Wikipedia

James Acaster

"Acaster" redirects here. For the podcasting platform, seeAcast.

James William Acaster(/ˈeɪkæstər/;born 9 January 1985) is an English comedian, presenter, podcaster and actor. As well as the stand-up specialsRepertoireandCold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999,he is known for co-hosting the food podcastOff Menuand the panel showHypothetical.Acaster makes use of fictional characters within his stand-up comedy, which is characterised by frequentcallback jokes,offbeatobservational comedyand overarching stories. He has won fiveChortle Awards,aJust for LaughsAward and International Comedy Festival Awards atMelbourneandNew Zealand.

James Acaster
James Acaster
Acaster performing in 2024
Born
James William Acaster

(1985-01-09)9 January 1985(age 40)
Kettering,Northamptonshire,England
EducationNorthampton College(BTEC)
Occupations
  • Stand-up comedian
  • presenter
  • podcaster
  • actor
Years active2008–present
Notable work
TelevisionHypothetical
Partner(s)Louise Ford(2011–2013)
Rose Matafeo(c. 2014–2017)
Awards
Websitejamesacaster

After playing the drums for local bands inKettering,Acaster began pursuing stand-up comedy as a career in 2008. He was a support act forJosie Longin 2010. Acaster drew acclaim for his shows at theEdinburgh Festival Fringe,where he was nominated forBest Comedy Showa record-breaking five times. In 2017, he toured three of his Fringe performances asThe Trelogywhile writing a fourth to accompany the set; this led to the four-partNetflixspecialRepertoire(2018). His following tourCold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999(2019) won a Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award. He has been touringHecklers Welcomesince 2022.

Acaster appeared as a guest on British televisionpanel showTaskmaster(2018) and co-hostedHypothetical(2019–2022) withJosh Widdicombe.He also hosts the food podcastOff Menu(2018–) with the comedianEd Gamble.Acaster's first book,Classic Scrapes(2017), was developed from a recurring segment on Widdicombe'sXFMradio show in which he shared anecdotes of personal mishaps. His second book,Perfect Sound Whatever(2019), is about his mental health issues in 2017 that led to him collecting a large number ofalbums released in 2016.His third book,Guide to Quitting Social Media(2022), is a parody of theself-help genre.All three books have beenSunday Timesbestsellers. The music collective Temps was formed by Acaster and released its debut album,Party Gator Purgatory,in May 2023. He also appears inGhostbusters: Frozen Empireas the character Lars Pinfield.

Early life

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James William Acaster[1]was born inKettering,Northamptonshire,England, on 9 January 1985.[2][3][4]: 268 His father was head of chemistry.[5]His family attended anondenominational Christianchurch whose Sunday sermons included humorous anecdotes, sketches recreatingBiblestories, and rock music. At a young age, Acaster performed a sketch with his father and enjoyed the laughs it received.[6]He attended Montagu Secondary School—since built over intoKettering Buccleuch Academy.[7]At high school, he participated in the drama club, turning each performance into comedy.[6]He dropped out of sixth form before sitting hisA-levelexams and sat aBTECin Music Practice atNorthampton College.[5][1][8]

Wicksteed ParkinKettering,England, where Acaster briefly worked

Between the ages of 17 and 22,[9]Acaster played the drums in various bands around his hometown, including The Wow! Scenario, Three Line Whip and Pindrop.[10]While a drummer, Acaster had a number of jobs, including working inWicksteed Park.[11][12]He was adishwasherin two kitchens but did not learn to cook in either role; the first kitchen had a culture of bullying but he was also able to make friends.[12]

A car crash at the age of 18 led him to fixate on the idea of death, so Acaster created a bucket list: items included skydiving and stand-up comedy. He would complete them while working 12 hours per week in a kitchen.[13][14]After completing a stand-up course at the Kettering Volunteer Bureau,[15]he began performing every few months, but maintained the vision of becoming a professional musician.[13][14]

Stand-up comedy

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2008–11: Early career

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After Acaster suffered another band splitting up, he decided to take a break from music, believing it to be an industry where hard work did not guarantee success. Without strong qualifications or a full-time job, Acaster pursued stand-up as a career.[9]He started performing onopen micsin 2008.[13]He moved toWood Green,North London, and supported himself financially by working as ateaching assistantin aSouth Londonsecondary school forautisticstudents for nine months.[16][4]: 193, 221 

For the 2009Edinburgh Festival Fringe,Acaster performed withNick HelmandJosh Widdicombein a free fringe show, garnering poor attendance and a single review—ThreeWeeksrated it one star and called it "depressing".[17]ForJosie Long's 2010 tour, the support acts were Acaster andThe Pictish Trail.Most of the Welsh leg of the tour was cancelled following a car accident with Acaster at the wheel, which served as the inspiration for The Pictish Trail's single "Dead Connection" (2016).[18][19][4]: 221–229 In 2011, Acaster toured asMilton Jones' support act.[20][10][4]: 243 

