Pierre Novellie

Pierre Novellie
Pierre Novellie backstage at the Garrick Theatre, 2019
Born	(1991-01-31) 31 January 1991 (age 34) Johannesburg, South Africa
Medium	Stand-up, television, radio
Alma mater	Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Website	www.pierrenovellie.com

Pierre Novellie (born 31 January 1991) is a South African-born comedian and writer.

Career

Novellie has written for and performed on The Mash Report,[1][2] Chris Ramsey's Stand Up Central,[3] and The Now Show.[4] He was also a guest on BBC Radio 4's The Rest is History hosted by Frank Skinner.[5] Other highlights include appearing on the Joke Thieves pilot for BBC Two opposite Marcus Brigstocke, BBC Three's Edinburgh Comedy Fest Live[6] and All4/4OD Comedy Blaps series Taxi Gags[1] and Outsiders.[2]

Novellie's writing credits also include the Spitting Image revival, Mock The Week, Newzoids, Adam Buxton's Shed of Christmas,[1] and The Island.[2] He has supported Frank Skinner, Hal Cruttenden and Gary Delaney on tour.[1]

Novellie appeared alongside fellow comedian and Cambridge graduate Phil Wang on an episode of Dave's World's Most Dangerous Roads, broadcast in 2023.

Novellie was diagnosed with autism in 2022.[7] In 2024 he released a book titled "Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?: A Comedian's Guide to Autism".

Novellie currently co-hosts the podcasts Glue Factory alongside Milo Edwards, Olga Koch and Riley Quinn, and BudPod alongside Phil Wang.[8] He previously hosted a regular podcast called My Favourite Podcast.[9][10] He appeared on episode 408 of Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast.

Awards

Novellie won the Amused Moose Laugh Off in 2013 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[11] In 2014 he was nominated for industry website Chortle's Best Newcomer award[1] and in 2016 was nominated for Best Club Comic at the Chortle Awards.[1]

Personal life

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Novellie grew up on the Isle of Man and attended Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. At Cambridge he was a member and then Vice President of the Cambridge Footlights Revue.[12]

He first began to consider he might be on the autistic spectrum after a mild heckle during a standup performance in 2020.[7] An audience member said that "You sound like me", clarifying that "I have Asperger's - I think you have Asperger's."[7] After taking online autism tests he was formally diagnosed in 2022.[7]

References

1. "Pierre Novellie in Scotland at Pleasance Courtyard (Pleasance That 2017". BroadwayWorld.com.
2. "Pierre Novellie - British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide.
3. "Changing Your Accent To Suit Situations | Pierre Novellie | Chris Ramsey's Stand Up Central" – via www.youtube.com.
4. "BBC Radio 4 - The Now Show, Series 55, Episode 5". BBC.
5. "BBC Radio 4 - The Rest is History, Series 2, Episode 1". BBC.
6. "BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Comedy Club Interviews - Available now". BBC.
7. Aroesti, Rachel (15 March 2024). "'Maybe everybody feels socially awkward': the standups turning being autistic into a comedy superpower". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
8. "BudPod with Phil Wang & Pierre Novellie on acast". acast.
9. "My Favourite Podcast on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts.
10. "My Favourite Podcast". SoundCloud.
11. "AmusedMoose | Comedy Awards | Stand-up Comedy Soho Kings Cross Awards Courses". www.amusedmoose.com.
12. "comedy cv - the UK's largest collection of comedians biogs and photos". www.comedycv.co.uk.