Russell Howard, one of the UK’s most successful comedians, has opened up about his career, family, and a memorable attempt to make Stephen Hawking laugh that ultimately failed. In a recent interview, the 44-year-old, who rose to fame on Mock the Week and his own BBC Three show, discussed his upbringing in Bath and his journey into comedy.
Howard, who now lives in London with his wife and baby son, recalled his early days on the standup circuit while studying economics at the University of the West of England. He described his first gig at Virgin Mirth in Bristol, followed by gruelling six-hour round trips to Plymouth for five-minute sets at Club Fandango. 'Making people laugh made me feel 10ft tall,' he said.
The comedian credited his large family—with 40 cousins—as a rich source of material. 'Spending time with my family is like hanging out with the Pogues,' he said, noting that he was more of a wallflower compared to his dominant relatives. He also paid tribute to his late grandfather, whose funeral eulogy he described as the hardest thing he has ever written.
Howard remains a self-confessed standup fanboy, citing John Kearns as a current obsession. He also reflected on a failed bid to make Stephen Hawking laugh during a charity event, admitting that the physicist's famous wit proved elusive. 'I tried my best, but he didn't crack a smile,' Howard said.
His new standup special, Russell Howard Live, will be available to stream from 15 January on his website. He continues to host the podcast Five Brilliant Things.
