Damo’s deadly despair: Trouble looms for Shortland Street IT buff.

Grant Lobban tells how he had to find his dramatic side for his latest Shortland Street storyline. Kerry Harvey reports.

Shortland Street’s Grant Lobban knows there is nothing funny about bowel cancer. However, if a bit of toilet humour can raise awareness of the disease that is the second-highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand, then he is all for it.

Lobban says Damo, the geeky IT guy he has played for two years, is the perfect candidate for the killer disease.

“He’s an unhealthy eater. He’s always got those junk-food wrappers on his desk. He’s just an unhealthy, disgusting guy,” Lobban says.

“Plus, he can get away with farting. I can’t imagine Harper (Ria Vandervis) getting away with that quite as well.”

New Zealand has one of the highest incidences of bowel cancer in the world. Each year about 3000 people are diagnosed with the disease and more than 1200 will die from it. While more common in those aged over 50, it affects all ages but it can be treated successfully if it is detected and treated early.

Damo, like most people, doesn’t take too much notice of his growing list of symptoms and, indeed, jokes about what is happening. However, reality

strikes this week when a colonoscopy reveals an ominous mass in his bowel. When Boyd (Sam Bunkall) tells him he needs surgery, Damo reacts in his own inimitable way. “The comedy is very natural to me. It’s easy to play the clown,” Lobban says, admitting serious storylines are much more challenging. “With comedy you can do anything and it doesn’t have to be believable, just funny, whereas serious subjects like cancer you are quite conscious of making it look as real as possible. “That was hard because I haven’t had any dramatic training so Luke Patrick (who plays Frank Warner) was very good. He gave me some techniques and helped me with some prep – talked me through less is more, don’t over-act it, just feel it.” While Damo’s symptoms make him the focus of plenty of jokes, there is no getting away from the serious message behind the storyline. “That message, of course, being check yourself early and you can survive these things,” Lobban says, adding he has taken that advice on board himself. “I’m eating less meat, a lot less beef jerky – I love that stuff. There are a lot of vegetarians (among the cast) who talk about meat and how it’s terrible for your bowels. “I guess I have been a bit healthier since, having a few more bits of broccoli.”

While he is keeping mum about Damo’s prognosis, Lobban is relishing being part of New Zealand’s long-running drama – even if a career as an actor is not what he envisaged when he started in stand-up comedy in 1996.

“I was a young man full of hopes and dreams and I was hoping I was going to be a big stand-up superstar,” he says.

“I originally wanted to be a heavy-metal bassist singer but it wasn’t working out so I met a friend (Flight Of

The Conchords’ Rhys Darby) who was into comedy and we’d write funny songs.

“I’d do one gig and be walking around the streets expecting everyone to recognise me. I got a big ego for a while, but looking back it was just small-town Christchurch.”

After years of working smoky pubs for $50 a gig, Lobban auditioned for television commercials.

“The first audition I did I landed a commercial and got paid $7000 and ‘This is the way to go’,” he says.

Damo appeared on Shorty in 2015 but has really come into his own in the past year. His on-off romance with Leanne (Jennifer Ludlum) endeared him to fans and he admits rarely a day goes by when he’s not asked to pose for photos by strangers who recognise him.

“When I was first cast, I thought ‘This is just going to be a one-off’. I just thought ‘I’m going to give it everything I’ve got and play with it and be this big dorky guy’, so I just went for it really,” Lobban says.

“It’s been a full year this year and before that on and off for a year. I’d love it to continue.”

“Check yourself early and you can survive these things.” – Grant Lobban talks about bowel cancer.