Actor, writer and director Stephen Merchant joins How To Fail this week and is reflective, fascinating and - yes - even funny. We talk about what he learned from Ricky Gervais when co-writing The Office, on feeling rattled turning 50 and how it’s hard to fail as a stand-up comedian (but he got over it).

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Intro

17:16 Height and Humor

17:50 Reflections on Failure and Success

22:12 Stephen Career Journey

30:50 The Office and Ordinary Lives

32:46 The Comfort of Rewatchable Comedies

33:53 Exploring Dark Roles in Acting

35:42 Embracing Height as an Advantage

37:37 School Experiences and Early Ambitions

45:18 The Journey to Comedy and Stand-Up

52:41 Lessons from Stand-Up Comedy

58:48 Realizing No One Has Life Figured Out

01:03:39 Reflections on Success and Happiness

Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Studio and Mix Engineer: Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell

Senior Producer: Selina Ream

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Special Announcement: Free CPE Podcasts!