British Comedy Guide

What made you want to do comedy?

When I was a kid I wanted to be either a stunt man or a comedian. Then one day I learned from a supply PE teacher (who performed stunts in many big Hollywood productions, including Tim Burton's Batman) that there was more to the job than just falling off of things and surviving. The day he gave an assembly hall demonstration that involved gymnastics and at least three martial arts was the day my ambition to be part of that profession died, leaving comedy as my default choice.

So what was the seed of your desire to get involved in the business?

Because I'm a tortured genius.

I always made people laugh it was one of the few things I was good at (or believed I was?) I could never take myself seriously as a writer, so a comedian seemed the next obvious choice.

I suppose it's just been in my DNA since forever. I was always having fun doing speaches at Barmitzahs or writing Purim Shpiels (like a Nativity but more violent and blood thirsty). Then winding people up in school debates and later unuiversity lectures.

Comedy's binary, it's simple. People laugh or they don't. If like me you lack confidence in communication then it's very clear. The audience is laughing or it isn't.

Not only that you make someone laugh. And you've induced one of the simplest, oldest emotional reactions.

Dunno does this make me sound a bit nuts?

I'm a spiteful, sexless, selfish man-child. That's where it all comes from.

I don't have any defining moment by any means. I've just always loved comedy, and am lucky enough to be with someone who emphatically encouraged me to go for it.

Plus I'm f**king hillarious.

The sex really.

Quote: Tuumble @ September 6 2010, 2:25 PM BST

Because I a tortured genius.

This is your sentence for giving Stephen Hawking a wedgie?

(sorry I'm a dog that has to chase every car)

Quote: sootyj @ September 6 2010, 2:33 PM BST

This is your sentence for giving Stephen Hawking a wedgie?

(sorry I'm a dog that has to chase every car)

That's sooty OK. I words, order occasionally wrong. :)

Am I in the business? I'm not getting any money. I think because if you write and you want something entertaining, it needs to be funny-ok, it could be meaningful as well or instead, but mostly it needs to be funny.

Quote: Tim Azure @ September 6 2010, 3:02 PM BST

Am I in the business? I'm not getting any money. I think because if you write and you want something entertaining, it needs to be funny-ok, it could be meaningful as well or instead, but mostly it needs to be funny.

Okey dokey.

Quote: David Bussell @ September 6 2010, 3:03 PM BST

Okey dokey.

Yeah well what's funny about that? ;)

It's sex man!

Quote: Marc P @ September 6 2010, 2:33 PM BST

The sex really.

Let's unpack the question further then, shall we? Who here has got laid because of their comedy?

Yes. And also no because of it.

Quote: David Bussell @ September 6 2010, 3:06 PM BST

Let's unpack the question further then, shall we? Who here has got laid because of their comedy?

No. But I am an unpleasant and ugly man. That doesn't help.

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