Have you ever wanted to find out more about the UK Stand-Up scene – well now you can with a brand new publication that has only recently been released. Today we speak to Jonathan Grant, the author of the brand new book Reading the Room: The Inside Story of UK Stand-Up in the 21^st Century.

Hello tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was previously a stand-up myself and after I stopped performing, I moved into management. I represented comics and produced live comedy nights in London and shows at the Edinburgh festival. I left management after several years to work as a creative in advertising, but I’ve always maintained a deep love of comedy and lots of friends in the industry. 

How did the idea of the book come around?

Having got back into live comedy as a performer, I’d taken my own solo show to the Fringe in 2015 and was planning to go back again in 2020. Obviously, COVID put a stop to that, and lockdown meant lots of time to work on projects that didn’t need an audience. I love books about stand-up and social history, and it struck me that there wasn’t one about the 21^st century. They say write the book that you want to read and so that’s exactly what I did.

Tell us a little bit about the book and what it is about?

The book uses stand-up as a lens to view society. Each chapter takes a different topic, class, politics, social media, cancel culture, and examines it through comedy. I wanted the book to truly reflect the lived experience of those who’ve shaped stand-up and so I interviewed 56 of the leading figures in the comedy industry and they tell their stories in their own words.

How did you get into writing?

I’ve always written. When I was at school I loved to make up stories and my degree is in creative writing. The focus has shifted over time – from comedy routines to advertising campaigns and now books – but the same drive has always been there. Writing is (mostly!) a brilliant experience and how I best express myself. 

Were there any challenges whilst writing?

With so many interviews it was challenging to get people to commit and then arrange times that worked. Comedians are busy people and the logistics of it all required lots of planning and hustle. I used personal contacts, friends of friends, approached lots of agents and emailed complete strangers cold. I was really happy with the mix of people I ended up speaking to, but it did make the process much longer than a book contained no interviews. 

What do you want readers to take away from the book?

I’d love them to get a sense of what being in the comedy business is really like. Everyone I spoke to was very honest about both the good and the bad of a world that has changed so much in the last five years, let alone the last twenty-five. There are some brilliant insights and stories which are inspirational and heart-breaking in equal measure. 

If people want to find out more about you, where can they find you on social media. 

I’m @jonogr on Instagram and I regularly post videos about stand-up!

Three words why people should read it?

Comedy. Tragedy. Reality.

---

Thank you again for all your support in reading and engaging with the website.

If you want to help support the website then you can! You can buy Holly a cup of tea (and a biscuit!)