ussell Howard has found it tough performing without a live audience for his new show.
The 40-year-old comedian is hosting topical programme \'Russell Howard\'s Home Time\' for Sky One during the coronavirus lockdown, and he admitted there are some "weird" moments.
He told RadioTimes.com: "I had to get these lights up to make a studio and had to figure out how Zoom worked, but I guess we\'re all on that journey and then just writing on your own really, and not having an audience to let you know whether it\'s funny.
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"In my head, even if they don\'t laugh, it\'s still raising money for charity. It\'s weird telling a joke and waiting for the audience. You can\'t ad-lib from a reaction in a crowd.
"It\'s made me really miss live comedy and I think it\'s going to be a while before we can get out there but this will do."
Russell - who is donating his fee for the show to the Trussel Trust and NHS Charities Together - admitted while it\'s a good release to be "writing jokes", he feels "kind of guilty" when so many people are suffering.
He added: "Yeah, but at the same time you feel kind of guilty about that. I love writing jokes. I really love it. That\'s kind of how I cope.
"Comedy is a mechanism through which you can do life. My wife is out at a hospital saving lives and I\'m at home writing jokes about Gwyneth Paltrow\'s sex toys. That\'s our purposes in life.
"It\'s difficult to not sound up your own a**e, but it\'s the only way I could cope - I guess it\'s the same if you\'re a musician writing songs. If you\'re lucky enough to have a job that\'s your hobby, you\'re very fortunate."
\'Home Time\' airs every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30pm on both Sky One and NOW TV.
4 April 2026 - 4:36 AM