2011–2013: Edinburgh Fringe Festival

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Acaster garnered acclaim through annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows, receiving five consecutive nominations for theEdinburgh Comedy Awardfor Best Comedy Show from 2012 to 2016, a record.[21]In his early stand-up, he invited the audience onstage to participate and asked them to provide suggestions for him to incorporate into the show.[22][23]

In 2011, he performed his first solo show,Amongst Other Things,at thePleasance Courtyard.[23]It included material on cheese graters, shopping trolleys, watchingThe West Wing,a surprise party and skydiving.[24][25]It received four stars out of five from theBritish Comedy Guide;Matt Wood praised the "more abstract and ambitious routines" but was more critical of the structure, audience participation andslice of lifematerial.[23]Beth Kahn, inBroadway Baby,gave it three stars, praising the responses to hecklers and physical comedy but critiquing his listless manner and mundane topics.[24]Brian Logan made similar observations in a two-star review forThe Guardian.[25]

Acaster's 2012 Edinburgh show was calledPrompt.Subjects included comparisons of bread, aKettering Town F.C.chant, outwitting telemarketers and cows' weather predictions.[26]In a four star review,Chortle's Steve Bennett wrote that Acaster combined observational comedy with eccentricity in a well-structured performance.[27] Giving it three stars, Veronica Lee ofThe Arts Deskpraised the show as well-structured and whimsical, with frequent use ofcallback,but said that some tropes "feel simply mechanical".[28]

Acaster wrote about one routine forThe Guardian:a real-life story about a man cheating on his partner and saying, "you wouldn't bring an apple to an orchard, would you?" He wanted to oppose the glorification of affairs in stand-up comedy. He focused first on the phrase, as his style was to "get caught up in the little details", and then incorporated outrage, despite most of his material being understated.[29]The Independent's Julian Hall found that the routine had a style similar toStewart LeeorRichard Herring,but was one of the "least promising" in the set.[26]

Acaster performing for an audience of children in 2013

Acaster returned to Edinburgh in 2013 with the showLawnmower.He woreMarks & Spencersclothing resembling a school uniform.[30]With fictionalised biographic material, he commented onYoko Ono's impact onThe Beatles,Percy Pigsweets,mariachimusic and the placeholder namesJoe BloggsandJohn Doe.[31][32]A four-starTime Outreview praised the careful structuring, wording and delivery.[33]Mark Monahan, reviewing forThe Daily Telegraph,also gave four stars for a "new vitality and unpredictability" that improved onPrompt.[31]A critic forThe Heraldhad a lukewarm response to Acaster's "deadpan delivery and awkward physical comedy" in a three-star review.[30]The Guardian's James Kettle reviewed him as a "quiet, unassuming" comedian "adept at mi xing inspired whimsy with straighter observational material".[32]

While in Edinburgh, Acaster participated inThe Wrestling,where a professional wrestler faces a comedian. One stunt involves a metal tray appearing to slam into the comedian's face. In two different years, Acaster forgot to raise his hands to block, so the tray genuinely hit him in the face.[34]Acaster appeared again inThe Wrestlingat the inaugural 2023 Just for Laughs festival in London, a sister event to theCanadian festival.[35]

2014–2018:Repertoire

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Main article:James Acaster: Repertoire

Acaster's next three Edinburgh shows—Recognise(2014),Represent(2015) andReset(2016)—formed a trilogy in a shared universe.Recapwas added to the sequence in 2017.[36]Acaster assumes a fictional background for each routine, themed around the law: his character works as anundercover cop,serves on a jury,leads a honey-based scam and is put intowitness protection.[37]Acaster'scorduroyoutfits and the background draping are colour co-ordinated: green is used inRecognise,red inRepresent,mustard yellow inResetand all three colours inRecap.[38]Topics for routines include the2010 Copiapó mining accident,a teabag analogy forBrexit,theexistentialquestion of what preceded theBig Bangand theBritish Empire.[37][39]There is also more mainstream material, such as the experience of massaging a partner.[40]

Acaster performing in 2015

The first three shows toured separately, with Acaster writing throughout each year and performing weekly. The overarching narrative was often the first part to be written.Reset's honey routine was conceived as a short story for radio.[41]From January to September 2017, Acaster toured withThe Trelogy,performing the first three shows in 14 locations over three nights.[39][42]He performed them in a cycle at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[41]DuringThe Trelogy,Acaster adapted the routines for narrative cohesion and to suit his faster delivery and new comedic style.[41]

Acaster wroteRecapwhile touring and began to perform it on the third night.[42]It makes use of his material from 2011 to 2013 and ties together the three preceding shows.[39]The show is inspired byRogue One,a film that depicts previously known events from theStar Warsuniverse, and fan theories that eachPixarfilm is set in the same universe.[42]The recorded version ends with Acaster returning to the setup at the start of the first performance.[38]In March 2018, the four performances were released as a serialised Netflix stand-up comedy special,Repertoire.[42]

