Comedian and Idler columnist Arthur Smith is leading a walk at the Idler Festival, Friday 8 July

How many hours a day do you work?

ARTHUR SMITH: If I’m doing a gig, either an hour-and-a-half or 20 minutes. Otherwise as little as possible but sometimes six hours!

Which of these words, if any, best describes your favourite activity? Dawdle, loiter, lollygag, saunter, loaf, linger, trifle, shirk, lounge, dilly-dally, slumber.

Slumber is the easy winner, then snooze. There doesn’t seem to be a verb ‘flâner’ but I’ve always enjoyed being a flâneur.

Are there too few hours in the day?

No there are far too many. Think we should lose some and also delete February from the year.

What was the best job you ever had?

Rat catcher was good – I only really had to tip liquid down drains and we always finished early. But playwright is best. Once you’ve written the play, if it does well, you don’t have to do anything but you’re still getting paid.

Favourite writer and artist?

Maya Angelou and David Hockney. In the latter category, honourable mention to Helen Atkinson Wood.

What’s wrong with the world?

There aren’t enough bluebells and when they arrive they don’t stick around long enough.

How many hours a day do you sleep?

As many as possible but my stupid brain wakes me up. Wish I was a koala (they do between 18 and 22 hours).

Arthur will be leading a walk at the Idler Festival 2022, Friday 8 July. More info here.

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