The passions that drive Behave Yourself’s Lawrence Mooney

Lawrence Mooney is a panel regular on Channel Seven’s new show Behave Yourself but when not working he can be found tootling around in his beloved MG

MG: The MG only has a cassette deck in it, so I have a whole bunch of tapes that
I keep in the glovebox. The sound quality is actually quite good. Pictures: Chris Groenhaut

• WHO: Copmedian and Behave Yourslef! regular. Lawrence Mooney

• WHERE: Victorian terrace in Armadale, Melbourne

• FAVOURITE THING: I have been obsessed with the MG since I was a kid. It’s one of the most beautiful cars ever produced and a joy to drive

• INSPIRATION: I love the way space has been used in my home. For such a narrow structure, there’s not a lot of wasted space

• HOME IS: A place I long to be in my tracks dacks and Ugg boots.

LINING up to be part of the show that pokes fun at human behavioural science was a
no-brainer for comedian Lawrence Mooney who says using celebrities as lab rats has proven an uproarious experience.

He is a regular panel member on new show Behave Yourself and says irrational human behaviour makes for great viewing.

Darren McMullen hosts the show, which Lawrence says is akin to “herding cats”, while his job is “all care and no responsibility”.

The comedian says his professional life, which involves travelling nationally during the year ticking off comedy festivals, is balanced with a stable home life.

“The first past of the year is more structured and saturated than other parts, but the first night home after the festivals are done is divine. I always think, ‘I can’t do that again next year’, but the next year off I go again,” he says.

AT HOME WITH JANINE ALLIS

Lawrence says he has a supportive family in wife Lou and their daughter Maggie, 4, and his daughter Lily, 17, with ex-wife Rebecca.

Aside from his family his other great love is MG cars. He is now the proud owner of one, but had his family in stitches when he tried to buy a MG hardtop car as a youngster.

“It was selling for $50. My dad drove me out, with my two older brothers. When we got to the woman’s house, she says, ‘here it is’. Sitting on the floor was just the top of the car. My dad and brothers laughed so hard getting back in the car and teased me mercilessly going home.”

More: Behave Yourself!, Channel 7, au.tv.yahoo.com/plus7/behave-yourself

Leather jacket I went to Europe in 1985 hell bent on getting a leather jacket in Italy. It was stolen in Liverpool (UK) in a pub, so when I went back to Italy years later I bought another one in Rome.

Bobble head I love figurines and I know it’s quite narcissistic to have a bobble head of yourself, but the producers of Behave Yourself gave it to me as a gift, which is very sweet.

Tin can My father was a mechanical engineer and collected oil cans or tins which were full of tools. You look after your tools — they’re as important as the machine you’re working on.

Off The Road book I have had a lifetime obsession with the Beat Generation. Carolyn Cassady was an integral part of the story, and I met her when she signed her book at its launch.

Mythson diary My wife gave me this. It says Make It Happen. It came in a linen bag and you almost don’t want to use it because it’s so lovely, but life isn’t for putting on the shelf.

Photo of Aunty Sheila, Dad and Mum I love this picture. It’s lovely to see your parents in simpler times being romantic and carefree before the imposition of adult life sets in

Hippo picture We went to a cafe/art gallery in the Mornington Peninsula and our dog Rupert sat underneath this and just stared back at us. He did the same in the pet shop.

Motorbike This is another realisation of a boyhood dream after watching Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. I went to buy a Vespa, but the salesman says, “Did Steven McQueen escape jumping barricades on a Vespa? What you want is a motorbike.”