Comedian Jimmy Carr has said comedy should be taught in schools. The 54-year-old presenter, known for hosting 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Last One Laughing UK, as well as performing his own stand-up comedy shows, said he thinks no one is born funny and that comedy is a “teachable skill” that can help young people find their “authentic voice”.
Comedy as a teachable skill
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Carr said: “I think comedy should be taught in schools, well drama more generally, but comedy specifically. I think a lot of people would be drawn to it. It is a teachable skill. Is it an innate ability? Are you born funny? I don’t think so.”
He compared it to musical ability, saying: “I think it’s like saying you’re born able to play the piano. Yeah, people have musical ability, people might be drawn to it or have a talent for it, but I think it is something that can be taught.”
More valuable than grade three piano
Carr said it would be a more valuable skill than learning grade three piano. He added: “You will write down and order your thoughts. You’ll learn to communicate them and you will speak in your own authentic voice. Is that not more valuable than grade three on the piano? I think it is because that’s a transferable skill no matter whether you do stand-up or not. Being able to present to a group and have a little bit of humour and that will help your relationships and help your job and help your presentations and everything else. It’s a valuable skill to learn.”
He also said: “I want more people to join the choir. I want more people involved in comedy.”
UK arts and the full interview
Carr went on to claim that the UK “punches way above its weight in the arts”, however he said as a country it does not lean into it as much as it should. The full interview can be heard on the most recent episode of the High Performance podcast.
