Paul Merton
Paul Merton
Paul James Martin, known professionally as Paul Mertonis an English writer, actor, comedian, radio and television presenter...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionComedian
Date of Birth9 July 1957
creating remember realised
When I turned about 12 or 13, I realised that being funny wasn't about remembering jokes. It was about creating them.
stories done magazines
I have never sold my story, done Hello! magazine, any of that stuff. I'm not guilty of exploiting my private life for cash and then saying, 'Oh, I don't want to talk about my private life.' I've never crossed that line.
horse sex
Have you ever had sex with a horse?
comedy interest contemporary
I really don't take any interest at all in contemporary comedy.
age comedy remember
I remember being fascinated by the very nature of comedy from the age of 10; why is this funny, and that isn't?
people world way
Well, sanity, I suppose, is getting people to see the world your way.
book reading listening
When I was nine I spent a lot of my time reading books about the history of comedy, or listening to the Goons or Hancock, humour from previous generations.
noel jockeys talent
All disc jockeys are without talent. Noel Edmonds - I can't stand Noel Edmonds.
class rich working-class
Am I allowed to call myself working-class now? Because obviously I'm now very rich.
school potatoes firsts
I'll never forget my first experience of swede. It was at school and I thought I was getting mashed potato. I've never got over it.
oysters guy festivals
When I used to do the Edinburgh Festival, there was a bunch of guys selling fresh oysters and I'd eat ten daily - marvellous.
heart night sitting
At one point in the mid-Eighties I shared a promoter with the Smiths. One night, we were sitting backstage when Morrissey burst in, utterly distraught, sobbing his heart out. Turns out someone had thrown a sausage at him on stage during 'Meat Is Murder.'
thinking interesting comedian
I think having an outsider's viewpoint is interesting and good, especially for a comedian.
laughing stereotype shyness
And like the old stereotype, I overcame my shyness by making my friends laugh.