Claire Carter,BBC Radio Bristoland

Kirsten Robertson,West of England

Russell Howard on growing up in the West

“The south-west just has a warmth to it; a twinkle, a bit of lunacy.”

Russell Howard is proud of his Somerset roots. The combination of “madness” and “warmth” in his upbringing helped him take his first steps down the winding road of stand-up.

Born in Bath and raised in Radstock, the comedian – who later moved to Bristol – still has family based in Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Coleford.

“I think most people in the south-west have a very similar childhood,” Howard told BBC Radio Bristol.

“There’s a lightness and a silliness to it. That’s why most people from the south-west are just funny, but in a slightly peculiar way. Everything is slightly off kilter.”

David Venni Man with blonde hair on a park bench with a hedge and grass around him. — Russell Howard says returning to places like Bristol and Bath feels “like coming home”

He added: “I remember family parties which felt like being in a Pogues song. There was cider and madness and sort of weird uncles and funny aunties, and loads of cousins.

“The south-west just has a warmth to it, and a twinkle, and a bit of lunacy. I love it.”

After growing up in Somerset, Howard lived in Bristol for ten years while he explored stand-up during his time at the University of the West of England (UWE).

He lived “right by” Colston Hall, now known as the Bristol Beacon, where he will return with new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ in 2026.

“I always felt like I’d been in the shadow of the Hippodrome or the Beacon,” Howard continued.

“So to be able to play them now is a mad experience, because you go back to being 18 and seeing these massive comics like Lee Evans doing gigs there.

“I never take it for granted. I remember the first time I did a gig, at a pub called Le Chateau in Bristol on Park Street, and just knowing instantly this was what I was going to do irrespective of how successful I was.”