During lockdown Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe started a podcast, Parenting Hell, to tell stories of how they were coping (or not) with being parents and inviting guests to join in. It’s still running now and there has also been a book.

The Apple podcast episode released 21^st Oct 2021 featured Jimmy Carr.

At this point Jimmy and Karoline had had a son and managed to keep it under wraps for 2 years (despite the odd pap shot, in the tabloids, showing Jimmy pushing a pram and speculating as to what could be inside it).

At the time of this podcast Jimmy’s book, Before and Laughter, had just recently been released, with a dedication to his son in the front.

Topics covered include:

• Kids attractions in London
• Discussing being an older parent with Jim Jefferies
• Jimmy’s lockdown hair transplant
• Jimmy likes who he is when he’s with his son – but didn’t always want to have kids
• His mother being depressed throughout his childhood
• Decision to try and change his comedic style, made during lockdown, trying to write longer pieces
• Estrangement from his father – finding other father figures
• Silicon valley / social media concerns
• His son has never seen TV – only screen time is Facetime with Jimmy, when he’s away
• Health visitor and the “tit witch”
• His son was quite premature (emergency C section) and spent 5 days in hospital
• Jimmy took a week off from touring but tried it on a bit (suggesting he could pop out for a couple of hours to do a show)
• Mentions of doing WIP gigs for new tour – Terribly Funny 2.0 (His Dark Material would be released Christmas Day 2021)
• Would Jimmy like his son to be a comedian?
• Having a kid is where your heart lives outside your body
• Mentions the Before and Laughter spoof name try-outs

Followed by a brief debate, between Rob and Josh, as to how on earth he fills up a kid’s 12 hour day (with no television) but how they love seeing this side of Jimmy.