Jack Whitehall's Emotional Confession About His Dad, His Biggest Fear & His New Life!

29:42You've got to entertain like a vast crowd if it goes wrong like that's some news event and back then there was none of that like I'd die in a pub you know if Jack White Hall crashes and burns in the middle of an empty forest does he make a sound and my forest was a pub impressed and does that make does that make it less fun is Is there like a certain point in a weird, and I still do to an extent when I'm like, maybe more so now like when I'm working you through, there is like a sadomasochistic thing that quite enjoys like the tricky gigs and like working out why it hasn't worked and what I need to do to get it to work like I do.

30:32But I mean the pressure now, does that make it less fun? Oh, the pressure. Sorry, yes. because you've used the word professional anxieties a few times. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, that element of it does, for sure. And I don't remember feeling that when I was in my kind of early 20s, but all of a sudden, they sort of creep up on you and your, your and your own thoughts a lot more. And constantly like, I don't know. Just thinking about... about like, I just, for me, it's like, worry that it will all go away. And that's always like the greatest fear is that it's just gonna stop and I've loved doing it. But yeah, there are lots of other added pressures that weren't existent when I started doing it.

31:24And I look back on it and do kind of like miss that headspace. A lot of people can relate to that fear of worrying that it'll all go away. Even people that have climbed the corporate ladder, they've gotten to a certain position. I've seen it a lot of the times with some of my friends and even some of my companies where people will say to me that they're just trying to hang on to where they are. When you have that mindset, it seems like it can be quite unenjoyable because there's that constant sort of as you describe anxiety. But also I'm not sure if everyone does their best work when they're kind of hanging on because there's not this sort of mental freedom to fully express or to relax or take time off.

32:10So I'm not sure if we do our best work. Is that what you're saying? You feel like you're you have a constant worry that everything you've built might someday change. And I guess the more important question is where do you that's come from in you. That idea that it could just... No, I mean, I don't know where it comes from, but... And I don't know. And it's not like a cancel culture thing of me going, oh, I'm worrying going to say something and then all of a sudden, I'm going to get canceled and then I'm never going to be able to do shows again. It's not even like linked to that, although obviously there is like a small chance that could happen.

32:50I don't necessarily feel like I pushed the boundaries in such a way that that feels likely. But yeah, I don't know how I've allowed that to sort of creep up on me. And I think the key to not allowing that to consume you is to sort of just try to refocus your mind on what's important. And ultimately, some of the things that are, you know, the concerns that like build up as professional anxieties, ultimately aren't as important as long as you're doing it like ultimately, as long as I'm still doing stand up and still doing what I love and still getting to, you know, act in perform, it doesn't necessarily matter, you know, how I'm doing that.

33:44I'm doing what I love and that should be enough. And then also just like refocusing my energies on like my work life balance and focusing on what's important, my relationship, family. Those are the things that made me happy and as long as those are working, then I think I will feel fulfilled. And so I think it's yeah, it's how like frame that in my head. Even from doing this, because I'm not journalist or if I can get a podcast or whatever, I still sit here and go have a fuck is this It's still a thing, like how are people still listening to this? We admitted, I mean, Jack did production beforehand, but Jack, you've never done anything like this before, have you?

34:26I've never done anything like this before. So it's all a little bit, what the fuck is going on? Just keep going and hopefully nobody notices us. It's like almost the feeling, because you almost assume that all of your competitors, all the other people that are doing it in your space, they have some certificate. Yeah, that has like given them the right. Yeah, yeah. And a rule book that we're not privy to. Yeah. Can you relate to any of that? That feeling that like, yeah, I mean, there is, yeah, and there is no kind of like playbook for it is there like with a career and with, you know, with all of it.

35:03So like the worst thing you can do is start like comparing yourself to other people and like thinking about that too much as well. So many times I'm just like, why don't I just delete all social media from my phone? I think it would be such a good thing for my mental wellbeing. I just haven't quite brought myself to do it yet, but maybe that's something that I should try. It's just the worrying about stuff that is not worth worrying about. I wish I want to get better at that. I really want to work at that. What impact does that have on you? that I'm not present when I should be present. I think that's where I feel it.

35:45It is most frustrating in my life. It's when I'm worrying about, fucking nonsense that doesn't need to be consuming me and I'm not present with friends and family and people that I need to give more of myself to. What's an example of something that might consume you? Like a little troll online or a review or? I mean, yeah, I mean that can take me out for a couple of days, like rejection, professional rejection, not getting a part in something, a bad review, things like that. And then for a couple of days, I'll sort of be spinning out. And then, you know, I'll catch myself doing it and be like, what, what am I doing?

