Rich Keeble on Making His Characters from ‘Rivals’ and ‘Good Omens’ Memorable

If you are familiar with TV series such as Good Omens or Rivals, chances are you are familiar with Rich Keeble, though you might not be aware. In fact, you might even know Keeble from his various voice acting roles, such as LEGO Batman or the video game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Whatever the role, Rich Keeble always brings his all to ensure his part in the bigger picture never goes unnoticed. Sometimes the biggest impacts come from the smallest of influences.

I recently spoke with Keeble about his recent roles on Rivals and Good Omens, becoming Good Omens‘ biggest Doctor Who fan, and more. 

On Joining Rivals & Discovering Who Brian Is

Based on Jilly Cooper’s novel, Rivals thrives on larger-than-life personalities navigating a world of ambition, excess, and backroom politics. While Keeble’s character, Brian, may occupy a smaller corner of that universe, the actor immediately saw something appealing about bringing him to life. 

“I’m in a position where I generally say yes to things that people offer me to do, so that was the first thing,” Keeble joked. “But he felt like a really fun character to play.”

Keeble revealed that he had actually auditioned for other roles before ultimately landing Brian. However, once the opportunity came along, it felt like the perfect fit.

Working with director Elliot Hegarty and a casting team he already knew only reinforced that feeling, and after getting an inside look at the live television environment that inspired the show’s production offices, he knew he wanted to be part of it.

“There was no way that you say no to something like this,” Keeble said. 

Despite Brian existing within a world of wealth, power, and betrayal, Keeble believes the series succeeds because it never loses sight of its humanity.

“A lot of it comes down to the writing,” he explained, praising the creative team for carefully balancing the show’s dramatic moments with its lighter comedic elements.

“It was a tricky balance because some of it’s very dramatic, but there’s also some very light comedy,” Keeble said. “The team was so good at giving us all the context and support we needed that it helped us portray these characters in a way that’s hopefully likable while acknowledging that they’re living in a very different era.”

That balancing act also informed Keeble’s own performance. Rather than leaning too heavily into Brian’s place within the show’s old-fashioned boys’ club culture, he wanted the character to feel authentic without becoming cartoonish.

At the same time, joining an ensemble cast packed with established talent brought its own pressure.

“You want to fit in and do your job and be part of the team,” Keeble said. “You want to bring some ideas, but not make it too much about you.” 

Returning to Rivals for Season 2

Keeble admitted returning for a second season meant more to him than audiences might expect. As cast members began receiving calls to reprise their roles, he found himself anxiously waiting for confirmation that Brian would be back as well.

“I couldn’t think of a good reason why I wouldn’t come back,” he laughed, joking that perhaps the character would simply disappear off-screen.

When the call finally arrived, relief quickly gave way to excitement.

“It was really delightful,” Keeble said. “I made sure I would relax into Season 2 a bit more and sort of enjoy myself because I think I was a bit impostor syndrome-y and in my head during the first season.”

That shift in perspective allowed him to appreciate the production on an entirely different level, settling into the ensemble rather than worrying about measuring up. 

Becoming Good Omens’ Biggest Doctor Who Fan

Of course, Rivals isn’t the only project that has introduced Keeble to passionate fan communities. His role as Mr. Arnold in Good Omens has become a fan favorite, thanks in no small part to the delightful irony that his character is obsessed with Doctor Who while standing face-to-face with David Tennant’s Crowley.

“When you meet Mr. Arnold, he’s there with Michael Sheen and David Tennant talking about Doctor Who while a Doctor is right in front of us,” Keeble laughed. “We don’t seem to be aware.”

The crossover has become a favorite among fans online, something Keeble happily embraces whenever Doctor Who celebrations roll around. Asked what Mr. Arnold might have been thinking during the show’s finale, he imagines the shopkeeper was simply trying to carry on with business as usual.

“I think he was just cracking on with it really,” he joked. “Trying to avoid getting sucked into the Whitworth Street Traders and Shopkeepers Association meetings.”

Even when comparing wardrobes between Brian and Mr. Arnold, Keeble gives the edge to his Good Omens alter ego, praising the character’s eclectic style and remembering the elaborate costumes designed for the role. 

“I love Mr. Arnold leaning into the Doctor Who thing. Those outfits are timeless.”  

And yes, I also asked him about the David Tennant of it all since he’s now been involved in two shows helmed by Tennant.

The David Tennant Connection

Working with David Tennant on both Good Omens and Rivals gave Keeble an up-close look at one of television’s most respected performers, but it wasn’t Tennant’s acting that impressed him most.

It was the way he treated everyone around him.

“David’s always done his homework. He’s always ready,” Keeble said. “He’s really into the process.”

Whether helping camera operators hit technical marks, remaining on set when he easily could have returned to his trailer, or simply chatting with cast and crew between takes, Keeble noted that Tennant’s professionalism sets the tone for the entire production.

“His professionalism mixed with just being normal trickles down,” Keeble explained. “We’re all doing our best, but also just enjoying what we’re doing.”

Pushing Himself Out of His Comfort Zone

While audiences may know Keeble from television, his work extends well beyond the screen. Recent voice acting roles in projects like LEGO Batman and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have challenged him in entirely different ways, allowing him to portray characters he would never play on camera.

Still, when reflecting on the projects that pushed him furthest outside his comfort zone, he returned to Good Omens and Rivals.

The scale of both productions, as well as the opportunity to work alongside actors like David Tennant, Michael Sheen, and Jon Hamm, helped transform his confidence as a performer.

“I think they’ve made me a better actor and a better performer,” Keeble said. “Learning from all these veterans of stage and screen…they’ve been life-changing jobs.”

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You can catch Rich Keeble in Rivals on Disney+ and Hulu, and Good Omens on Prime Video.

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