As individual performances, the routines received positive attention from critics.Recognise,RepresentandResetwere three of Acaster's five consecutive shows nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award.[21]Recognisewon theNew Zealand International Comedy FestivalAward for Best International Show andChortle Awardsfor Best Breakthrough Act and Best Show.[43][44][45]Representwas nominated for a Chortle Award.[46]Hugh Montgomery ofThe IndependentratedRecognisefour stars, summarising it as "an acquired taste" of "surreal set-pieces" and "observations as astute as they are trivial" with intelligent callbacks.[47]Another four-star review—by Bruce Dessau inEvening Standard—foundRepresentto be Acaster's "most conceptually ambitious set yet", with "copious scope for laughs" and "absolute precision" to delivery, including pauses.[48]Rupert Hawksley ofThe Daily TelegraphpraisedResetas Acaster's best show to date, with "sharp punch-lines and meticulously crafted flourishes", albeit a slightly forced ending wherein Acaster delivers a rant to an audience member that is actually about himself.[49]

WithRepertoire,Acaster became the first British comic to have multiple stand-up routines released on Netflix.[50]In 2021, it was streamed 840,000 times in the UK, third-most on Netflix for a British comedy special.[51]It received positive reception upon release.Chortle's Steve Bennett praisedRecapas continuing Acaster's "uniquely offbeat" material, "precision of focus", nested twists within routines and gradually unfolding narrative.[38]IndieWire's Steve Greene compared it to theatre, lauding its "finely calibrated" jokes with twists—such as putting the punchline before the setup—but writing that some jokes go on too long.[52]Clint Gage reviewed inIGNthat Acaster "blends visual aids... inoffensively "in the" fantastically absurd journey "of the series.[40]

2018–2021:Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999

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Acaster performing in 2018
Main article:Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999

In Acaster's next stand-up routine,Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999,he discusses his poor experience recording an episode ofThe Great British Bake Offand the termination of relationships with ex-girlfriends, an agent and a therapist. Mental health is a theme and Acaster is more open about his real life.[53]The show toured in 2018 and 2019.[54][55]A recorded performance was released in 2019 onDICE,temporarily, and 2021 onVimeo;the latter is accompanied byMake a New Tomorrow,material cut from the special.[53][56][57]

The special received critical acclaim, winning Acaster aMelbourne International Comedy FestivalAward and aChortle Award.[58][59]Five-star reviews praised Acaster's precise wording, absurdism, unexpected punchlines and narrative structure.[50][60][61][62]A clip from the special of Acaster commenting on "edgy" comedians who attack transgender people went viral.[53][17]

Hecklers in his increasingly personal routine led Acaster to want a break from performing. During theCOVID-19 pandemic,Acaster told interviewers that he did not want to commit to continuing stand-up comedy, with comments like: "Right now I don't want to do it again ever".[63][20]Lockdowngave him the opportunity to reflect on the anxiety and crowded social spaces of stand-up comedy.[63]However, he did not say he had 'quit'.[20]

2022–present:Hecklers Welcome

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In 2022, after performing occasional shows in the UK, Acaster announced a US tour:Hecklers Welcome.[20]To pre-empt his fears of audiences heckling or getting distracted by their phones, he tells them that these things are permitted.[13]Acaster was motivated by an aim to improve aspects of performing stand-up comedy that he did not previously enjoy.[20]Acaster opined that hecklers are largely motivated by giddinness, drunkenness and a belief that it will improve the performance. He noted that some audience members object to the heckling, which is part of the experience.[13]Acaster said that he tries to match the audiences' attitude each night; some audiences choose not to heckle, while other shows are filled with one or multiple people heckling.[13][64]One audience member threwMaltesersat him and called him a "bitch", evoking a similar incident from 2016, which Acaster said was his worst performance.[65]He has performed the show in Scandinavia and Canada.[64]He is currently touring the show around the UK.[66]

The Daily Telegraphgave it five stars, calling it "one of the funniest and most brilliantly constructed shows of the year".[67]It won a 2024 Chortle Award for Best Tour.[68]

Television

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Panel shows

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Acaster makes frequent appearances on Britishpanel shows.[53] In his early career, he was most prominent for appearances onMock the Week(2005–2022).[69][70]One of his first roles was onChris Addison'sShow and Tell(2011).[71]Acaster said in 2014 that his tour sales saw a huge spike during the broadcast of aNever Mind the Buzzcocks(1996–) episode where he appeared.[72]He was a team captain in an unbroadcast pilot ofVirtually Famous(2014–2017), a panel show about the internet, and appeared in two episodes in its first series.[73][74]

He has also appeared onWould I Lie to You?(2007–),[75]8 Out of 10 Cats(2005–),Have I Got News For You(1990–),[76]andThe Dog Ate My Homework(2014–).[77]Bethy Squires ofVulturereviewed his 2020 appearance onThe Big Fat Quiz of the Yearas "a great add to the madness", with his unpredictable actions including smearing ice-cream on protective COVID-19 dividers.[78]

