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HY did the comedian walk onto stage at 8.30pm? Because he had to put his kids to bed first.

The commonality of Riaad Moosa and Nik Rabinowitz both turning 40 this year goes beyond age, comedy and family (they each have three children).

They both also have welldeveloped laugh lines, an occupational hazard from pulling funny faces for 15 years or so.

Two of South Africa’s wittiest men — they double up as philosophers, life coaches, social commentators — did in fact begin their latest shows after their children’s bedtime.

“For the first time ever, comedy shows at the Baxter started at 8.30pm. You have to pull your shift at home,” says Rabinowitz.

But both say they have produced some of the most personal comedy of their careers.

Rabinowitz’s Fortyfied, and Moosa’s Life Begins are a peek into their lives, marriages, religion, managing three short people and their antics, with so much funny.

And they truth-tell in their 40-centric comedy.

Apart from revealing their ailments and afflictions (Moosa: spinal disc prolapse and perpetual irritation; Rabinowitz: elevated cholesterol and poor sex life), they share their new-found insights.

At Moosa’s show at Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre, he talks about how his wife can’t handle his noisy chewing (“It is a little sound that is created when I chew. It’s from a sinus issue, man. I can’t eat Pringles in my own home.”)

At the Cape Town Comedy Club, Rabinowitz spills his gospel on marriage. (“It is about knowing your place. I came home from a gig with a bit of man flu. My wife just looked at me, lying on the couch, needy, and stopped it in its tracks: ‘I have three kids, the dog, the cat. And you. I have nothing left to give! Maybe a little for the cat, but the dog and you: NOTHING!’ ”

Both are brilliant impressionists (Moosa’s Donald Trump and Rabinowitz’s Desmond Tutu are spectacular). Their gift, though, is tackling serious issues with humour.

Moosa’s defence of Caster Semenya, for instance: “Caster was accused of having an advantage, too much testosterone. I have plenty of male hormones. . . how do you think I would do in a race against her?”

And Rabinowitz on politics: “I know a lot of people say Zuma must go, but as a comedian I'm in two minds about it. We get a lot of material from the guy.”

Here’s more: How old are you in comedy years?

Riaad: 16, I studied medicine and I also studied magic. But then