Stephen Merchant: ‘Most famous people are f**cked up’

Stephen Merchant: ‘Most famous people are f**cked up’

Actor, writer and director Stephen Merchant joins How To Fail this week and is reflective, fascinating and - yes - even funny. We talk about what he learned from Ricky Gervais when co-writing The Office, on feeling rattled turning 50 and how it’s hard to fail as a stand-up comedian (but he got over it). ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Intro 17:16 Height and Humor 17:50 Reflections on Failure and Success 22:12 Stephen Career Journey 30:50 The Office and Ordinary Lives 32:46 The Comfort of Rewatchable Comedies 33:53 Exploring Dark Roles in Acting 35:42 Embracing Height as an Advantage 37:37 School Experiences and Early Ambitions 45:18 The Journey to Comedy and Stand-Up 52:41 Lessons from Stand-Up Comedy 58:48 Realizing No One Has Life Figured Out 01:03:39 Reflections on Success and Happiness Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan Studio and Mix Engineer: Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell Senior Producer: Selina Ream Executive Producer: Carly Maile Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episoder(376)

Failure Throwback: Jameela Jamil

Failure Throwback: Jameela Jamil

Jameela Jamil is an actor, activist, and founder of the I Weigh movement. From teaching English to starring in The Good Place, Jameela shares the highs, lows, and radical honesty that define her journ...

27 Aug 202558min

Failure Throwback: Glennon Doyle

Failure Throwback: Glennon Doyle

Author of Untamed and fierce truth-teller Glennon Doyle joins me for a raw and revelatory episode, first recorded in July 2020. We dive into: Why we chase approval instead of trusting our inner voice...

20 Aug 20251h 7min

Failure Throwback: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Failure Throwback: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This week we revisit one of my all-time favourite guests: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, recorded in July 2021. Best known for Americanah and her globally resonant TED Talks, Chimamanda opens up about the ...

13 Aug 20251h 8min

Sir Tony Robinson - ‘I learned comedy as a defence mechanism’

Sir Tony Robinson - ‘I learned comedy as a defence mechanism’

Recorded with a live audience in Cambridge, this captivating conversation delves deep into the life and career of a cultural force of the last half-century. Known of course for his iconic role as Bald...

6 Aug 202549min

Fern Brady -  ‘I make more money in comedy than I ever did from stripping‘

Fern Brady - ‘I make more money in comedy than I ever did from stripping‘

In this searingly funny and deeply affecting live conversation, Elizabeth speaks to stand-up comedian, author and Taskmaster favourite Fern Brady about her autism diagnosis, her working-class roots, a...

30 Jul 202544min

Dorinda Medley on Grief, Identity and The Real Housewives: ‘I was angry. I was lost. I felt like I got cheated.’

Dorinda Medley on Grief, Identity and The Real Housewives: ‘I was angry. I was lost. I felt like I got cheated.’

What happens when the life you thought you’d built - the one with love, money, recognition - seems to slip away? This week, Elizabeth speaks to Dorinda Medley, author, TV personality and iconic former...

23 Jul 202543min

 Vanessa Williams - ‘It would be hard to be married to me!’

Vanessa Williams - ‘It would be hard to be married to me!’

As a recording artist, Vanessa Williams has earned 13 Grammy nominations and racked up over 212 million digital streams over the course of her eight albums. Her most popular hit, Save The Best For Las...

16 Jul 202550min

Suzi Ruffell - ‘I didn’t know I was gay until I saw Titanic’

Suzi Ruffell - ‘I didn’t know I was gay until I saw Titanic’

In this special live edition of How to Fail, Elizabeth is joined by comedian Suzi Ruffell. Suzi has performed five sellout runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, as well as appearing on live at the Apollo and ...

10 Jul 202547min

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