Pierre Novellie: comedian and bestselling author

"The teenage years were a social nightmare and I hated a lot of school until I was sixteen and learned how to socialise or mask," says Pierre Novellie, the autistic comedian and author.

Comedian Pierre Novelli’s bestselling memoir ‘Why can’t I just enjoy things’ is a brilliant, frank and - of course - funny exploration of discovering his autism through a heckler and quickly beginning to understand why life had always felt different for him.

Here, we talk school, getting into comedy, being on stage, how he felt after his autism diagnosis and what life is looking and feeling like now…

What was your upbringing like?

Well, initially I grew up in an upper middle class suburb in Johannesburg, so it was sunny and involved heavy security. Then we moved to the Isle of Man which is windy and involves no security concerns whatsoever. My family is by no means bohemian or hippyish but we communicate openly with each other in a way that I think is not traditionally British. There was a large emphasis on reading, no religion but certainly those sorts of values were present in reasonable amounts. 

How did you find school?

I started school just before I turned seven and it took me a little while to catch up. I hated most of it until I was moved to a more challenging and rewarding primary school where I fell in love with academics.

The teenage years were a social nightmare and I once again hated a lot of school until I was sixteen and learned how to socialise or mask. After that, I had a good time.

What were you like, as a child?

Serious and thoughtful, apparently. Eerily formal. 

How do you find the social side of life?

I love it, with the right people. However, I agree to do too much and stretch myself far too thin.

You were inspired to get into comedy by watching comics perform live on TV, when did you first give standup a try?

First term of university. There was an open mic night for freshers and you had to do three minutes.

How did you feel, getting up on the stage?

I don’t remember, really, adrenaline but there’s a level of adrenaline where you are more focused and more in control. The opposite of panic.

When did you start to wonder if you might be autistic?

Specifically, it was after a heckler said he was and thought I was too. Vaguely it had come up a couple of times but I was never convinced.

How did you feel, when it was confirmed?

Relief. If I hadn’t got my diagnosis I would have lost all the answers to everything I had ever questioned in my life.

How does it manifest?

The usual ways I suppose, I have a whole book out that details it so I suppose I’ll have to summarise it as burnout, masking, internal meltdowns, communication challenges (with neurotypicals).

Does your neurodivergent mind help you with writing comedy?

Definitely - all comedy has to be written by outsiders. And my point of view is, by definition, an unusual one.

What challenges does it bring?

Burnout and the lack of routine are risks for any comedian but especially an autistic one.

Do you feel successful, with your career?

I almost never feel successful. Sometimes, in little flashes, or on a specific day maybe.

Can you tell us about your (bestselling) new book: Why can’t I just enjoy things?

It all sprang from the following thought: if autism stereotypes are correct, I should be literally unable to make a career of observational comedy, but I do. Therefore, I must be pretty good at making autistic thoughts funny and palatable to the whole population.

I also noted (during post diagnosis reading) that most autism books were either brilliant memoirs or medical manuals not aimed at autistic adults themselves, and thought how useful it would be to write an autism guide that was factual, funny and mainly aimed at autistic adults or their friends, family and loved ones.

How do you spend your time, when you’re not on stage?

Playing video games, lifting weights, writing and podcasting. And endlessly reading books or things online. I am trying to learn how to ‘go on holiday’ but it remains very challenging.

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Why can’t I just enjoy things by Pierre Novellie is out now. Buy your copy here.

Visit Pierre’s website to watch him in action and find his tour dates: www.pierrenovellie.com

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