Amuse Douche with James Haskell

Episode 5 - Ed Byrne

It’s important not to run before you can walk, so maybe it’s time for James to start thinking about taking his first steps into comedy. Who better to guide him than seasoned pro Ed Byrne, with over twenty years as a comedian, he offers James some words of wisdom that he’s learnt over his many years in the limelight. From MCing student karaoke nights to making it big Down Under, Ed certainly has a range of skills for any audience, big or small. Ed gives James a lesson on formulation, structure and crowd control. Also provides a word of caution around tackling tricky and controversial subjects. Follow James on Twitter @jameshaskell and Instagram @jameshaskell

James Haskell is facing an existential crisis. Since retiring as an international rugby star, he has become a ubiquitous personality, shape-shifting week-to-week from elite athlete to reality TV star, DJ, podcaster, author, MMA fighter, influencer and pundit. While James adapts to rapid-onset fatherhood, he is looking for his final form. In Haskell's opinion, the common thread running through his many post-rugby ventures is his unique brand of ‘comedy’... which brings us here. Amuse Douche puts Hask to the test in the most brutal arena: a live stand-up set. To prepare himself, he is speaking to some of the funniest comedians, actors and writers in the country, including Russell Kane, Sindhu Vee, Lou Sanders and Ed Byrne. While picking up tips and tricks, he’ll learn all about their journeys into comedy and find out what life is really like as a stand-up. But it's not all laughs as James and his guests also tackle serious issues such as alcohol dependency, living with ADHD and struggles with self-confidence. At the end of the series, James will take everything he's learned and get up in front of a live audience to see if he really is – or isn't – as hilarious as he says he is. Whether car crash or surprise success, the end result is sure to be compelling either way.