36:26I don't need to do that. I have more sensitivity, I think, than I sort of let on. I've always sort of built myself as being quite resilient and thick -skinned, which I am to a degree, but I think there are things in elements where I have a little bit more sense to be vulnerable than I tell people. You and me both. Yeah. You and me both. And I think obviously in different jobs that I've had, I've had to be, I've been the CEO of the companies. So you kind of learn to put up everything's fine. Yeah. But some, you can be behind the scenes like spinning out a little bit for a couple of days, based on something.

37:02When you say spinning out, what does that, if I'm rocksy, Yeah, you're wonderful partner. Yeah, what would rock subserv when Jack is spinning out that I mean is sort of weird fugue state Because I'm also one of those people that's just like I'm a barrier. I didn't articulate a lot of of these emotions and and I do and I definitely I don't know whether it's because of my background of outwearing, but I'm Someone that doesn't really want to burden people with them. I feel like as well as a comedian as a funny person And again, I feel like I'm letting people down if I'm like a Debbie Downer and talking about stuff that is going to kill the mood.

37:45I just don't like conflict. I don't like to depress people. So I think I sort of, I like, yeah, bury it all, put it on a brave face. And then, yeah, just maybe not quite myself. So you probably wouldn't even realize it was going on, but I think for rocks it's hard because yeah, sometimes I'm just like a little bit away with the fairies, but that's because I'm having this like internal dialogue for three years. It's everything gonna be okay. Oh my god. They hate me. No, no, no, you're gonna be fine and that's all going on and I'm like yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Yeah Someone said to me once they said the people that care most about the applause, which tends to be like performers and comedians and stuff also care the most about the booze.

38:31Do you think that's accurate? Yeah. Like it's not possible just to care about one side of that spectrum. You can't just care about the applause and then say, I don't care. I'm invincible. Yeah. Back isn't it? No, definitely. It's definitely feedback. And you know, like audiences that upset me or online trolls, I mean, I do consume quite a lot of that. If I, if I'm brutally honest with myself, I'm probably consumed more of it than I should. and read it. And again, I'm like, I think it's fine. I think it sort of bounces off me, but maybe it does. It bounces off me as much. And I'm like, it's all stored away somewhere.

39:10You know, it's good. But I don't know. I also like part of me. And I'm not encouraging people to troll me online. But I'm like, there is a good, it's good to like keep your ego in check as well. I do like constructive criticism as well, I think is very useful and some fever. Because if you didn't have any of that and you just went on the reaction to the audiences of paid punters that have come to see you and clearly are onside and it's like a home gig because they're fans of either a board ticket to you. And that was your only interaction. And that was where you kind of garnered what, like, your relationship with the public was, you were thinking you were just like the Messiah.

39:58So it's quite good to be reminded, yeah, there are some people that find you a bit much. But as their feedback, those people, those trolls, has it made you a better comedian? I mean, every now and again, I get quite good, like, like, you know, joke from something that someone said. Oh, okay. No, I don't think it's maybe a better comedian. But someone calls it says on Twitter that my new hairstyle looks like a Tesco's value Richard Hammond. I'm like, I'm like, there you go. Those are quite rare. Normally, it's like, why is this posh, twat on television every time I turn it on? No, I can't want it.

40:37When you, when you bury stuff, they're like a seed, it kind of grows. I always, always think this. And I think it certainly changes us over time, all the things we have buried. Like even if we don't ever express it or whatever, I feel like it kind of just infects our character a little bit. Yeah. That's certainly what's happened to me for sure, for sure. Yeah. Just over time, I think slowly the things that I've like buried or ignored, they kind of just weigh me down a little bit and you might become a little bit snappier or a little bit, you know, more impatient or negative about the world or whatever.

41:06Is that the case with you? Yeah, I think for me, the main way it affects me is like, it's like a focus thing. It's like focusing on, it makes me focus on the wrong things and that's the thing that I struggle with most of my life is my like, is work life balance. I think I'm terrible at work life balance and I always have been because I started when I was 17 and I just didn't stop and so I used to hate going on holidays or I was like, I've got on a holiday, it's a complete waste of time. And I remember calling my agent and my dad from a beach somewhere going, I can't wait to get home. And I've always had that weird attitude to work and wanting to work, work, work, work, work.

