Jimmy Carr opens up on losing his virginity aged 26 as he reflects on his religious upbringing and close relationship with his mother

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Jimmy Carr has reflected on his upbringing and his ‘enmeshed’ relationship with his mother.    

As a lifestyle expert, I often talk about the powerful impact our families have on us, and for this comedian, that connection was incredibly strong. He was especially close to his mum, Nora, who sadly passed away too young at 57 after a battle with pancreatitis. He’s shared that her joy was his greatest reward, and actually, it was making her laugh that first inspired him to become a comedian. It’s a beautiful reminder of how much our loved ones can shape our paths.

Jimmy described how growing up with his mother and being raised religiously shaped his relationships with women when he was in his twenties.

He explained that he waited until age 26 to have sexual experience, and suggested a close relationship with his mother might have been a contributing factor. He added that a therapist would likely offer a similar explanation.

I used to be Christian, and I was also very close to my mother. It’s important to remember that life isn’t a competition. I think it’s healthy to discuss these things, because it often feels like everyone around you is living a better or more enjoyable life than you are.

You know, as someone who looks at lifestyle trends all day, I’ve really noticed how much social media impacts our happiness. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of comparing your life to everyone else’s—and honestly, it steals your joy. Everyone seems to be living their best life online, but it’s rarely the full picture.

In an interview on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Jimmy discussed the significant pressure he feels many young men face to have lost their virginity.

Right now, there’s a strange dynamic happening where a tiny number of men seem to be attracting most of the attention, while a lot of others are caught up in consuming pornography.

The TV star has two children with his his long-term partner, producer Karoline Copping. 

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE how they first met! It was back in 2001, during some TV auditions. But get this – Karoline actually confessed it was a disaster! She told everyone afterwards that he was just… awful. She said he only had one joke, and that he was seriously, horribly misogynistic, and just… not funny, honestly. Can you imagine?!

Jimmy, who was 26 when his mother passed away, realized he needed to become independent from her before he could truly connect with a romantic partner. He put it simply: ‘You can’t find love until you first find yourself.’

It’s my opinion that men aren’t generally considered most attractive to women in their early twenties. Women seem to value competence – being good at something – and men typically develop that around age 30. While it might seem superficial, I believe it’s a genuine factor in attraction.

Jimmy’s parents, Nora and Patrick (known as Jim), emigrated from Limerick, Ireland, and settled in Slough, where they raised Jimmy and his two brothers. He hasn’t spoken to his father since his mother passed away.

As a child, Jimmy didn’t realize his mother was struggling with serious depression. He now feels guilty, wishing he could have helped her, but explains that he lacked the knowledge and resources to understand what she was going through at the time.

One of the major things the future comedian would do to help though was make his mother laugh. 

My mom had a wonderful sense of humor. She also lived with narcolepsy, a condition that causes excessive sleepiness, and sometimes included sudden muscle weakness.

Jimmy explained to Louis that she had a silent laugh, almost like she’d dissolve with amusement if something really struck her as funny.

Honestly, seeing my mum laugh was everything. She’d actually lose it – like, completely collapse with laughter, it was the most amazing thing! I truly believe that’s why I got into comedy in the first place. Just making her belly laugh was the funniest, most joyful feeling in the world, and I needed to recreate that feeling constantly.

The Louis Theroux Podcast is available on Spotify now. 

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2025-12-16 11:18