate with rats (he concludes by saying that he can speak to them, but they can't speak back to him), having a photographic memory and an I.Q of over seven million (when one thing he can remember is having had some Lego as a child, his justification is "Yeah well I don't call myself Mr Particularly Good Memory do I?") and discovering a rare specimen of a previously unknown species (the specimen he produces is, in fact, a plastic toy skeleton). In another segment, Nobby claims to be the world's first human goldfish, and hence has a two second memory span. This prompts Kerry to ask Nobby if gold fish can fly. When Nobby replies in the negative, Kerry strikes him in the head with a cricket bat. He then times a two second interval, before asking Nobby the same questions, and again striking him when he replies in the negative. This continues until Nobby flinches, thus proving to Kerry that Nobby does have a memory beyond 2 seconds. Kerry challenges this, to which Nobby replies "I forgot not to!"

Nobby is also known for his excited (yet uneasy) laughter and bright (yet foolish) grin as well as an unconventional dress sense (he wore a cape believing it would add to the credibility of his claims of an outstanding memory) and hair styles (he once had his hair gelled up in the formation of two crests).

It is never indicated why Nobby spends his life obtaining interviews with O'Brien. Neither is it indicated why O'Brien (who is always unconvinced by Nobby's claims) continues to interview him. Interviews usually end with O'Brien stating "Nobby Doldrums, I hate you." Nobby, seemingly unaware of such hostility, is always willing to sit for another interview and smiles as he thanks O'Brien for his time.

See also Milo Kerrigan

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