41:51And I'm about to have quite a big life event. And I think that will... What life event track? About a baby, which I'm so excited about. And also, I'm just like the thing that I pray that it does is just completely like shifts my focus and and I'm so excited to have this little being in the world that is more important than anything else. I think that's going to be such a healthy thing. And I know that's not necessarily the reason to have a child. I probably should have worked through some of these things before the baby arrived. But like that's an element of it that for some people might be quite daunting, but I think that's going to be amazing and I'm really, really excited and I can't to be a dad and I'm like, it's just really, really cannot wait to like sort of step up to the play and try to be the best dad that I can be and have that as my focus.

42:39And when I'm focused on that and not thinking about all of the other stuff, I think it's gonna just be great. Maybe that's quite a glass awful. Well, yeah, it sounds like a conversation that I've been having with myself but also with my partner where I've said to her, because she's scared that I might just keep working. And I think she asks me once every month, she goes, are you going to be like this when we have kids together? And I'll go, no, no, no, I'll change. When the baby comes, I will be different. Yeah. I'll just cancel stuff. I'll say no to everything. If you're facing the line, I'm having all of these conversations.

43:15Um, yeah. But I've always said you don't know. Yeah. You don't know what will happen. None of us have ever experienced that feeling. That some of our friends I'm sure have explained to where your priorities shift upon the arrival of this arsenal. Maybe, like, no, maybe, arsenal work. Do you think, I've asked a few people this, because when I meet someone that describes themselves as being a bit of a workaholic, I wonder whether they are driven or whether they are being dragged, which resonates more with you. Do you think you're driven or do you think you're being I think I'm driven. I think I'm driven.

43:58I think it would be quite helpful to be dragged back a bit. Sometimes I definitely think it would be good because I have this weird career where I act and I write and I do stand up as well. It's very easy to fill my entire diary all the time. And if I look at a couple of months, I'm not doing anything there. I was meant to be filming a movie then and it's been delayed now and I've got two months. I need to do stand up and I'm going to write a script and I'm going to produce as well and I have a production company so I'm constantly developing things. And I just like, and that all comes from me.

44:38That's not people going, Jack, we've got this cap, can we do this now is me going, we can do this now and we can fill this now and we can develop that and I can write this and I cram so much stuff into my schedule. And I think again, professionally it might be better to take a beat sometimes and prioritize taking some time off as well and having a little bit of head space. I mean, the pandemic was weirdly a time when we be working all the time and this stand up to her, I've had longer to prepare for it than I've ever had. And I've had way more kind of head space and space to like, like live my life a bit, which is so important when you're creating and you're writing, especially when you're trying to, you know, write personal material.

45:31You need to live your life. You can't be working all the time because then all of your experiences are going to be professional ones. No one wants to go and watch a standard comedian tell a load of jokes about what it's like. being on set and like anecdotes about like you know script reads and what up like that's not interesting comedy material for anyone and fame as well I don't think is necessarily always the best kind of you know source of relatable stand -up so I think it's really important as a comedian to have that time to go and like live your life and build up some experiences and and find inspiration as it naturally occurs rather than trying to force it.

46:13And on a personal level, that conversation about work, life balance and giving yourself some time and not just pramming everything into the calendar, what are the consequences of you not being balanced as it relates to your personal life? I think, yeah, I seem to sort of, that's the perennial mistake that I make is overworking, not prioritizing friends and family and then having to sort of make up for it. I don't want to always be making up for it. And I think I'm quite good at making up for it. And you know, I then put a lot of pressure on myself. I've got to like like see all of these people and make sure that I cram in a load of social situations and sneaking a little holiday there and that, and I wish I didn't have that approach because then everything feels rushed and I'd prefer it not to feel as rushed I'd prefer to, yeah, just a bit like it's all going to be fun when the baby comes it's all going to change that line.

47:22How you feel overnight? How are you honestly feeling about, you know, Roxie's sort of five months pregnant now? How are you honestly feeling about becoming a dad? I'm feeling excited. It's hard. It's a weird one because like, sometimes it feels very real and then sometimes it's just a sort of abstract concept and idea and it feels very surreal. and it sort of flits between both of those things on almost like a daily basis. And sometimes I feel overwhelmed thinking about it other times I'm like barely engaged to the tool because I'm so distracted with other things. And so it's a really weird emotional place to be in right now like this sort of run up to having a kid.

