S6 EP8: Jimmy Carr discusses the secret to his comedy, being a late bloomer, and controversial stand-up gigs

The Louis Theroux Podcast

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Tuesday, 16 December 2025 - 1 hour 16 minutes

For this Christmas bonus episode, Louis sits down with writer, comedian, and panel-show super-host, Jimmy Carr. Jimmy discusses what lies behind his unique brand of ‘edgy' comedy, why he remained a virgin until the age of 26 and performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival despite public criticism.  

Jimmy’s film, ‘Fackham Hall’, is out in cinemas now. 

Warnings: Strong language and adult themes.  

Links/Attachments: 

Book: Before & Laughter, Jimmy Carr (2021) 

https://www.jimmycarr.com/product/book-laughter/ 

Fackham Hall (2025) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29008225/ 

Jimmy Carr Tour 

https://www.jimmycarr.com/tour/uk-ireland/  

Alex Hormozi quote: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIzTPjPTZB0/  

Book: Homo Ludens by Johan Huizinga 

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/203913/homo-ludens-by-johan-huizinga/ 

Peter McGraw’s Benign Violations 

https://petermcgraw.org/a-brief-introduction-to-the-benign-violation-theory-of-humor/  

Book: Discipline and Punish, Michel Foucault (1975) 

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/13651/discipline-and-punish-by-michel-foucault-trans-alan-sheridan/9780241386019  

Bob Monkhouse joke about cancer: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTUvRW7gtGU 

Jimmy Carr: His Dark Material (2021) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16259786/  

Nadine Dorries’ comment about Jimmy Carr joke: 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/nadine-dorries-jimmy-carr-netflix-jewish-roma-b2008317.html  

Jimmy Carr’s joke about injured soldiers: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6486964/Jimmy-Carr-feels-terrible-about-injured-soldiers-joke.html#:~:text=Jimmy%20Carr%20'feels%20terrible'%20about%20injured%20soldiers%20joke  

Saint Lawrence, the patron Saint of comedy: 

https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/08/10/st-lawrence-patron-saint-of-comedians  

TV Show: ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011-2019) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/  

Dave Chappelle quote: 

https://btr.michaelkwan.com/2017/03/26/sunday-snippet-dave-chappelle/#:~:text=Posted%20by%20Michael%20Kwan%20%7C%20Mar,Maybe%20it%20was%20something%20else.  

TV Show: ‘The Black and White Minstrel Show’ (1958-1978) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0198065/  

TV Show: ‘The Young Ones’ (1982-1984) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083505/  

Titania McGrath quote: 

https://x.com/TitaniaMcGrath/status/1453065592651517964  

Musical: We Will Rock You, Ben Elton (2002) 

https://wewillrockyoulondon.co.uk/  

John Betjeman’s Slough poem: 

https://allpoetry.com/poem/8493391-Slough-by-Sir-John-Betjeman  

TV Show: ‘The Office’ (2001-2003) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290978/ 

Naval Ravikant 

https://nav.al/rich  

TV Show: 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (2012 – 2025) 

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/8-out-of-10-cats-does-countdown  

The Fog of War (2004) 

https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/the-fog-of-war/umc.cmc.3j815y9s5id2nvfztrlfh75il?action=play  

Eric Weinstein’s Intellectual Dark Web 

https://www.whatisemerging.com/videos/inside-the-intellectual-dark-web-eric-weinstein 

Hillary Clinton’s ‘deplorable’ speech:  

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-37330420  

Jordan Peterson on compelled speech 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-37875695  

Credits: 

Producer: Millie Chu  

Assistant Producer: Emilia Gill 

Production Manager: Francesca Bassett  

Music: Miguel D’Oliveira  

Audio Mixer: Tom Guest 

Video Mixer: Scott Edwards  

Shownotes compiled by Elly Young 

Executive Producer: Arron Fellows  

A Mindhouse Production for Spotify  

www.mindhouse.co.uk  

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