Jack Whitehall loves being outrageously indiscreet
JFollowing three sold-out arena tours, including the UK’s largest comedy tour in 2019, his latest, Settle Down, is getting more dates added after it kicked off in September– including two shows at The Hexagon in Reading next week.
It is not unusual, however, especially for someone who has been a prominent force on our screens, big and small.
This included hosting the BRIT awards four years running, being the youngest ever host of the Royal Variety Performance, and starring alongside the likes of Dwayne Johnson in feature films such as Jungle Cruise and in Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Not to mention his work on some of the UK’s most celebrated comedies, including Channel 4’s Fresh Meat, the BBC’s Bad Education, and in his own travel series, Travels With My Father.
So what is a stand-up, actor, writer, and presenter to do when they’re at the top of their game? Settle Down, of course – kind of.
“I love that I get to have such a varied career and get to do all of these different things,” he says.
“It keeps it fresh, and it’s so rewarding to act in films and write and host awards, and I love that challenge, but the foundation for all of it was and remains stand-up.”
It also feeds into his stand-up, he explains: “It attunes your brain to becoming a better writer and improviser, it’s a great tool to keep you sharp, so I’d find it hard to ever quit stand-up.”
His new show sees a little bit of a shift, as the title suggests, with Jack and his partner celebrating the birth of their first child in September last year.
“It’s just where I’m at in my life; I’m that much older, more grown up and boring now, so I’m writing stand-up about it.
“And I think a lot of my audience has also grown up with me, and might be in similar periods of their lives.
“The last couple of shows had a bit more of that laddish youth, so this is a bit more about becoming more of an adult and the trials and tribulations of domestic bliss: having a kid and a dog, and those big seismic changes.”
While it comes from a personal place, it also follows something of a sea-change in comedy in recent years of a more personal approach to material for many performers.
“I think people do like more personal shows – they like to leave the venue feeling like they know you a bit more, so comedy-as-therapy has become more of a trend in last five years or so.
“I found Hannah Gadsby’s show deeply frustrating –
I’d never achieved that level of authenticity on stage and was just completely in awe of it.
“But she had also created an incredible show touching on her depth of art history knowledge, so it was difficult to watch on a number of fronts.
“But it’s an incredible show, and I was in real admiration of it.”
As such, he’s always seeking new challenges in his own work: “I want to continue to evolve and improve as a comedian, and make sure subsequent shows are even better, even funnier, and more personal.
“That’s one of the great things about comedy, you’re always learning, there’s always that forward momentum, but even elsewhere in my life
– I love finding new exciting projects, and I won’t be resting on my laurels.
“Even at the old age of 35 I won’t be putting my feet up just yet.”
But, he admits, he’s unsure of quite how much of an effect the settling of his home life will have.
“I feel like I’ll probably be looking for things that shoot in west London,” he jokes.
“I haven’t had a job where I can bring them with me, but they have been with me for a few little bits of the tour, which was so nice to have them there.
“But this third leg of the tour is appealing because they’re within striking distance of London, so being able to get home to your girlfriend and baby in decent time is great.”
Jack’s home life has featured in much of his work, particularly in his work with his dad, author and former theatrical agent Michael Whitehall.
“I talk a lot about family, and I’ve definitely mined that for as much comedic possibility as I can, but that personal anecdotal material has always been something I’ve enjoyed.
“I love being outrageously indiscreet on stage and that’s something people have come to expect from my shows.
“The latest show does deliver on that front: I’ll be airing some of my dirty laundry in public and exposing a few flaws and foibles, so there’ll be those moments of catharsis.”
As for what else audiences can expect from Settle Down: “The first routine I wrote in the show, which often gets most tiring the quickest, was the one that got me into performing again.
“I worked on a 10-minute routine about going on safari, and it went down really well in some of the clubs in LA.
“That was enough to pull me back in, and before I knew it I was doing a touring hour– and I still love that routine, so that’s one that I look forward to every night.”
He adds: “There’s a couple of moments that are more thoughtful, too, though: almost a rallying cry for people not needing to have opinions on everything.
“It’s a slightly different tone to shows I’ve done before, and I’ve been forcing myself to not always go for the cheap laughs.
“But don’t worry– there’ll definitely still be some cheap laughs.”
■ Jack Whitehall: Settle
Down is coming to Reading’s Hexagon on Tuesday, October 24, showing at 5pm and again at 8pm. More details about tour dates are available jackwhitehall.com, and tickets are available via: whatsonreading.com