In fact, I don't watch a lot of contemporary comedy for fear of being influenced by it.

His experience of victimisation there as a working-class boy became a frequent subject of his comedy. Merton is a keen student of comedy particularly the early silent comedians and in 2006 BBC Four broadcast Paul Merton's Silent Clowns: a four-part documentary series on the silent comedy craft of Buster Keaton Charlie Chaplin Laurel and Hardy and Harold Lloyd. The Independent described it as "clearly a labour of love" but criticised the exhaustive and overly-thorough plot synopses of the films discussed.

He has also appeared as a regular panellist on Radio 4's Just a Minute and as one of Comedy Store's Comedy Store Players. Paul Merton (born Paul James Martin; 9 July 1957) is an English comedian writer actor and television presenter. Known for his improvisation skill his humour is rooted in deadpan surreal and sometimes dark comedy.