48:15And I've spoken to lots of friends that have been in this period as well and a lot of them have said that that's quite normal as well. But, you know, again, this sort of, no, right way to be feeling at any one time. And that, you know, and I'm what you're thinking about her and looking after her, she's had some like health issues as well. And so we've had a bit of a journey to get here and so there's it's quite a scary period as well Like I know I'm just really looking forward to the moment when the baby is born and then I mean I say that like then and then you can relax No, it's then

49:0018 years and so it doesn't stop then again like maybe I've just framed it in in quite a positive way but yeah, I don't know. I'm excited about being a dad because I never thought that I would get to it this early either. I honestly, because my dad was, you know, 50, nearly 50 when he had me. He was 50, I mean, my math is right. Yeah, he was nearly 50. And so I was like, well, I'll be an old dad, you know, I'll, you know, live my best life. And then when I get to 50, then I'll just pop out a couple of kids, be great. And honest and always thought that that was the case. And then ultimately started looking at friends and seeing how happy they were and my sister with her niece and my niece, not her niece, my sister and my niece and thinking, oh, you know, maybe I do want that.

50:01And then like we got to really like, you earn for it. And I was lucky that I met Roxie who's the right person and my person. and we felt like we were both ready. And so, yeah. It's, I think people will be surprised when they find out that I'm, a lot of people were friends and family when I told them, I think, because they just didn't think that I was necessarily ready for it, which again, like in my weird mentality, she just makes me go, I'm gonna prove you, you know, I'm gonna show you, I'm gonna be the best out of it. So, is there a fear? Yeah, because I think if I'm being completely honest with myself, and I don't think I've said this before, when I think about the prospect of having a child, which is again, a something that I really want to do.

50:45I see myself as having four kids, and I also see myself as hopefully being a really attentive, present father. There is a little bit of a thing in my head that goes, you don't have any time as it is to. So something's going to have to give, and it's going to be your career in some respect. Like there's going to be some element of reduction in your career. And maybe that's okay, but if I think about it practically, I'm already using all 24 hours in the day. Yeah. So where's it going to come from? Yeah. That's definitely the thought that crosses my mind and being realistic about it as well and not...

51:22It's not something that you can like just like... You're not going to want to just schedule it in or you can deliver it a family time here And then I'll go and do some, you know, tour dates in Australia or that, like, I think, yeah, it's that that's gonna need to be like a significant moment of like change because I'm not gonna want to work in the same way that I've worked. And that's why this last year has felt a little bit like, I don't know. In my head, I am definitely mentally prepared for that. I was like, baby is coming in September. I'm going to have, it's going to be with a different, and then I'm going to, I don't want to have a tour hanging over me.

52:12I wanted to do it now. and weirdly a lot of the comedians that I'm friends with, I was like, yes, I'm doing a tour and then having a baby in September was like, you're gonna regret putting that tour in then. You're gonna, yeah, because then when the baby's like, too, that's when you don't notice a lot of comedians start getting out on tour because they wanna get out the house. You look at all of them, but they do. I won't have that excuse, they'll all be done. And then you'll be at home for two years. changing nappies. Excited about that? Yes, I am. And I actually know that. I know that. I genuinely am.

52:48I'm very excited to do that. And to like roll up my steves and get involved and be a hands on dad. And now I'm regretting putting this on camera. Because he's going to have that clipped up. You remember when he said this to Steven? Upstairs. Now there's a punal army that needs attending to. Yeah, I was just saying that. What's the sake of the podcast? You've got this tour coming up called settle down. Yeah. You're doing a lot of dates and a lot of places. How many dates are you doing, Jack? I'm doing, I would say. At the time of recording, maybe 40, 50 dates, they keep getting added. And so it's hard to keep count.

53:35And I actually, in my head mentally, it would be quite good to just think of it as being 40 because that sounds quite manageable, but it may be a few more now. How are you honestly feeling about it? Give me all the emotions. But weirdly, I'm actually kind of excited for it to just start and to just be doing it. The bit that's a bit of a slog is this sort of build up to it and the writing of it and getting it already in time and booking all of the venues and doing the promo and talking through the design and it's a whole production. and it's just, and it all has to come through me. It's quite hard to delegate when you're building something like that.

54:15And so I'm really, really excited to just be then on the road doing the shows and that's all I have to worry about. And I remember this feeling before in the run up to the show being like, I'm just desperate for the first one to come about so I can then just like actually be doing it. And then when I'm on the road, I love it. I try to not do too long of a tour in terms of like, you know, a lot of comics were gone for like six months or a year and I find, I mean, you know, quite brutal way just after while I just begin to hate the sound of my own voice and get bored of the material and I don't know, I like doing it in quite kind of condensed burst and, you know, then like keeping some kind of like momentum going and doing a couple of shows having a day off and and a couple more shows.

