Russell Howard admits he’s ‘terrified’ after dropping bombshell that he’s quit TV after 19 years

Russell Howard is one of the UK's most famous comedians and a regular face on TV so it came as a shock when he confirmed this week he will only be doing stand-up and podcasts from now on

Russell Howard has made a candid confession about being ‘terrified’ shortly after he revealed his TV days are behind him.

Speaking this week, the comedian, 44, confirmed the shock news that he’s quitting TV after 19 years and will instead focus on his stand-up performances and podcasts.

Russell, who welcomed a son with his wife Cerys Morgan in August, has amassed a fortune thanks to his BBC and Sky shows, but admitted nothing brings him as much joy as the stand-up circuit, explaining: “Doing stand-up is what I love doing.”

Now, in a separate interview, Russell has shared a rare insight into his new life as a dad and revealed that his little boy has made him ‘terrified’ of dying - so much so that he’s gotten into ‘bio-hacking’ - a DIY type of human enhancement that sees people try to optimise their biology.

Russell told i paper: “I like the idea of being around forever. I’m really into ‘biohacking’. I eat two meals a day. I’ve clearly got a desperately strange relationship with food. It really started during Covid, when I happened upon the podcaster Andrew Huberman. I started trying to do the things he suggested, like the cold showers.”

He and Cerys, who is a doctor, tied the knot in 2019 and after welcoming their son left London for Buckinghamshire to give their little boy an upbringing away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.

Fans of the funnyman will have been left in shock this week when Russell confirmed he’s stepping away from TV gigs. In the past, the TV star fronted his own BBC series, Good News, which ran from 2009 to 2015 for ten series. He also launched The Russell Howard Hour for Sky in 2017. The programme had six series and also a spin-off filmed from Russell’s home during Covid. The dad-of-one was also regularly seen on Mock of the Week alongside Dara Ó Briain, although the panel show has since been axed.

His final TV appearance was back in August when Russell was seen on Channel 4's Big Fat Quiz of Telly and Russell also has two podcasts: Five Brilliant Things, and GoalLess, which is football themed.

But speaking on the new Have A Word podcast, Russell explained: “I was all over the world and it was just fun. TV is fun but it's not as fun [as stand-up]. Writing a book I couldn't do because I don't want to sit and entertain myself but doing stand-up is what I love doing. It's not entertainment for committee, it's your dictatorship. The audience are like this brilliant jury that let you know through laughter whether it works or not."

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