View from my sofa: James Acaster

As a fervent admirer of James Acaster‘s charm and wit, I wholeheartedly endorse adding “James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome” to your watchlist without a moment’s hesitation! The man is a veritable treasure trove of hilarity, and his unique brand of humor never fails to tickle my funny bone.

Add James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome to your watchlist

What’s the view from your sofa?

The TV is where we find it, accompanied by a chair that our cats have seemingly redesigned. We intentionally handed over this chair to them as their plaything. Our philosophy is to keep our furniture in place and allow the cats to damage it at will.

How many cats do you have?

Four: Terry, Roo, Alex and Spider-Man. Terry was an unwanted cat left at the vet, so we got a free cat. Nine months later, we got Roo and nine months after that, I wanted a third one. We narrowed it down to two, couldn’t choose, so we got both of them. We’ve had them just over two years and they’re a proper gang.

Who controls the remote control?

Our television viewing is quite evenly shared – whichever of us starts watching first, the other simply follows suit and continues with the same program without any need for discussion about changing channels.

What’s the last thing you watched?

Recently, I’ve just returned from a trip to America. While on the flight, I found myself revisiting the series “The Wire“. Upon my return, I’ll be able to catch the semi-final of Strictly, but I have quite a bit to catch up on since I missed some episodes.

Would you do Strictly if asked?

No. Let’s not forget, I had a full-on meltdown during one day of Bake Off. From what I understand, Strictly is a bit more stressful than baking for charity. When the contestant goes out in week one, you can see their relief because they clearly underestimated how much work it would be. I wouldn’t even get that far. I’d have quit before it was broadcast.

What’s your fondest childhood TV memory?

My first ever television obsession was “Saved by the Bell,” a show that still feels like a benchmark in my mind, even as the biggest TV show globally. There was another show, which I believe was called “The Odyssey.” I’m not certain, but it seems to have only run for one season. Regardless, it held a special place in my heart, as if it were my secret treasure that no one else knew about.

When did you realise you were good at making people laugh?

In the church where I used to attend as a child, there was an occasion when I was given the chance to perform a humorous skit. That was my initial experience receiving laughter from an audience. I must have been about six years old at the time. It wasn’t so much that I took delight in their laughter because it meant I was amusing; instead, I realized that being on stage could elicit a response from people.

In the recent comedy special titled “Hecklers Welcome,” you not only tolerate but actively invite audience interruptions. Aren’t you inviting potential conflicts by doing so?

Expressing that people have freedom to act as they wish, without fear of wrongdoing, seems to foster an environment that’s less constricted and more laid-back. Furthermore, abandoning the need for perfection can make one feel freer to “make mistakes”, which in turn contributes to a safer sense of atmosphere.

How are you feeling about the countdown to Christmas?

A while ago, my pals and I visited a bar that was all decked out for Christmas. It was absolutely wild, but the drinks were scrumptious – and sometimes it’s worth embracing the madness.

Are you good at buying presents?

I enjoy creating my own assortments, similar to music mix tapes for food. These include treats such as Norwegian Smash! – those bugle-shaped salty crisps dipped in chocolate, Trader Joe’s Scandinavian Swimmers candies, and Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers. Although they may have been overlooked in the cookie section, they boast some of the best chocolate found in the UK!

What do you want for Christmas, apart from Justice for Tunnock’s?

More time with my cats.

2024-12-03 23:35

Read More