55:06And I love it. I honestly, it's like I've had a long period away from it. Four years is the biggest gap I've had between tours. And I'm just, I'm excited to be doing it again. And I was talking to it, I can't remember what it was, but I was talking to an actor, a successful actor. This is about the appeal of stand up and how you never really get that moment. No matter how big of a movie you make, like you might go to a premiere and it gets a great reaction and that's amazing and you have good reviews and it does create the box office or whatever, but that thrill of the live experience, I think it's why so many actors want to be musicians and end up in bands and whatnot, so they can have that experience.

55:52And that thing of going out in front of a huge crowd and like having that live experience and connection with them is like the best thing in the world and it's so hard to replicate that anywhere else. What's influenced this show in terms of the jokes, in terms of the humour, in terms of your style? What are the key influences or the differences from previous tours? Well, I called it settle down because it is sort of about this period of my life where I am settling down becoming a little bit more of an adult. A lot of my comedy before and my previous tours, it's all about being a sort of man child and that's kind of like I guess, you know, on stage I'm this sort of for in general just being a bit of a sort of clown.

56:53And this show has an element of that and an element of me being self -aware enough to be like, this is definitely the last show where I can be telling those stories. And maybe this is the last moment of my life where I can lean into that. And that was the sort of feckless misadventure that was my 20s. And now I've entered into my 30s. So I've got a mortgage and a girlfriend and a dog and a baby on the way. And I am now, you know, going to be forced to settle down whether I like it or not. And so it's about this like, like this transitional moment of my life. And you know, talking about the anxieties and the fears of that and like, oh my God, if I got everything out of my system and, you know, I, I don't know.

57:42So it's, it's, it's a lot about that. If I got everything off my spot, I just don't want it. And I'm not having a pop at him, but like, maybe I haven't. And then, but I don't know. I was gonna say, I'll be like, I'll be like, you know, a great dad until the kids 18. And then I'll be in what my 50s. So I could just, I'll get like, if I haven't got a role at my sister, maybe that's what happens. The kid turns 18 and I'll go from like, like, Gary Linnaker to Wayne Linnaker. Like that, and I'll have this other period when I'm in my 50s and 60s and I'm getting out and clubbing in Ibiza. Q does. I don't know.

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59:34And then when I meet these people, They surprised me. Obviously, because they're not in Jimmy Car's case, telling like filthy one lineers when they got here, or when Jimmy Car did arrive, the team texted me and said, Jimmy Car's just walked in and cracked a joke about riding someone's mom downstairs. So I thought, God, here we go. But then when he came up here, a completely different person. There is thoughtful person. Incredibly thoughtful person. What do you think people would be? If people really knew you, if people really knew the jack that rocks are your partner knows. What would they be most surprised about about you versus their image of you from TV?

1:00:10Yeah, this is something I think about a lot that kind of disparity between the the comedian that you see on stage and the comedian that is there in real life. And I think I'm relatively close to the person that you see on television or the person that you watch on stage. Obviously, that's like a heightened version of myself. And I think the reality is the thing that people will find most surprising is that sometimes I'm quite a quiet person. I'm quite introspective. I can be a little bit shy in some social situations. I think people would be surprised at that. But then I'm also so conscious that I was like, oh, I don't want that to ever come across as me being rude or aloof.

1:00:56and yeah, I get a little bit of kind of social anxiety as well. I think I definitely drink as like a crutch because I find it's so much easier in certain situations that are overwhelming to have a drink and I find I maybe lean on that a little bit too much. So I think all of those aspects aren't necessarily things that you would look at me and think, oh, he's going to have all of that going on. But I'm also, I'm aware of it. So I always feel like I don't want to be a disappointment in real life as well to people, especially, you know, fans or whatever, if I meet people and they have an expectation of me, I always feel the need to kind of, you know, not let them down.

1:01:43I think that's why I've always said it's like so much easier if you're Jack D or even my dad, it's like his persona is sort of grumpy, deadpan. That's very easy to maintain him real life. Mine is this is like over -inthusiastic. Yeah, clown. And I'm like, oh, that's quite a lot to maintain all of the time. And especially if you're having a bad day or you're tired or, you know, to have that spark in your day to day life can be quite tiring. When you look back on what got you to where you are now, you're at the top table in your game. When you look back at the components that got you here, what are those components?

1:02:25If your son or daughter was asking you for those components? I would say important elements that I have. I do think, I always say this to comedians, I do think you have to build a resilience. and the ability to learn from your mistakes and your missteps and take on board criticism and use it to get better. That's definitely an important aspect. I think recognizing people that could be good collaborators, could be helpful. I've been very lucky that I've had a lot of really, really great people around me. That guy mentioned Ben Kavy of work with him for nearly 15 years. My writing partner Freddie, I've had some really good agents.

