Comedy today comes in many forms, but Jamie Lever believes there's still a strong audience for clean, family-friendly humour. During a recent conversation, the comedian spoke about changing comedy trends, why she refuses to judge performers who rely on adult humour, and shared her views on the public attention surrounding Govinda and Sunita Ahuja's relationship after Lock Upp.
Talking about her own performances, Jamie proudly described The Jamie Lever Show as entertainment that people of every generation can enjoy together. "Yes, absolutely, it is a family show. There are very few comedy shows where you can go with your entire family. Today, I'm proud of the fact that even elderly people attended; an 80-year-old person came to watch me, alongside a 16-year-old girl and an eight-year-old child. So, it really is a family show."
She revealed that whenever she invites people to her performances, she specifically encourages them to come with their parents. "Whenever I invite a guest, I tell them to come with their mom and dad. I think the concept of comedy shows has shifted a bit now. People have realised, 'We can bring the kids along; it's a good experience.' That's exactly what comedy is—this is family comedy. And this is the kind of comedy I enjoy watching too."
With vulgar humour becoming increasingly common in stand-up comedy and films, Jamie was asked whether she believes comedy has changed. Instead of criticising fellow performers, she chose a balanced perspective. "Every style of comedy has its own audience. I wouldn't label it right or wrong; I'd say it's a matter of choice. Some people enjoy that kind of thing. Some people—especially young people—prefer family-style or clean comedy because they can relate to that kind of language. So, there's nothing wrong with that; that's their specific audience. Everyone has to make a living, after all, so they are all doing their work with great dedication."
The actress also revealed that filmmaker Farah Khan has always been one of her strongest supporters. "Farah Ma'am really encourages me, and Sunita-ji actually came to watch my show. She saw the whole performance and really enjoyed it with her son."
Jamie admitted she's also been following Lock Upp and was disappointed after Sunita Ahuja's elimination. "I'm really enjoying it. But I'm sad that Sunita-ji has been eliminated. Regardless, I'll still watch the show because Farah Ma'am is hosting and Ritesh Sir is there too."
The comedian then addressed the public discussion around Govinda and Sunita's relationship, choosing to focus on the support they showed each other. "I liked that Govinda-ji came onto the show himself. He showed his support. Look, everyone has family issues. You can deal with them privately or openly, but problems happen to everyone."
She further added, "It was so nice to see him come in person. He offered his support and took his wife back with such affection—it was a wonderful gesture."
Although Jamie enjoys watching reality shows, don't expect to see her competing anytime soon. Asked whether she'd consider entering Lock Upp as a wildcard contestant, she laughed and replied, "No, no, I'd rather watch from the outside. I don't want to go; dealing with the 'lock-up' of my own home is enough for me. So, no—I prefer watching the show. I don't want to be part of a reality show right now."
While comedy continues to evolve with changing audience preferences, Jamie Lever believes there is enough room for every style. For her, however, making entire families laugh together remains the biggest achievement.