One of the most critically acclaimed young comedians in Britain, James Acaster, has taken the UK comic scene by storm. After touring with Josie Long and Milton Jones he then appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News, entertaining the nation with his blisteringly witty, anecdotal humour. Be sure to catch him in York in May, but in the meantime we caught up with him for a quick-fire round of 20 Questions.
1. What is your earliest memory?
Watching a live action film of Pinnochio, halfway through the scene where he’s singing about having no strings and the fox is dancing with him. That’s how I remember it anyway.
2. Snog, Marry, Avoid: Dame Edna, Lady Gaga, Russell Brand.
Snog Gaga, Marry Edna, Avoid Brand. But only because you made me choose, I don’t know what any of them are actually like, that could’ve been a poor decision.
3. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Some Limp Bizkit songs.
4. If you were a comic book character, who would you be and why?
Rodger the Dodger because I’ve always wanted a name that rhymes with one of my attributes.
5. In five years’ time I will be…
Wondering where the years went.
6 If your life didn’t revolve around comedy, what would you be doing?
Eating healthier and sleeping regularly.
7. You were a musician before turning to comedy, what would be your X-Factor audition song?
‘Rollin’ by Limp Bizkit and I would dress exactly like Fred Durst and act like him too, just because it would amuse me.
8. What’s your chat up line of choice?
I honestly don’t have one, unless calling them a dickhead when it’s completely undeserved and then hoping she finds it funny is a chat up line, in which case my chat up line is “nice one, dickhead”.
9. What makes a good comedian?
Loads of things, but I suppose being funny and unique are very important.
10. Marmite: Love it or hate it?
Leaning more towards love it, but I don’t eat it that often.
11. What’s the best one liner you can think of?
I slept on the streets last night. Fortunately Mike Skinner is surprisingly comfy.
12. What’s your most played song on iTunes?
Hold on, I’ll check… ‘Against Me’ by Why?
13. Do you have any pre-performance routines?
Empty pockets, have a drink of water, make sure shoelaces are tied, stretch.
14. The zombie apocalypse has arrived: what do you do?
Get a gun and shoot a lot of zombies in the head. Once you get past the initial fear I’m sure it’s a lot of fun.
15. Horror movie or romance?
Romance, I can’t help myself.
16. Weirdest thing you’ve ever overheard someone saying?
“Follow me, man, I swear it’s not another one of my traps”.
17. What’s your biggest achievement?
Chief Scout Award, 17th Kettering Scout Troop, 1999.
18. There may come a day, in an awful future, when one has to tweet their CV and include as much information as possible in 144 characters. What would yours say?
James Acaster worked at a theme park then in 2 kitchens then a special needs school then was a drum teacher then became a stand up comedian.
19. Worst hangover of your life: How? Where? When? Why?
I had been out celebrating a friends birthday in Soho, I had to get off the bus twice on the way home to be sick, I was meant to go Christmas shopping the next day but slept for most of it because every time I tried to get out of bed I felt atrocious. I believe I caused this by drinking a table of drinks that were unattended but not mine in a nightclub.
20. And finally, as a comedian who must constantly write jokes, is the pen really mightier than the sword?
No. Swords are really dangerous and you can kill people really badly with them, I think it’s unwise to try to belittle anyone who owns one.