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
bringing ellis european immigrants onto people saw steps thousands took trip
Beginning with a trip out to Ellis Island, I saw for myself where thousands of European immigrants took their first steps onto American soil, bringing with them nothing but their ambition: people such as Erich von Stroheim and Adolph Zukor.
believe directly friday guy morning nearly people talking tv
In a psychiatric hospital, a lot of people believe that people on TV are talking to them directly through the screen. I'm with about 500 of these people, and I'm on TV every Friday night. As I was queuing up for breakfast one morning, one guy nearly jumped out of his skin. My first thought was to go 'Woooo!'
business economics favour microphone people pleased wonderful
The economics favour one-man comedy shows: all you need is one person, a microphone and a PA system. But I'm pleased so many people are making a living out of comedy - it's a wonderful business to be in.
people world way
Well, sanity, I suppose, is getting people to see the world your way.
people beautiful-day listening
The thing about improvisation is that it's not about what you say. It's listening to what other people say. It's about what you hear.
people made longevity
I looked at longevity in show business when I was about 13, and the people who seemed to have longevity were the ones who'd spent quite a bit of time learning about what they were doing before they made it.
cheating laughter people
If you became a comedian in the '80s, you had to work the circuit and make people laugh. Canned laughter is cheating.
laughing people connections
It seems like a contradiction, but the shy person who is a performer actually does make sense, because in a way, when you're young and shy, making people laugh is a good way to make friends. It's an instant connection.
found impression initial maybe people rather teacher whatever
I was never one to go up to someone as a five- or six-year-old and say, 'Hello, my name's Paul, will you be my friend?' But I found if I did an impression of the PE teacher or whatever and people laughed, then they did like me, and so then they started talking to me, rather than me making the initial overture and then maybe being rebuffed.
care charm generally genuinely odd people resist seem skins thick
Generally speaking, politicians are an odd bunch. They seem to have very thick skins and genuinely don't care what people think. And charm is a very important part of the politician's armoury. I try to resist that kind of charm.