I ‘discovered’ Irish comedian Jimmy Carr when I stumbled upon the panel show ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’ on YouTube only a year or two ago. The show opened up an entire collection of British comedy programs I promptly binged, and given the incestuous nature of the business, Carr had a role in many of them. Whether acting as a host or panellist, he often makes me laugh out loud, even if his humour tends to be more on the deliberately offensive, smutty side. This is not a politically correct book because the writer isn't a politically correct person, so if you're into that kind of stuff or get easily offended, it's not for you. Carr is estranged from his father, and mentions him just briefly in the book. He doesn’t want to say much more today but talks about “detaching with love” – having no ill feeling for his father but being unable to have him in his life. Carr became a father himself two years ago, although it was only recently reported in the media.

Eventually, I decided being a priest wasn’t for me. Fundamentally I just don’t find kids that attractive. Laughter lightens anger's heavy load. Nothing diffuses anger and conflict faster than a shared laugh. Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment. Begin by setting aside special times to seek out humor and laughter, as you might with exercising, and build from there. Eventually, you'll want to incorporate humor and laughter into the fabric of your life, finding it naturally in everything. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. Mishaps at weddings or funerals. I was at a funeral where someone let out a silent but deadly fart as people paid respects … at the open casket.

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Smile. Smiling is the beginning of laughter, and like laughter, it's contagious. When you look at someone or see something even mildly pleasing, practice smiling. Instead of looking down at your phone, look up and smile at people you pass in the street, the person serving you a morning coffee, or the co-workers you share an elevator with. Notice the effect on others.

He seems to mean it, too. It may not have been for me, but if the book helps anyone else reach the same level of contentment as Carr seems to have, maybe he’s on to something. Modern Family: the way they cram, weave and join storylines in just 28 minutes is a masterclass. The funniest film I’ve ever seen … you’re right, I wouldn’t do a joke like that about Mohammed. Because it could be ‘triggering’ – but with literal triggers

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While fillers and other injectables make targeting and treating laugh lines simple, there are other wrinkle-reducing treatments you can administer at home without the help of a professional. Choose the right skincare ingredients Because it’s Jimmy Carr – recently scientifically proved to be the funniest comedian in the UK – there are jokes, jokes and more jokes throughout. If laughter really was the best medicine, the NHS would be handing out this book in Nightingale Hospitals.’ He trails off and reconsiders what he’s just said. “No, I think I probably was a little bit stressed about it, a bit down about it,” he decides. “But it was probably a good thing because if things had been a bit better in my early 20s, I might not have quit my job for comedy.”