EXCLUSIVE: Russell Howard’s Jokes’ Journey From ‘Comedy Clubs in London’ to Mumbai’s Sophia Bhabha Auditorium

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2025 promises to be a bustling year for Russell Howard. Much like many of us, we may have made New Year’s resolutions last December, aspiring to renew our lives in some way – maybe you planned to finally make use of that gym membership you purchased in January 2024, or perhaps you declared ‘New Year, New Me!’ while under the influence at a party, hoping for real change this time. In contrast, Russell Howard has chosen to tackle the world head-on in the coming year.

2025 sees Howard embarking on a tour through the Nordic regions first. Later, he’ll kick off the Asian part of his tour in Hong Kong, followed by two performances – one in Mumbai and another in Bangalore. His Asian tour concludes in Singapore. Subsequently, at 44 years old, Howard will head back west for numerous shows across Europe and then the United States.

In an open conversation with TopMob, the humorist shared insights about his long-anticipated debut performance in India, stumbling during his act, a peculiar fan encounter that may leave you puzzled, and fellow comics who have motivated him.

Russell Howard’s big Indian debut

If you’ve ever caught a Russell Howard special, you’re familiar with his unique brand of humor, which stems from his ability to transform personal experiences into hilarious jokes. As he puts it, “I enjoy exploring new destinations, figuring out what makes them tick, and finding the funny side. Then I take that to the stage.” He further explained, “This is my favorite pastime, so the show will be a blend of previously written stand-up material and fresh ideas that I’ll conceive while there. The combination of both makes international performances incredibly enjoyable.

The comedian intends to gather inspiration from his environment while in India. Before his two eagerly-anticipated performances, he plans to explore Mumbai a few days ahead, observe, absorb the atmosphere, and then attempt to express his experiences during his acts.

Maneuvering himself out of ‘awkwardness’

The presenter of The Russell Howard Hour is comfortable handling flops during performances. As he puts it, “I often test new material at small comedy venues in London, jotting down ideas on a piece of paper and seeing how they go. If a joke falls flat, I don’t use it (on the show).” He continues, “You just have to shrug it off and move forward. However, there are times when an attempt doesn’t succeed.” With his experience under his belt, Howard can quickly adapt, saying, “I have enough skill to navigate my way out of any awkwardness that might arise.

He finds it unlikely that he would feel ashamed or embarrassed due to his advanced age. If his material doesn’t resonate with the Indian audience, he is prepared to handle any criticism gracefully and learn from the experience. He views it as an amusing possibility if his act doesn’t translate in India when it has succeeded elsewhere, since it would offer him a fresh perspective. In his own words, he’ll need to maintain a sense of humor and be aware of potential pitfalls while chuckling at himself.

Hilariously peculiar fan interaction

One amusing experience that he often recalls is an unusual encounter with a fan at a local market. Fans can be quite creative in expressing their admiration for their idols. From fans of musicians causing minor seismic activities, to admirers of actors showering them with extravagant presents and heartfelt correspondence; one might wonder what fans of comedians would do to express their affection. For Howard, it was getting playfully teased about his shopping choices while doing the groceries.

In his own words, he shared an unusual encounter: “Once in an English supermarket, a guy scrutinized my shopping basket and said, ‘I don’t see anything amusing here.’ I was taken aback and asked, ‘What?’ He then inquired, ‘Where’s the humor hidden?’.” The supposed admirer was upset because he expected to find “comedy food,” such as a few Melons and a Banana. In a comical twist, this individual thought that comedians consumed peculiar items to become funny.

His comedic inspirations over the years

As a youngster, Russell developed a strong fondness for the well-known British comedian, Lee Evans. However, over time, the list of entertainers he respects has significantly grown. Similar to many comedians, he holds in high regard figures such as Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks, Billy Connolly, and George Carlin. Confessing to be something of a comedy enthusiast, he recently disclosed that a veteran in the industry has caught his eye, “Lately, I’ve become quite fond of (Jerry) Seinfeld’s style. I appreciate his work ethic immensely, and his approach to writing is something I truly admire.

He suggests that it’s all about finding inspiration from others. To illustrate, he uses a football analogy, stating, “If you’re like Cristiano Ronaldo, when you see someone perform a new football trick, you might think, ‘That looks great! I’ll learn to do it myself.’ Then you try to make it your own.” He goes on to say that we are constantly standing on the shoulders of giants and striving to create something unique – an hour-long segment, for example, that is both scorching hot, hilarious, and perfectly tailored to the right audience. This way, you truly make your mark.

DeadAnt’s third edition of The DeadAnt Loop will see Howard perform in India on February 8 at Sophia Bhabha Auditorium in Mumbai, and on February 9 at Good Shepherd Auditorium in Bengaluru. He is eager to captivate a new audience and keep them laughing for as long as possible.

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2025-01-27 18:08