Acaster starred in series 7 ofTaskmaster(2018), wherein five contestants perform tasks that are judged byGreg Davies,with help from his assistantAlex Horne.[79]Radio Timesreaders voted in 2022 that the funniest moment of the show was an argument between Acaster and contestantRhod Gilbertduring a team task.[80]In 2021,Pasteranked him as one of the six best contestants, describing his performance as "a mixed bag of aimless mess and point winning turns".[81]Den of Geekreviewers listed Acaster's highlights on the programme: his recurring refusal to greet Horne; the 30-second musical composition "Over My Shoulder" under the name Clump Stump; a live recreation ofGrand Theft Auto;and practicinghula-hoopingfor months.[79]

Hypothetical

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Main article:Hypothetical (TV series)

Hypotheticalwas a panel show onDaveco-hosted by Josh Widdicombe, who conceived the idea, and Acaster.[17][82]The hosts ask comedian guests absurd hypothetical questions and Acaster awards points according to their responses. The show uses physical comedy and improvisation to play out guests' ideas.[83]Four series aired from 2019 to 2022; the third was filmed undersocial distancingrestrictions.[82][83][84]A tie-in podcast,Hypothetical: The Podcast,debuted in May 2022. It saw a guest host asking Acaster and Widdicombe hypothetical questions.[85]A four-star review by Steve Bennett inChortlepraised Acaster as providing a "dash of peculiarity" in his role as Widdicombe's sidekick.[83]Contrastingly, Rachael Sigee's three-star review inicriticised the show as forced in its surrealism and inferior toTaskmaster,where the challenges are played out.[86]

Other television

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Acaster has appeared on a number of gameshows, includingBlockbusters(2019) andPointless(2009–).[87][88]: 39:40 In 2018, he wonRichard Osman's House of Games,wherein four celebrities compete across five episodes. Acaster saidAnne Diamondwas hostile after he won the first three episodes. After filming, he got drunk, smashed the trophy and gave it to abusker.[89][88]: 43:20–52:10 He discussed his 2019 appearance onThe Great British Bake Offin his routineCold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999,and the mental health issues that he was experiencing at the time. A phrase he used to describe his flapjacks to the judges became a meme: "Starting making it / Had a breakdown / Bon appétit."[90]Similarly, fans found his 2022Celebrity Mastermindperformance humorously disastrous. He did not prepare for his specialist subject 'The History of Ice Cream', due to filming commitments, after the programme rejected subjects relating to the comedy of Nish Kumar or Ed Gamble.[91][92]

TheBBC ThreeseriesSounds Random(2016) consisted of 15 short episodes in which Acaster interviews musicians.[93]Usingshuffle playon theiriPod,the guest describes their relationship to songs. Dances by Acaster and the musician are choreographed to the music.[94][95]It followed a similar show that Acaster hosted onFUBAR Radio,[94]aninternet radiostation with a focus on comedy;[96]an executive producer compared it to the radio programmeDesert Island Discs(1942–).[94]

In 2016, Acaster wrote asitcompilot forBBC TwocalledWe The Jury,about a man who is called to jury duty for a murder trial after dreaming of serving as a juror.[97]The Guardian's Brian Logan said that the writing and "heightened reality" reflected Acaster's comedic style, but was less successful in the medium, while Mark Gibbings-Jones called it "delightfully off-kilter".[98][99]The Observer's Euan Ferguson panned its "cliched characters and surreal madness".[100]The American channelCBSpicked up the idea for a pilot, asJury Duty,in 2018 and 2020, with Acaster asexecutive producer.The project has not come to fruition.[101][102]Also in 2016, Acaster wrote for and narrated aComedy Centralpilot calledFunny, Furry and Famous.The programme was aclip showwith comedians reacting to viral videos of animals.[103]

For Christmas 2017, Acaster starred in a mockumentary short forSky Artsabout turning on the Christmas lights in Kettering,James Acaster's Xmas.[104]

AlongsideEd Gamble,Lloyd LangfordandJohn Robins,Acaster createdThe Island(2022), while stuck in New York City due to a snowstorm.[105]The panel show was hosted byTom Allenand saw four comedians competing to create the bestdesert island.It was cancelled after one series on Dave, with critics panning the concept.[106]

The documentaryThe Unofficial Science of Home Alone(2022) saw Acaster, along with the comedianGuz Khan,recreate stunts from the moviesHome Alone(1990) andHome Alone 2: Lost in New York(1992).Alex Brookerinterviews actors and crew from the original films.[34][107]Production was initially scheduled for 2021, but the show premiered around Christmas 2022.[108]Acaster described being very nervous during the stunts.[34]Khan and Acaster had both referencedHome Alonein recent panel show appearances.[108]In a three-star review forThe Guardian,Stuart Heritage critiqued that the hosts should have been more active participants than "wisecracking observers" led by the engineerZoe Laughlin.Heritage criticised it as inferior to the experimental science programmeMythbusters(2003–2018).[109]