1:03:29my dad who's been amazing and has always kind of helped advise me and and finding those those kind of people that you can sort of work with and put around you and people as well that will challenge you and people that will call you out if needs be I think if you surround yourself with the wrong people that's a very surefire way of heading off in the wrong direction and I feel very lucky that I've got good people around me and have always been able to find good people to put around me and and build good relationships with people that are important. Ultimately that's having a good judge of character as well.

1:04:07I think that's a really important aspect. You work ethic is clearly one of them. Yeah, I think work ethic is good to have for sure. or though I feel, yeah, now. Maybe we can just turn it down a little bit. Work ethic is good for the kind of take off, but then maybe there's a different speed that you can find once you're able. Yeah, cruising, yeah. What else though? Because we haven't really talked about the creative brilliance in terms of what you're doing as ultimately art at the end of the day. And there's gotta be something that's separating your art form from others, is it in the process? Is it in just a natural thing?

1:04:52Is it a muscle you've built over time? When I think about that, the content you've crafted to go on tour with, where you smug it. I feel like I can't call it art. I can't. I know technically it is, but it's always such a hard one with comedy because I'm like, I'm thinking of some of the routines. And I'm just like, Stephen, I've got a punchline about wanking off a tramp behind a wheelie bin. I mean, that's not up. But I, if we're in America right now, we're like, yeah, we've been British and I'm like, oh, no, but there is no I insist. There is a, there's, it's a talent and it's an art. It's one that I can come near.

1:05:35When I look at it, I look at it with such awe because not only are you, because Because it feels to me like there's such a clear success or failure with every line you deliver. Whereas in every other game, even this podcast, if somethings might be interesting, somethings might not be, but there's no instant feedback on every line that I deliver. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. So I think it's incredibly high stakes out and something that I could never ever, I shouldn't say never ever do. I could do it, but I wouldn't do it anywhere near 1 % of what you could do it. So when you think about why you're so good at it, have you been able to diagnose that?

1:06:11People hate these questions, because they say nice things about themselves. No, I mean, you're right that you can't, you can't like coast it with stand up, because it is pretty brutal, that is for sure. And you do get immediate feedback on every single joke that you put out into the world. But I don't know why I am anymore successful. I don't know whether I'm like the... If I look at my faults, I'm going straight back to my faults. But I don't think I'm like the greatest writer. I think I'm a good writer and I can come up with good jokes and good routines. I think I'm better, I'm better at performing it.

1:07:05I don't know, I think that's something that I've learned. Like I can really sell a joke, which is maybe sometimes to my detriment because I could write better routines if it won't. But I don't need to, I don't know. That makes it sound like I'm lazy, but I'm really working the material as my as I can to try and make it as good as it possibly can be. I've got really good delivery, basically. I think I'm very good at delivering. Jax, do you doubt yourself? Yes. I read quotes. I think that I want to make that a bum. Some of my material can occasionally be a bit ropey, but I can bloody well sell it.

1:07:56I really quote Sky News. I am still sort of dogged by a slight sense of imposter syndrome in the feeling that at any point someone's going to come and tap me on the shoulder and tell me that I need to go on a plane and go home. Yes, that's it. Back to telling inappropriate jokes in a pub to 30 people. Yeah. Constantly. I feel like that, especially with the acting, because again, with the acting, Even more so because I didn't go to drama school. I don't know what I'm doing. And I've been afforded the amazing opportunity of being able to be in some great shows and some big movies now. And again, like I've tasted that in the same way that when I had that experience of standup, I was like, oh my god, this is amazing.

1:08:40And I love this. And now it's gonna be really hard if I can't do that anymore. And... But how'd you be happy then if there's that constant? I don't know. I wish again. Why could someone tell me? No, that's not how it works. It's like the voice thing again. I'm like, please just say what's the answer. But that, but I always find I do this as well by the way. In any kind of like deep dive interview and you are a wonderful for interviewer because you are able to get your interviews to open up more than they normally would. I feel like I have done that today. But whenever I do that, it normally happens in print and it's why I stop doing print interviews.

1:09:30I don't really do any print interviews because I'd read them back and I was like, oh my god, I sound so depressing.

1:09:43It's just Is that a reflection of who I am as a person? Because I don't think I'm as depressing as I sometimes come across when I'm talking about myself. I think I don't know why. But when I, you know, I don't know why that is the case. Yeah, in print interviews, I mean, the reason I try and avoid print interviews as much as I can as well is because you get a really narrow perspective. And what I love about podcasting, you're a podcaster as well You get it all. Yes. So you can see all of the colour and the whole picture. So you can see, and that's what I love about this, especially the way we do it here, because we do it.

