'It's more valuable than learning piano'

Jimmy Carr says comedy should be taught in schools as a vital communication skill.

He said it is a more valuable skill than learning a musical instrument, explaining: ‘You will write down and order your thoughts. You’ll learn to communicate them and you will speak in your own authentic voice. Is that not more valuable than grade three on the piano? 

‘I think it is because that’s a transferable skill no matter whether you do stand-up or not. Being able to present to a group and have a little bit of humour and that will help your relationships and help your job and help your presentations and everything else.’

Carr, 54, also said comedy was a ‘teachable skill’ rather an an ‘innate ability’

‘Are you born funny? I don’t think so,’ he told the High Performance podcast. ‘I think it’s like saying you’re born able to play the piano. Yeah, people have musical ability, people might be drawn to it or have a talent for it, but I think it is something that can be taught.’

It’s not the first time he has made such a call, saying this in an interview this summer:

Carr’s book about the mechanics of comedy, On Jokes (or, why everything you know about comedy is wrong), was published last week.

Published: 26 Oct 2026