Acaster appeared with Gamble on the fifth series ofCelebrity Hunted(2023), which tasked participants with evading "Hunters" around the UK for a fortnight. During their appearance they ate in aMichelin starredrestaurant,[110]called into Gamble'sRadio Xprogramme,[111]and released a video mocking the Hunters.[112]Acaster also gave Gamble a tattoo.[113]Acaster was caught after goading the Hunters to theTaskmasterhouse and squirting them with a water gun that he joked contained "piss"; Gamble escaped but was caught soon after.[114][115]In a two-star review,i's Emily Baker criticised that the pair and the Hunters all put "very little" effort into the game.[116]

Acaster is the voice of Armadillo in the English dub of the Italian animated seriesThis World Can't Tear Me Down(2023).[117]

As a recurring joke, Acaster announces that it is his birthday every time he appears on the talk showSunday Brunch.[118]

Podcasts

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In addition to tie-in podcasts to his second bookPerfect Sound Whateverand the television showHypothetical,which Acaster hosts, Acaster is known as co-host ofOff Menu.[119][85][20]His podcastSpringleafis based on hisRepertoirecharacter Pat Springleaf.[13]

Off Menu

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Main article:Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
Acaster performing a live show ofOff MenuatRoyal Albert Hallin 2023

In December 2018, he began a weekly podcast with Ed Gamble calledOff Menu.[120]The hosts invite guests to a dream restaurant to give their ideal starter, main course, side dish, drink and dessert.[12][121]The guest is ejected if they mention a secret ingredient.[122]Acaster, in the role of Genie Waiter, is known for the catchphrase "Poppadoms or bread?", suddenly shouted at each guest.[20]

The podcast has garnered nominations for fiveBritish Podcast Awards,twoNational Comedy Awardsand a Chortle Award.[123][124][125]It reached 120million downloads by April 2023. Some episodes have been recorded in front of a live audience: for instance,Off Menutoured for 15 episodes in 2023.[120][126]

Springleaf

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Acaster(left)andMike Wozniak(right)discussSpringleafin 2022

Acaster'sRepertoirecharacter Pat Springleaf—an undercover cop—was developed in a podcast,Springleaf.[13]The ten-part series debuted in November 2023 with a large number of comedian appearances and cameos.[127]It is presented as atrue crime podcast,with the framing device of Springleaf playing wire recordings of his most important case.[128]The Timesnoted a large number of high-profile names in the cast.[129]

Acaster conceived the podcast while performingRecognisein 2014.[13]The Goon Show(1951–1960), an audiositcom,was an inspiration; Acaster listened to it as a child and enjoyed that the humour was tailored to the medium.[13]The podcast wascrowdfundedthroughKickstarter,raising £140,000,[6][127]and produced by Mighty Bunny.[11]A pilot was recorded withKemah BobandKath Hughes.[11]At 2023 Just for Laughs in London, Acaster improvised as Springleaf withNish Kumaras co-host.[130]

After its second episode,Springleaftopped theSpotifypodcast chart in the UK and Ireland.[128]It was nominated for anAudio and Radio Industry Awardin 2024, under the Comedy category.[131]Alexi Duggins ofThe Guardianrecommended it as "a surreal and inventive slice of scripted comedy".[132]Edward Wickham ofChurch Timesanalysed that it exploits podcast tropes to play "sophisticated games of subversion and irony", but also has "a charmingly traditional, pantomimic feel to the sitcom, reminiscent of radio comedy from the post-war era".[133]

Books

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Classic Scrapes

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Main article:James Acaster's Classic Scrapes
Acaster has worked withJosh Widdicombe(pictured)at their 2009Edinburgh Festival Fringeshow, onXFMradio and as hosts ofHypothetical

His first book,James Acaster's Classic Scrapes(2017), originated from a recurring slot Acaster had on Josh Widdicombe'sXFMradio programme, where he became known as the "Scrapemaster".[5][4]: ix Acaster describes "scrapes" from his life: they vary in severity from getting in trouble at primary school to three car accidents.[5]One anecdote involves a 'cabadging' (cabbage-based) prank war between Acaster and a nine-year-old boy.[69]On the radio, he would describe a mixture of "archive scrapes" and recent stories.[4]: x 

The book compiles Acaster's radio stories in chronological order, with some additional material.[5][69]It was published in August, followed by a book tour in autumn 2017.[41][134]Classic Scrapesappeared onThe Sunday Timesbest-seller list and was listed as one of its best books of the year;[135][136]it was nominated for a 2018 Chortle Award, withChortle's Steve Bennett finding humour in the "perfect combination of being socially awkward and painfully self-aware".[137][69]

Perfect Sound Whatever

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Main article:Perfect Sound Whatever

