Writer and reformed comedian. Pieces @spectator @CapX @TheCriticMag @TheNewEuropean, weekly newsletter 👇
London
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For the Christmas period I've dropped the price of my novel 'Midlands' on Kindle to £1.00.
It's got pictures and it's funny!
Offer ends December 25!
RTs appreciated!
amazon.co.uk/Midlands-James-…
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The autumn gloom has arrived in Leiden today and it’s absolutely beautiful
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This is the most personal piece I’ve written, & it’s helped me to draw a line under the most difficult period of my adult life.
"He’s the most sensitive person I’ve ever met, and that’s why I love him, and why I constantly want to ram his head through a television screen"
@hellothisisivan returns to L&U to explain why Victor Meldrew is the vulnerable child within👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2026/0…
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Truth nuke in the FT comment section on Berlin rent control
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Really funny that we've had the longest period of stagnation in modern British history and it's still important to reassure people that we're not going to pursue the wrong kinds of growth, as if we're coming out of a period of double-digit China-style breakneck expansion.
I am struck by @andyburnham’s use of the phrase “good growth”. This is really important. The UK had a strong growth record on the 000’s but it was London-centric and extractive. It underpins the politics of anger we see now. Promising that Andy isn’t just going for ‘any growth’
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A major reason that it didn’t make sense to use AI to write an essay about a substantive topic is that until you write the essay you don’t actually know what you want to say or what you think. You think you do, but it is the writing itself that actually gets the thinking done.
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Attenborough has no respect for crabs. Always gives them ridiculous music. They are jesters to him
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OK, I’m going for it.
The following thread will consist of my own PERSONAL rankings of the 38 plays in the Shakespeare canon, in reverse order.
This promises to be tun, but I have a feeling I may live to regret this …
Anyway, watch this space.
Interesting choices.
Now, should I do my own ranking to mark Shakespeare Day? I’m retired, after all, & have time on my hands!😀
To see or not to see? Every single Shakespeare play – ranked! | Theatre | The Guardian theguardian.com/stage/ng-int…
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Porco Rosso oppose à la brutalité du monde une irréductible idée de liberté.
À l’heure où nous devons défendre la paix, nos démocraties et la liberté, Porco Rosso !
Merci infiniment Hayao Miyazaki pour cette œuvre que je reçois avec une profonde gratitude.
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3 HOURS TO GO
From King of Comedy to Obvious Child, why does the big screen get stand-up so wrong?
Comedian and author @JamesHarrisNow is here to explore the reality of the craft versus the film fantasy. A very honest look at the life of a comic.
interintellect.com/salons/cl…
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TOMORROW✨
Can films ever realistically capture the life of a stand-up?
Join 25-year veteran @JamesHarrisNow to explore the awkwardness and failure that movies rarely capture. He'll share clips and read from his novel Midlands in this engaging session.
interintellect.com/salons/cl…
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IN 3 DAYS✨
From King of Comedy to Obvious Child, which films actually capture the lonely reality of stand-up?
@JamesHarrisNow shares 25 years of experience to explore the fantasies & failures of comedy on screen. Come investigate what it’s really like.
interintellect.com/salons/cl…
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'Rooms of silence' is a little harsh. But the rest stands!
For 25 years, James Harris lived the real life of a stand-up comedian: the travel, the nerves, and the crushing weight of a silent room.
Movies rarely get that right. Join @JamesHarrisNow to investigate why film portrays the "clown" the way it does.
interintellect.com/salons/cl…
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Stand-up looks glamorous on screen, but the reality is a lot of waiting around and travel. Join comedian and author @JamesHarrisNow to investigate which films actually get the comic’s life right. Come explore what films get right about failure and fame.
interintellect.com/salons/cl…
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Is the life of a comic actually as funny as Hollywood makes it look? After 25 years on stage, @JamesHarrisNow is pulling back the curtain on the films that get it right & the ones that are pure fantasy. Be ready to explore the awkward truth behind the mic.
interintellect.com/salons/cl…
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"20 years of rejection. That’s the job description."
Writer and comedian @JamesHarrisNow shares how to survive the word "No."
Practical strategies to bounce back from failure and keep creating.
Listen to the full audio: open.spotify.com/episode/6ZZ…
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Really sad to announce that Jalal Labbad has been executed by the owners of our club.
Jalal was 15 years old when he was arrested for attending a demo in support of the Arab Spring.
NUFCFAS held its 1st protest in support of him against Chelsea.
uscirf.gov/religious-prisone…
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