Not everyone's a critic

Justin knows the damage a bad review can do, so refuses to pass judgement in case it costs him a film deal

- Justin Moorhouse

‘Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honour of a critic,’ said Jean Sibelius.

I don’t care what the critics say about me or my comedy. Why would I? My life as a comedian is one of unfettered joy. Every day is stress free and consists of not one of the hang ups you’d expect from the tears of the clown trope you’ve probably all heard about. Not for me those dark moments of self doubt, oh no sir, I’m not bothered at all by the criticism that comes my way. This isn’t me putting a brave face on it by the way, honest, this isn’t what my very expensive therapy has advised me to do.; to accept the brickbats with the bouquets.

It is an odd concept that the comedian works with. The very idea that I think something is funny, I write it down, I change it about a bit, I hone it, and then present it to a room of strangers. What I’m then hoping is that the roomful of strangers assembled in front of me find it funny too. I’m also arrogantly hoping they enjoy the words I have presented to them to the point that it invokes the involuntary reaction known globally as ‘laughter’.