Perfect Sound Whateveris Acaster's second book, about an obsessive challenge he undertook in 2017 to collect as muchmusic released in 2016as possible.[138]His central claim is that 2016 was the greatest year in music.[13]It was published byHeadline Publishing Groupin August 2019.[139][140]After a 2017 breakup, Acaster had a mental breakdown and began therapy. He collected over 500albums released in 2016,such asLemonade(Beyoncé),Blackstar(David Bowie)andBlonde(Frank Ocean).[76]They also include much more obscure and experimental works, including an album by a teenager that had sold seven copies when Acaster purchased it.[138]Acaster interviewed artists for the book, which he wrote at the comedian Nish Kumar's suggestion.[141]

Jamie Atkins ofRecord Collectorgave the book five stars, saying that Acaster "writes about music beautifully and economically" and "skilfully intersperses" album history with his mental state in 2017.[141]Steve Bennett ofChortlerated the book three stars, calling the personal story "honest, unaffected, poignant – and, yes, entertaining", but commenting that the number of albums mentioned and their obscurity are overwhelming.[138]The book was aSunday TimesBestseller.[142]

A tie-in podcast,James Acaster's Perfect Sounds,was launched onBBC Radio 1in April 2020.[119]Acaster asks guests to discuss one of his albums from 2016.[143]Its initial run was 50 episodes.[144]Two Christmas specials were recorded, one withJeff Rosenstock,whose albumWorryfeatured the track which gave Acaster's project its name: "Perfect Sound Whatever".[145]By the end of the second series, 117 episodes had been produced.[146]The podcast won the 2022British Podcast Awardin the Best Arts & Culture category, with the judges reviewing that it was humorous, had an "innovative format" and a host with "authentic engagement" in the material.[147]

Guide to Quitting Social Media

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In 2022, he published the bookJames Acaster's Guide to Quitting Social Media: Being the Best YOU You Can Be and Saving Yourself from Loneliness: Vol. 1.Though Acaster did quit social media in 2019, the book is a parody of theself-help genre,motivational speakers,and people who brag about quitting social media.[20]It is told from the perspective of a self-help guru who delusionally believes his life to be perfect.[13]A fictionalised James Acaster, living in a castle, enlists help from his benefactor Clancy Dellahue and the Tangfastic Crew to replace his online friends, spy on ex-girlfriends, bully strangers and view strangers' dog photos.[148]

After giving uninteresting answers in interviews to why he was not on social media, Acaster began to fabricate increasingly elaborate reasons. He developed the book from the conceit: "what if you behaved the way you behave on social media in real life?"[13]The book was published on 18 August 2022 by Headline Publishing Group and became aSunday TimesBestseller.[148]It charted sixth in the Hardback Non-fiction category and first in the Audiobook category.[149]

Temps

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In November 2022, Acaster announced a new musical project called Temps, a music collective of 40 musicians.[150]Performing artists includeQuelle Chris,Xenia Rubinos,Nnamdi Ogbonnaya(NNAMDÏ) andShamir.[151][152][150]Acaster described the project as neither comedic nor serious. He aimed to give as little direction to the musicians as possible, encouraging them to improvise. Some songs would change tone completely as different musicians added theirparts.[153]Acaster combined parts together, with a dozen additional people involved inaudio engineeringand distribution.[154][13]

The project began with Acaster retrieving his old drum kit from his parents' house, at their insistence. He began to record drum improvisations.[13]He planned to create amockumentarywithLouis Theroux's production company in which he would transition into the music industry.[154]In the mockumentary,John Kearnswould play Acaster's manager and Acaster would passSeb Rochford's music off as his own.[155]Whilst music with Rochford was recorded, the idea had to be abandoned when the COVID-19 pandemic began.[154][155]Instead, the project was developed into Temps through email communication with musicians Acaster contacted while working onPerfect Sound Whatever.[150][152]

Temps' debut 10-track album,Party Gator Purgatory,was released byBella Unionon 19 May 2023 and explores genres includingalt-rock,electronica,hip-hopandjazz.[156][155][157]Acaster created its artwork with highlighter pens.[152]Music videos were shot by Turtle Canyon Comedy.[158]Initially, they feature Acaster in the 'Party Gator' costume—a lifesized toy alligator that he won at a fair as a child. After Acaster suffered an injured ankle, heatstroke andlabyrinthitis,the costume was replaced by a puppet.[155]Four singles were released: "no,no", "bleedthemtoxins", "partygatorresurrection" and "ificouldjust".[159]With the release of the album came a music video for "partygatorRIP".[160]

ForFar Out,Tyler Golsen ratedParty Gator Purgatorytwo out of five stars, summarising it as "a random soup that never congeals" due to its lack of direction, large number of contributing artists and combination of genres. However, Golsen identified a minority of songs with an overarching direction and an ambition that was occasionally successful.[157]It wasThe Quietus's Album of the Week, with Alistair Shuttleworth praising that it was "genuinely excellent" as well as unique. Shuttleworth reviewed it as a "technicolour, maximalist, hugely inventive album" with a "sprightly, playful character" overall, but a number of "unexpectedly moving" commentaries on mental health.[161]

