James Acaster

“If a comic laughs at their own jokes, I don't like it. They shouldn't find it funny; they should seriously believe in this stupid thing they're saying.”

“Because such a massive part of stand-up is trying and failing first, I'm not putting as much pressure on. Just going out and doing it is enough.”

“Every comic delves into the personal archive when their imagination runs dry.”

“I thought all good art is you doing exactly what you want to see. I didn't realise that's not even what I really like about art. Bands I liked weren't doing just what they want to do: they were finding their common ground with them and me.”

“I'd decided to write about stuff that I would like to hear standup about.”

“I left school and didn't go to university to be in a band.”

“What if every relationship you've ever been in, is someone slowly figuring out they didn't like you as much as they hoped they would?”