--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never really wanted to be on telly." description: "\"I never really wanted to be on telly.\" — Russell Howard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/russell-howard-3626_never_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly-106_1060936.png" --- # I never really wanted to be on telly. ![“I never really wanted to be on telly.” quote by Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/russell-howard-3626_never_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly-106_1060936.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/russell-howard-3626_never_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly-106_1060936.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/russell-howard-3626_never_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly-106_1060936.png) > “I never really wanted to be on telly.” [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Howard prefers live performance over television, valuing direct audience connection over mediated broadcast. **In simple terms:** He likes stage shows more than TV. Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic, immediate interaction. Themes performance authenticity media career audience Mood contemplative humorous Type personal career When to use this quote - comedy clubs - festival stages - online streaming - public speaking Key Concepts stand‑up comedy live interaction media preference Questions to Reflect On - Do you value reach over intimacy? - How can you blend live energy with broadcast? A Different Perspective TV can reach larger audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Really Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-wanted/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Telly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telly/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Telly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-telly-1439093/) ## Related quotes > [I think I wanted to be on Top Gear from a fairly young age because I loved cars and I wanted to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hammond/i-think-i-wanted-to-be-on-top-gear-from-a-fairly-young-age-because-i/) [Richard Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hammond/) > [I always wanted to get on the telly. Then see when I did, and there was talk about doing more online, Comedy Labs or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limmy/i-always-wanted-to-get-on-the-telly-then-see-when-i-did-and-there-was/) [Limmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limmy/) > [I just wanted to get on telly. I wasn't a massive Oasis fan, but I had to be in order to get on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-doherty/i-just-wanted-to-get-on-telly-i-wasn-t-a-massive-oasis-fan-but-i-had/) [Pete Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-doherty/) > [For me, a bit of anthropology in the evening is always better than staying and watching the telly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-rhodes/for-me-a-bit-of-anthropology-in-the-evening-is-always-better-than/) [Nick Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-rhodes/) > [I don't want people turning on the telly and going, 'Dear God, not him again.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-schofield/i-don-t-want-people-turning-on-the-telly-and-going-dear-god-not-him/) [Phillip Schofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-schofield/) > [You can use the fun of the genre, but I also really wanted to come at it from the point of view of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-hodges/you-can-use-the-fun-of-the-genre-but-i-also-really-wanted-to-come-at/) [Adrian Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-hodges/) > [I'd always really wanted to act; but the modelling contracts came more easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dornan/i-d-always-really-wanted-to-act-but-the-modelling-contracts-came-more/) [Jamie Dornan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dornan/) > [I don't know. I really don't. While I was in the living room, I kept asking myself what I really wanted in life." She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-don-t-know-i-really-don-t-while-i-was-in-the-living-room-i-kept/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I want to be involved in things I can be really proud of. There's a lot of bad films being made and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisling-loftus/i-want-to-be-involved-in-things-i-can-be-really-proud-of-there-s-a/) [Aisling Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisling-loftus/) > [I don't want a chat show or to be on telly every day, as that's not my business; my business is standing in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcintyre/i-don-t-want-a-chat-show-or-to-be-on-telly-every-day-as-that-s-not-my/) [Michael McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcintyre/) > [When youre on telly, youre defined by what you do on telly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-sinha/when-youre-on-telly-youre-defined-by-what-you-do-on-telly/) [Paul Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-sinha/) > [I don't think I look like I do on the telly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-rundle/i-don-t-think-i-look-like-i-do-on-the-telly/) [Sophie Rundle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-rundle/) > [I did four or five years in telly, and by the end of it was drained. I was a bit sick of myself. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-macfadyen/i-did-four-or-five-years-in-telly-and-by-the-end-of-it-was-drained-i/) [Matthew Macfadyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-macfadyen/) > [I constantly think I'll be found out any second. Some of the crazy stuff that goes through your head. Once you've moved on from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-marsay/i-constantly-think-i-ll-be-found-out-any-second-some-of-the-crazy/) [Faye Marsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-marsay/) > [Most people I was at school with, if they saw me on telly, wouldn't know I'd been at school with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/most-people-i-was-at-school-with-if-they-saw-me-on-telly-wouldn-t/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) ## More by Russell Howard > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [When you're three, you're into custard, and jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/when-you-re-three-you-re-into-custard-and-jumping/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I always found it strange, when I went round to other people's houses for tea and that, how strict their parents were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-always-found-it-strange-when-i-went-round-to-other-people-s-houses/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [Mum's side of the family are daft, beautiful and brilliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/mum-s-side-of-the-family-are-daft-beautiful-and-brilliant/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I'm a bit of a Luddite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-a-bit-of-a-luddite/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [Death by rats would be the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/death-by-rats-would-be-the-worst/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [It's a bit of a cliche but throughout London, even in places like Notting Hill, you'll see utter luxury alongside council flats - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/it-s-a-bit-of-a-cliche-but-throughout-london-even-in-places-like/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [The British Museum is great for seeing how excellent we were at stealing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/the-british-museum-is-great-for-seeing-how-excellent-we-were-at/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [If I was to get into Twitter I'd expose myself to people who adore me or people who absolutely hated me. Neither of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/if-i-was-to-get-into-twitter-i-d-expose-myself-to-people-who-adore-me/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [There's a club called Headliners in Chiswick where I do a lot of my warmups for tours. For me it's a nice 'big-small' room:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/there-s-a-club-called-headliners-in-chiswick-where-i-do-a-lot-of-my/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [Mumbai was magical, which I was really surprised by, and I got an insight into the world of Bollywood while hanging out with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/mumbai-was-magical-which-i-was-really-surprised-by-and-i-got-an/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [It's just a joy travelling with your job. You get to wander around these interesting cities and then things happen or you observe things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/it-s-just-a-joy-travelling-with-your-job-you-get-to-wander-around/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [This bloke was so pissed, he thought his vomit had come to life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/this-bloke-was-so-pissed-he-thought-his-vomit-had-come-to-life/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I've reached the age of 32 with little wisdom, I'm afraid. It's tragic. I still have to turn to my mum and dad for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-ve-reached-the-age-of-32-with-little-wisdom-i-m-afraid-it-s-tragic/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I would just like to be remembered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-would-just-like-to-be-remembered/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) [Explore all 126 Russell Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) ## More Never quotes > [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. 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My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [Never in a million years would I imagine Calvin Klein flying me out to my first men's fashion show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dallas/never-in-a-million-years-would-i-imagine-calvin-klein-flying-me-out/) [Cameron Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dallas/) > [Truth be told from compulsive liars with a history/Everything must change 2nd chances are a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/truth-be-told-from-compulsive-liars-with-a-history-everything-must/) [C-DASH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-dash/) > [I never wanted System to take a hiatus. I think it was a disastrous move for us, because we never reached our peak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/i-never-wanted-system-to-take-a-hiatus-i-think-it-was-a-disastrous/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) [Browse all 25,855 Never quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never really wanted to be on telly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Howard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Never" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/russell-howard-3626_never_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly-106_1060936.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/russell-howard-3626_never_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly-106_1060936.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/russell-howard-3626_never_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly-106_1060936.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never really wanted to be on telly.” — Russell Howard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Russell Howard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never really wanted to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-on-telly/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```