And like the old stereotype, I overcame my shyness by making my friends laugh. Paul Merton friendlaughmake Change image and share on social
Maybe there's a perception of me as grumpy old bugger who suffers from depression. It's a total misconception. I don't think of myself as any grumpier than the next person. I'm not even grumpy first thing in the morning. Paul Merton buggerdepressiongrumpy share on social
It was a bizarre existence I led in my early twenties - that cliche of the comedian who goes out and entertains a roomful of people and then goes home to a lonely bedsit was unbelievably poignant for me because that was exactly what I was doing. I had periods of real loneliness. Paul Merton bedsitbizarrecliche share on social
I looked at longevity in show business when I was about 13, and the people who seemed to have longevity were the ones who'd spent quite a bit of time learning about what they were doing before they made it. Paul Merton bitebusinesslearn share on social
Well, sanity, I suppose, is getting people to see the world your way. Paul Merton peoplesanitysuppose Change image and share on social
When I turned about 12 or 13, I realised that being funny wasn't about remembering jokes. It was about creating them. Paul Merton createfunnyjoke Change image and share on social
If you became a comedian in the '80s, you had to work the circuit and make people laugh. Canned laughter is cheating. Paul Merton 80scannedcheat Change image and share on social
I read every book about Buster Keaton and Chaplin to see how they worked - it's all about dedication, tunnel vision, pursuit of perfection, getting the gag right. Paul Merton bookbustchaplin Change image and share on social
I really don't take any interest at all in contemporary comedy. Paul Merton comedycontemporaryinterest Change image and share on social
I remember being fascinated by the very nature of comedy from the age of 10; why is this funny, and that isn't? Paul Merton agecomedyfascinate Change image and share on social