Other work

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In 2022, Acaster narrated an audiobook edition ofJames and the Giant Peach(1961) byRoald Dahl.[162]In a list of the Best Audiobooks of 2022,The Timespraised the "great casting".[163]

Radio

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Acaster gained prominence through radio, including his role on Josh Widdicombe's XFM radio programme that led to his first bookClassic Scrapes.[5]His half-hour programmeJames Acaster's Findings(on the same channel) was given a 2013 pilot on the topic "Bread", followed by a series in 2014: "Wood", "Fruit", "Wheels" and "Paint". It also starred Nathaniel Metcalfe andBryony Hannah.[164]

Sweet Home Ketteringa

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Early in his career, Acaster produced aweb seriesmockumentary,Sweet Home Ketteringa(2014). Acaster revisits his favourite parts of his hometown Kettering, including an amusement park and football club.[15]He speaks to locals, who do not recognise him.[93]By 2016, it had garnered 50,000 views onYouTube.[165]The six-part follow-up web seriesSweet Home Lahnsteineringa(2016) was crowdfunded with a budget of £5,000.[94][165]Acaster visitsLahnstein,Germany, atwin townof Kettering. He first travelled to the town in childhood with the localvolunteer fire brigade.[93]The series also starred the comedians Jack Barry andEmma Sidi.[165]

Film

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In 2016, the short storyTo Dowas published in the anthology bookDead Funny: Encore: More Horror Stories by Comedians.In the story, written by Acaster, a crime is revealed through the to-do lists of the murderer and the victim. Acaster turned the story into a screenplay during COVID-19 lockdown, with the aim of adapting it as an independent film.[11]

Acaster's first film role was inCinderella(2021) alongside the comediansJames CordenandRomesh Ranganathan.[166]They voiced three mice and appeared as three transformed footmen.[167]Acaster was a replacement forJohn Mulaney.[102]InGhostbusters: Frozen Empire(2024), Acaster played the scientist Dr. Lars Pinfield, a character similar toEgon Spengler.[168][169]Ian Sandwell ofDigital Spycalled him an "enjoyable addition to the franchise".[170]He also played Felix the Ironmonger inSeize Them!(2024).[166]

Comedic style

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Acaster has cited as inspirationsEddie Izzard,Josie Long andRoss Noble,all whimsical comedians who deliver unexpected punchlines.[42]Unusually for a stand-up comedian, Acaster incorporates fiction into his material.[53]He uses different personae across his body of work, such as an undercover cop.[6][53]These personalities vary from whimsical to aloof.[6]He does not laugh at his own jokes: Acaster said in a 2014 interview that it is funnier if comedians "seriously believe this stupid thing they're saying".[15]In 2019, he said that most of his material was developed while onstage;[9]he analyses audience reactions in detail.[22]His wording and delivery is carefully planned.[33]

Critics identified overarching narratives as a commonality to Acaster's routines.[155][26][171]Jokes frequently reference earlier material, providing connections between unrelated topics.[171][26]His material includes one-liners, lengthy stories and audience interaction.[53]Hisobservational comedytopics are offbeat, such as cheese graters or mariachi music, and he focuses on minutiae.[62][22][31]He uses repetition as a comedic tool.[28]Acaster makes use of props and physical comedy. He plays with the medium, for example by kneeling for a large part of one routine.[53]AChannel 4executive named Acaster as a comedian whose work falls betweenalternative comedyand traditional stand-up, due to his subversion of audience expectations and joke structures.[172]

Acaster toldNousethat his fictional material reflected his personal life unconsciously. InRepertoire,he recognised the connections to his life and reveals them in the routines as a twist:[9]one episode,Represent,is about loss of religious belief, told through a narrative arc of jury service.[5]Harsh or sad material in Acaster's comedy, though explored deeply, arrives unexpectedly or is told through absurdist anecdotes.[155][171][13]Acaster's work incorporates politics sparingly, though he has done routines on Brexit. He described toNousethat at work-in-progress shows, where he often tests political material, the emotional side is more successful than the humorous side.[9]

Personal life

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Acaster dated the English comedianLouise Forduntil 2013; she subsequently began datingRowan Atkinson.[173][174][175]He then dated the comedianRose Matafeo;she moved from New Zealand to London in 2015 to live with him but they broke up in 2017.[173][176][177]

In an interview withi,Acaster said that he had been open about hismental healthwith his friends since his teenage years. He thought it would be self-indulgent to do this in his stand-up, but began doing so withCold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999.In the routine, he discusses experiencingdepressionandsuicidal thoughtswhile attending regular therapy.[6]He also discussed these topics in his second book,Perfect Sound Whatever.[76]Acaster toldBBC Newsthat he did not labelanxietyand depression as such when he was younger, or recognise his anxiety in an earlier relationship. His first therapy session was in 2013.[178]

Though raisedChristian,Acaster is no longer religious.[6]His routineRepresentis indirectly about losing his faith.[5]

Acaster lives in North London with his girlfriend and four cats, one of which is aSphynx cat.This was revealed on the tenth episode of the podcast What Did You Do Yesterday? which was first broadcast in October 2024.