1:10:22These podcasts last a long time as you can tell. And there's really no editing at all. So it is what it is. Exactly. And I think actually if you heard our interaction written down verbatim in print, you would probably read it back and go, it's quite a sad man. But then if you watched and listened to us, then maybe you would ascertain that it's not all doom and gloom. I'm just, I get a little bit, morose when I'm being introspective. I think it's really important that particularly the point that even someone in your position has those insecurities about losing their position, The self -doubt, all of those things that everyone has every day in all of their jobs.

1:11:10And really like the reason why I start this podcast, actually, I've come to learn why we do this podcast. It goes back to the word you said at the very start, which was about connection. You said at the start, when you're most authentic, when you're most open, people feel connected. What you also do for them in those moments is you liberate them from thinking that they're inadequate and broken. So by you saying it, you've just liberated a ton of people from thinking that those thoughts that they've been having make them actually an imposter. That's why we call it a syndrome because it's actually just a perception we have which is usually like flawed in some way.

1:11:41As it relates to acting there you are, you got a movie coming up, Robots? Yeah, yeah that's coming out this summer which was a movie, yeah we shot that couple of years ago actually. I've been waiting a while for it to go through the editorial process which is another element that I find so frustrating with films is that you film it and then it takes years for it to come out and you've got new life and done it. But I, yeah, that that was a, again, like a great experience, really fantastic people to work with. Righted director that I really got on with and Shaleen, who's a fantastic actress, who's having, you know, a blast working with her.

1:12:22And that's again, like that's, that's one of those things where I'm like, that, that was a moment I was really happy. I really enjoyed the whole process. I was working with very good people, very nice people, it was a very happy set, very creative environment. And yeah, that was one of those moments, so I was like, I'm very professional, he can tend. Your father, do you think he's proud of you now? Clearly from the origin of your story, that he was a big sort of figure in your life that you tried to impress and please. Yeah, I think he's proud of me and he's expressed that and continues to express it.

1:13:00And my mum as well, they're so sweet. I'm so happy that they've had this kind of second win in their lives as well. Maybe with my dads, it's a third or fourth win, I don't know. But yeah, they still come to my shows and call me afterwards and and say nice things and watch me on TV and if it's something good they'll text me and you know that means a lot still. You're still trying to impress him? Yeah, I think so. I think so because when I do something that he doesn't think is good enough, which you know does happen from time to time, he will let me know. He's very honest and he's one of the few people that will really cut through everything and just be very honest with me.

1:13:57I mean the other thing that we haven't sort of touched upon and again is something that's very present in my mind with all of this in terms of having a baby in terms of trying to achieve as much as I can in my career is that I want to do all of it with him around and obviously I know that that's not going to be the case forever. And so I think that, yeah, I mean that's why I said I wasn't going to do this on this. And I'm now getting emotional. I wanted to have a baby because I wanted him to be around and to know my child and to spend time with my kid. I've seen how amazing he is with my niece.

1:14:47He's the most loving person ever. And so I want him to have a relationship with my kid. And then, yeah, I want to do all of these things and you know, have success in my career that I can share with him and he can see these things and enjoy them. And if the, you know, yeah, I love having him there for all of that. So yeah, I do still think a lot about impressing him and his approval still means a hell of a lot to me. It's such a beautiful thing, you know. It's such a beautiful thing. Yeah. Have my that closeness you have with your father so much. And even when I see you like doing, you know, gigs and stuff together and doing like, you know, you did the Netflix thing with him, it's such a special thing.

1:15:44It's, I feel, and I'm so lucky as well that I've had the opportunity to do it. And, you know, it's never lost on me. The amazing thing about doing that show as well is having people that come up to me and they say, you know, like I watched it with my dad and you know I have you know a really good relationship with my dad and we watched your show and then we went away and we did a trip together and it was one of the I'm so happy that we did it and you know or the flip side of that is yeah I have people that mean it may be lost apparent and I've watched the show and really connected to it because it's reminded them of the relationship that they had with their father when they were around and I think, you know, I just, I know how lucky I am to have had that experience with him and continue to have experiences with him and to work with him and it never feels like what when I'm doing stuff with him.

