IN HIS OWN WORDS: Jack Whitehall

With the comedian, 32, hosting Jack Whitehall’s Sporting Nation (8.30pm, BBC1), we take a look at some of the things he’s had to say about his life and career so far… On his love of performing stand-up comedy: horrible,” and I was terrified. My dad was great. ‘Being in front of a live audience is really He was like, “You’re going to be fine and if you addictive, and it’s hard to find that feeling don’t like it after a term, you can come back.’’’ elsewhere. There’s something about comedy

On being tall (he’s 6ft 1in): ‘I wish I was where it’s just you and the audience and a microphone, and anything could happen. a bit shorter, as I think shorter people That’s a very freeing experience.’ have better walks. Freddie Fox, the

actor, is shorter than me and has

On his reluctance to go to boarding an amazing gait; and Tom Cruise

school (he went first to the Dragon has a brilliant run. I’m just gangly.’

School, and then to Marlborough):

‘I was 11, I remember when they told On why his audition for the part me, I just remember being in my of Harry Potter didn’t go well: mum and dad’s bathroom in floods ‘I hadn’t read the book and there were of tears. They were like, “You’re a lot of questions about the book in going to boarding school” and I was the audition, and obviously having like, “I don’t want to leave all my not read it, I slightly let myself down friends behind and it’s going to be and didn’t get the part. Obviously.’