The funniest standup I’ve ever seen
Louis CK. The pressure was on as it was the first date for my future wife and me. We had a lovely time, save for her starting a fight with a man who sneezed on to the back of her head. I stayed out of it because I didn’t want her to get an unfair impression of me, but to learn that I am the kind of man who will not defend her honour even when it has been besmirched.
The funniest book I’ve ever read
No book has ever made me laugh as much as I, Partridge.
The funniest heckle I’ve ever had
I used to be the regular MC for comedy nights at the Arc Theatre in Trowbridge – CLANG! – and once, in a particularly foul mood, I described how much I was dreading all the things I had to do the next day, which I listed at length. From the silence that greeted this self-indulgent claptrap, a cheerful voice shouted: “And it’ll be raining!” It remains the funniest and most British heckle I’ve ever had.
The funniest TV show I’ve ever seen
The first series of The League Of Gentlemen. It absolutely blew my mind. If I could have had any other career than the one I’ve had, I wish I could’ve been the fifth Gentleman. I am in awe of them.
The funniest sketch I’ve ever seen
One Leg Too Few by Peter Cook is a perfect sketch. The setting is ridiculous, the language is beautiful and the performances make the most of every syllable and movement.
The funniest dream I’ve ever had
Other people’s dreams are never interesting, so I won’t go into much detail, but let’s just say a sub-aquatic flesh-eating Amanda Holden had gone rogue and it was my job to deal with her.
The funniest thing that shouldn’t be funny
The funniest joke I’ve ever heard
Almost certainly it was by Noel James. Go and see him live to hear it.
Jon Richardson: The Old Man is touring to Wednesday 13 December; Jon Richardson: How To Survive The End Of The World, Monday 20 February, 10pm, Channel 4