1:16:43It honestly, you know, it's, I mean partly because of the shooting hours that he insists upon and the hour -long grateful lunch with wine present wherever we are, whatever, you know, the situation is, you know, but just hanging out with him, it just feels like that's, it can never feel like work because it's my dad and yeah, I cherish like hanging out with him so much. There's so much banter when you guys are together on the screen. But I I wondered, you know, from hearing what you've said about him today, like does he does he truly know what he means to you and the impact he's had on your life?

1:17:28I think so, but I think mainly from hearing me talk about it when he's not there, because I don't think I necessarily would ever articulate these feelings to him just because that's not like the nature of our relationship. The reality is a lot of the time when we're talking, we're talking about, you know, we talk about work, stuff quite a bit, we talk about football, we'll talk about current affairs, things like that, but we don't really talk about our emotions and never really have. But I think he knows it. And I think he's, yeah, I think he's very, very aware of it. And I'm glad that he is as well.

1:18:07I'm glad that he knows how much he means to me because I don't think I would necessarily be able to say it to him if he were sat in front of me. A lot of people can relate to that. Yeah, for some reason, it's bizarre, isn't it? Yeah. I don't know. Yeah, and I look at him and I'm like, I'll take from him when I become a dad and I think

1:18:39he's surprising you, he is more affectionate than people think, like because that's obviously not an aspect of him that you ever see on any of the Netflix shows or on his podcast or or whatever, but like I don't know, just yeah, what watching how he is with my niece and knowing what he was like when we were very little. It's like, I want to be like that. And he took a decision in his life as well. He had a very successful career and was a producer and an agent. And then he really did wind it all down and stop when we were kids and spent again, we went to boarding school so we were away for a period of youth.

1:19:26But he did spend a lot of time with us and he was very present in our lives and wasn't as consumed with work. And I think that was a good decision of his. And so I think that's why I'm aware that it's even more important to make sure that I address that. What a life balance thing when my child comes along because I do want to have enough time to be a attentive and present parent. I think about this a lot with my dad. I've talked about it quite often on this show that the last thing I want to have is is almost like regressive words unspoken when my dad's 70 -odd years old now and we've not had the closest relationship over the years and I've also struggled I would like, I took him to the World Cup and stuff, but we never really talk about, you know what I mean?

1:20:22Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I find it much easier to say things to him, maybe on this podcast or on text, maybe. But to say, it's such a strange thing that, with my partner, I can be open and expressive, but with my dad, it's like, you know, and I worry if I'm being honest about the regrets of the words unsaid. Yeah. So there'll be times where I'm going to be far this day or other days or maybe it's birthday where I'll just try and express it. You have, do you write it down? Do you? I write down here.

1:20:58But it's hard, isn't it? If someone doesn't receive it, how you want it to be received as well, it can make it very difficult. Yeah. And there are, you know, especially like men of that generation, it's just very, because it must have been so different with his father and so and yeah, it's just not a way of communication that we're as used to. So I do think that's why sometimes it can be a real struggle to say some of those things because if you said them to anyone else, then you know that they would go on an illicit or kind of emotional response that you would be welcoming. Yeah, welcoming, Yeah, and it's in it's hard when it's not like that.

1:21:40We have a closing traditional in this podcast where the last guest leaves a question for the next guest not knowing who they're leaving it for and I'm such a bad if you're reading handwriting. Okay. What do you place? Oh, what do you pledge to do this year to live life? fully while you still make a difference? I'm so hot. What am I pledged to do? I'm going to be more present and attentive with the people that I love and I cherish and hold close to me. They're going to clip, Roxie's going to clip that. She's going to play every time. I'm going to change some nappies as well. I pledge to that. Yeah.

1:22:27I will change a nappy. It's already gone down to just being as singular nappy, but I will do an api. That will happen. Well, Jack, thank you. Thank you so much for your time today. I'm incredibly excited for your tour. I'm actually coming with my team. That sounds a little bit amazing, dodgy, but I will be attending your tour with my team. I believe we're going to the London show, and I'm very, very excited because I've been a big fan of yours for a very, very, very long time. and your particular style of comedy and performance, I think is what makes you exceptional at what you do, but also a very necessary voice and comedy, because you, I just think where we are in the world with public discourse and polarization, if there was ever a time for comedy, it is now.

1:23:14And so it's so lovely that with everything going on with the macroeconomic backdrop and all these things, we have great comedians out there adding a little bit of joy to people's lives. And that's really what you do through your work from my observation. If anybody wants to come to the settle down tour tickets are on sale now on the internet wherever you get them he's doing fucking shit tons of dates. So I hope to see some of you at the London show in particular because I'll be there. But yeah, thank you Jack. It's a nice Thank you very much, lovely chat. Thanks so much for having me on.

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