Filmography

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Filmography of James AcasterFilm

edit
Year Title Role Notes
2019 Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 Self Released onDICEtemporarily in 2019 and onVimeoin 2021
2021 Cinderella John
2022 The Unofficial Science of Home Alone Host
2024 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Lars Pinfield
Seize Them! Felix the Ironmonger
James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome Self

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Josh Mike 1 episode
Drunk History: UK Self 2 episodes
2016 Sounds Random Host Television short; 15 episodes
2017 Absolutely Fine Delivery Driver 1 episode
James Acaster's Xmas Host Television short
2018 James Acaster: Repertoire Self 4 episodes
Taskmaster Self 10 episodes
2019-22 Hypothetical Host 32 episodes
2023 This World Can't Tear Me Down Armadillo (voice) English dub

Audio

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Year Title Role Medium Notes
2013–14 James Acaster's Findings Host Radio 5 episodes
2018-25 Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster Host Podcast
2020-24 James Acaster's Perfect Sounds Host Podcast
2022 Hypothetical: The Podcast Host Podcast 11 episodes

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes
2014 Sweet Home Ketteringa Host 6 episodes
2016 Sweet Home Lahnsteineringa Host 6 episodes

As writer

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Year Title Notes
2014-16 Sweet Home Ketteringa 13 episodes
2016 We the Jury 1 episode
2018 James Acaster: Repertoire 4 episodes
2020 Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999
2022 The Island 8 episodes
2024 James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome

Bibliography

edit
  • James Acaster's Classic Scrapes(2017) Headline.ISBN978-1472247186
  • Perfect Sound Whatever(2019) Headline.ISBN978-1472260307
  • James Acaster's Guide to Quitting Social Media(2022) Headline.ISBN978-1472288561

Awards and nominations

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Awards and nominations received by James Acaster
Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2012 Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Comedy Show Prompt Nominated [21]
2013 Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Comedy Show Lawnmower Nominated [21]
2014 Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Comedy Show Recognise Nominated [21]
New Zealand International Comedy FestivalAwards Best International Show Self Won [43]
2015 Chortle Awards Breakthrough Act Self Won [179]
Best Show Recognise Won
Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Comedy Show Represent Nominated [21]
2016 Chortle Awards Best Show Represent Nominated [46]
Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Comedy Show Reset Nominated [21]
2018 Chortle Awards Book Award James Acaster's Classic Scrapes Nominated [137]
2019 British Podcast Awards Best Comedy Podcast Off Menu Nominated [123]
Chortle Awards Best Show Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 Won [59]
Comedians' Comedian Self Won
Helpmann Awards Best Comedy Performer Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 Nominated [180]
Melbourne International Comedy FestivalAward Most Outstanding Show Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 Won [58]
2020 British Podcast Awards Best Comedy Podcast Off Menu Nominated [123]
Best Entertainment Podcast Off Menu Nominated [123]
2021 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Comedy Special Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 Nominated [181]
2022 British Podcast Awards Best Arts & Culture James Acaster's Perfect Sounds Won [147]
Chortle Awards Best Podcast Off Menu Nominated [125]
Just for Laughs Awards Rising Comedy Star Self Won [182]
National Comedy Awards Best Comedy Podcast Off Menu Nominated [124]
Outstanding Male Comedy Entertainment Performance Hypothetical Nominated [183]
2023 National Comedy Awards Best Comedy Podcast Off Menu Nominated [124]
2024 Chortle Awards Best Tour Hecklers Welcome Won [68]

References

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  128. ^ab"James Acaster becomes UK's top podcaster".Chortle.29 November 2023.Retrieved2 December2023.
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  131. ^"Laura Smyth, James Acaster and Frank Skinner amongst ARIAS nominees".British Comedy Guide.27 March 2024.Retrieved6 April2024.
  132. ^Duggins, Alexi (16 November 2023)."Best podcasts of the week: From Spice Girls to Sugababes, how Britain's girlbands conquered the world".The Guardian.Retrieved6 April2024.
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  134. ^"Book tour for James Acaster".Chortle.30 April 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 18 April 2019.Retrieved18 April2019.
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  146. ^"James Acaster's Perfect Sounds".BBC Sounds.Archivedfrom the original on 9 November 2022.Retrieved16 April2023.
  147. ^ab"Jamali Maddix wins at British Podcast Awards 2022".British Comedy Guide.24 July 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 13 April 2023.Retrieved13 April2023.
  148. ^ab"James Acaster's Guide to Quitting Social Media".The Guardian Bookshop.Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2023.Retrieved16 April2023.
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  150. ^abcKenneally, Cerys (4 November 2022)."James Acaster's new music collective Temps unveil debut single 'no,no' featuring Quelle Chris, Xenia Rubinos, Shamir, NNAMDÏ and Seb Rochford".The Line of Best Fit.Archivedfrom the original on 9 November 2022.Retrieved9 November2022.
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