I've jokingly said that everything I'm doing now is filling up the hours before I die, but I do feel that slightly. I have no religious beliefs so this is the ride. This is it. So I'm just like anyone, I suppose, trying to fill out the days in the most interesting way possible. Stephen Merchant beliefdaydie share on social
I just always remember there being an ability to amuse schoolmates. Not in a kind of 'dance-around-at-the-front-of-the-room-with-his-trousers-off' way, but probably with a sardonic quip. I remember getting a school report that said something like, 'Steve's good, but he tries to see the funny side in everything.' Stephen Merchant abilityamusedance share on social
It's a cliche to say this now, but to me, 'The Sopranos' is like Dickens. It's able to take this very focused look at something but make it epic and profound. Stephen Merchant clichedickenepic Change image and share on social
I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone. The kind of people I'm competing with are my heroes - Woody Allen, Billy Wilder - who I know I'm going to fall short of. Stephen Merchant allenbillycompete share on social
The reason I keep talking about a wife and saying the word 'wife' on stage is because it seems a funny word to me. The more you say it, the more it seems to detach from that person and become this sort of abstract thing: that you would set out to find a wife, that it would be an objective like buying a new car. Stephen Merchant abstractbuycar share on social
I was trying for years to woo people through humour, but it seems flash cars are much easier. Stephen Merchant careasyflash Change image and share on social
I very rarely laugh. I remember I used to have a joy at comedy. I remember going to see Sean Lock for the first time live, just in some comedy club when I was 18, and again, just guttural, pure laughter. I didn't know what he was doing; I couldn't see the tricks. Stephen Merchant clubcomedyguttural share on social
It never really occurs to me that I'm doing cringe comedy. It's something that people tell me afterwards, and I say, 'Again? Really? I never set out with that intention.' Stephen Merchant comedycringeintention Change image and share on social
I've always been a fan of physical comedy. It kind of hits you in a different way; it bypasses the intellect and hits you in the gut. Stephen Merchant bypasscomedyfan Change image and share on social
I used to be quite a big video game player at university and post-university in that weird moment in life before you have a proper job and you've got a lot of idle time. Stephen Merchant biggamehave Change image and share on social