Top 25 Hugh Dennis Quotes

I think youve got to work out what makes you happy. With me, its that I do lots of different things. So Ive got this rather odd career whereby Im not really a stand-up and Im not really an actor and Im not really a writer. But I do them all.

I vary from issue to issue and Im not party political at all. I think its important in comedy not to come from any set angle or it would be too predictable.

As a vicar’s son, I understood performance. It never seemed odd to me that you’d stand up in front of people wearing weird clothes.

If the radio isnt working I will take it apart and put it back together again. I wont have mended it, but at least Ive had a bit of a poke around and thats usually good enough for me.

I didnt travel properly until the year before university when I went backpacking around the US, circling around from New York up to Boston, then travelling on the Canadian Pacific Railway to Montreal and going down the west coast of America.

Ive always done accents and stupid voices. But I went to school in Hampstead, where most of my mates were Jewish, and Jewish North London humour is so clever that I never thought I was funny.

I was never consciously rebellious but I suppose comedy is a sort of act of rebellion isnt it? Coming from a quite liberal background, it never occurred to me that there was anything to rebel against because you were allowed to say what you wanted to say.

My dad was a vicar and my mum was a primary school teacher, so I was always aware of being in a very supportive family.

One of my travelling bugbears is just people-watching or sticking to a rigid to-do list without venturing further afield.

I always get recognised and that always takes me by surprise. Its not something I ever expect or get used to.

When you go and meet people in far-flung parts of the world who need help, they’re not earnest; they’re having a laugh and a joke as they transport the water you’re buying for them – not trudging around saying serious things.

I am a cat person, although when I was a child we had a loony cat that was terrifying; if you hadn’t fed it, it would chase you round the house.

I really wanted to be a captain of industry. I worked at Unilever as brand manager for Lynx after university. While I don’t regret leaving, I wish I still had a bit of power.

In the old days, you had to wait for people to give you money to go and make something. Now, you can post your own sketches online to get them seen. It means more talented people are coming through.

I dont dream that much, but for a long time I had a recurring dream which wasnt funny at all. I was in a physics exam, and was asked a question by a teacher which I constantly got wrong.

I like to know a tiny bit about almost everything. I do like a pub quiz.

As long as youre happy where you are now, you cant really regret anything youve done.

Everyone’s careers go at different paces; you need to forget what other people are doing and concentrate on your own progress.

For me, family is the basis of everything. Family are the people you never have to explain yourself to; who should always be supportive of you – and you should always support them – and who wont judge you.

The Great British Dig’ is a fantastic format which combines finding out about the history of where you live and the surprising things that lie under your own back garden. Its kind of a community archaeology project.

Steve Punt and I have always tried to go so fast that its physically impossible to heckle.

My first proper race was a full marathon in 1987. A work colleague convinced us this was the best way to start and signed me up for the Lakeland marathon.

I always tell myself every disaster is more material for my work and another anecdote to tell.

I cut the cord for my son, which was a tremendous pleasure, though Ive never eaten calamari since.

I travelled across Canada on the Canadian Pacific Railway when I was 18. I didnt realise how long the journey was – four days – and I didnt buy enough food. All I had was four slabs of Philadelphia cream cheese and some biscuits.