As a fervent admirer, let me share an amusing tidbit: Have you heard the joke about the stand-up comedian who’s essentially an introvert? Go on, chuckle away! That’s Rhys James, a Live at the Apollo star and regular panelist on BBC2’s Mock the Week, speaking. His debut book, available now, he labels as a “dread memoir” – but don’t worry, it’s still funny!
He admits it’s challenging to articulate his book, as it’s similar to boasting about oneself on a dating profile: ‘Aren’t I fantastic?!’ he jokes. However, it’s not the dread associated with something ominous or terrifying; rather, it’s the anxiety that arises from everyday social situations like attending a couples dinner, going to the pub, or giving a speech – an apprehension stemming from the fear of things not going as planned or being mortifying.
In essence, the statement “You’ll Like It When You Get There” can be understood as James’s childhood fear being encapsulated by the command “Come downstairs and say hello”, and his enthusiasm for events even when they are cancelled showing like an Andy Murray fist pump. Moreover, there are a few amusing tales about him feigning French identity to dodge conversations, in fact, there are three such instances.
At first glance, I might seem like someone who could fit the stereotype of an introvert, but that’s not entirely accurate. Introverts aren’t just those quiet, shy individuals you might find hiding in the corner. For me, being an introvert means something more complex. If we go out to a pub together, I may come across as anything but an introvert because I’ll be talking non-stop and dominating the conversation. But this is how my introverted personality expresses itself: I feel compelled to keep the conversation going, to avoid any silence, because my introverted mind finds it hard to handle it. In other words, while I may appear confident on the outside, I’m actually an introvert who can’t stand quiet moments.
The turning point in my life, when I might be considered a ‘villain,’ happened when I was 14 and was publicly humiliated by having my pants pulled down in front of classmates. From that day forward, I decided to take control of the laughter and make it on my own terms. Stand-up comedy became an excellent outlet for me because it allows me to command attention with a simple, ‘All eyes on me!’ If someone interrupts, I can respond assertively, ‘Quiet please!’ This style of communication aligns perfectly with my introverted nature. For me, being an introvert means asking for everyone to pause, listen to me instead of trying to force my way into a conversation.
Composing a book might seem ideal for introverts, yet it’s not as straightforward as one might imagine. James points out that performing stand-up comedy offers immediate feedback. Whenever he has an idea for a sentence, he tests it right away and learns whether it’s worth repeating that night. On the other hand, when you write a book, you must have strong conviction in your words because there isn’t constant feedback. It becomes a question of whether “future me” will find the writing worthy of rereading later on.
James also provides an audio version of the recently published book, a fortunate turn of events for both listeners and readers. Josh Widdicombe suggested he read it aloud during the writing process, as this helps avoid the situation where one might feel the need to rewrite everything when doing the audiobook because it doesn’t sound like their natural speech. By reading it out loud, James had already identified which sections required more humor.
In truth, there’s laughter scattered throughout nearly every other sentence, but James clarifies that he used distinct types of content for the memoir compared to his stand-up shows. “The book contains numerous mortifying tales from my personal life that wouldn’t fit in my act. My stand-up persona has a touch of cockiness, and if I shared these humiliating stories, it would undermine my status and not align with the narrative.
In the book, one story involves a scene where I’m at the gym, wrapping up a workout on that leg machine where you push your legs in and out with your thighs. At that moment, engrossed in my phone with headphones on, someone taps me on the shoulder – it’s a personal trainer asking me to show everyone how it’s done. To my surprise, I find myself surrounded by 20 students, all expecting me to demonstrate the machine, exhausted and dressed only in shorts.
As a lover of all things cinematic, I found myself in a situation where I could easily decline, but being the comedian that I am – constantly craving validation – I chose to push through the discomfort. The trainer then announced, “Let’s give this man a standing ovation!” Yet, as the room remained eerily silent, not a single clap echoed in response.
He mentions that several corporate jobs he’s been involved in have had similar outcomes, and there’s a hint of resignation in his tone as he discusses the planned American adaptation of Mock the Week on Amazon Prime featuring himself and Trevor Noah.
It seems that event is no longer taking place. During the [US screenwriters’] strikes, a British panel show was surprisingly one of the first to be cancelled.” He acknowledges that it’s unfortunate because “satire is particularly important now, as people become easily angered and struggle to find humor in things they disagree with.
It turns out that he’ll manage well enough without the large sums from Amazon. As it happens, our quiet one has transformed into an author these days.
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2025-08-05 03:09