Show Notes
James Haskell is facing an existential crisis. Since retiring as an international rugby star, he has become a ubiquitous personality, shape-shifting week-to-week from elite athlete to reality TV star, DJ, podcaster, author, MMA fighter, influencer and pundit. While James adapts to rapid-onset fatherhood, he is looking for his final form. In Haskell's opinion, the common thread running through his many post-rugby ventures is his unique brand of ‘comedy’... which brings us here. Amuse Douche puts Hask to the test in the most brutal arena: a live stand-up set. To prepare himself, he is speaking to some of the funniest comedians, actors and writers in the country, including Russell Kane, Sindhu Vee, Lou Sanders and Ed Byrne. While picking up tips and tricks, he’ll learn all about their journeys into comedy and find out what life is really like as a stand-up. But it's not all laughs as James and his guests also tackle serious issues such as alcohol dependency, living with ADHD and struggles with self-confidence. At the end of the series, James will take everything he's learned and get up in front of a live audience to see if he really is – or isn't – as hilarious as he says he is. Whether car crash or surprise success, the end result is sure to be compelling either way.
More from Amuse Douche with James Haskell
Prepare to be entertained, surprised, and thoroughly amused as James Haskell takes to the stage with his first full-length 35-minute comedy set.
It’s the last episode of Amuse Douche before James’ full length set. Luckily, he’s teamed up with the brilliant comedian Suzi Ruffell to explore the power of comedy in breaking down barriers. Together, they delve into the often unspoken challenges faced by comedians, particularly when confronting misogyny and homophobia.
As the twenty minute live set draws closer, another comedian takes a look at Hask’s previous eight minutes. This time, it’s former dominatrix and American comic Desiree Burch who casts her eye over his material. A far cry from the prudish British stereotype, Desiree isn’t afraid to tackle provocative subjects and speak her mind - so what will she make of James’ work? And has he finally met his match in comedy?
Seven weeks in and the reality of having to do a 20-minute set is hitting James hard. So he decides to share his eight minute set with today’s guest Jordan Gray, to get some constructive criticism alongside her advice.
For Hask, today’s episode feels like meeting an old mate at the pub. But what comedian, actor and classically trained singer Lloyd Griffith teaches him, is that in comedy, this could be a recipe for disaster. What’s funny in the pub with your mates isn’t always funny on stage, and vice versa.