IIn 2015, South African comedian Trevor Noah was plucked from relative obscurity to succeed Jon Stewart as host of The Daily Show. At first glance, this seemed like an unenviable task; Stewart had been hosting for 16 years and it seemed unclear what the show would even be, regardless of its liberal bona fides and New York sensibility. But Noah’s wit and insight quickly made him a darling of the US left, and by bringing an outsider’s perspective – both as a black man and as a recent immigrant – to late-night television, Noah successfully pushed the show into the era of social media.

Since leaving in 2022, Noah has been busy launching a podcast, hosting the Grammys and winning the prestigious Erasmus Prize in 2023. He is now publishing his first children’s book, Into the Uncut Grass. A spiritual successor to his bestselling memoir, Born a Crime, it is a coming-of-age story written in the shadow of the final days of apartheid. He chatted with a group of fellow authors about his inspiration, influences and creative process.

I think people will be surprised to see that Into the Uncut Grass is a kind of picture book. Took over the idea You also by surprise? Frank Cottrell-Boyce, children’s laureate 2024-2026
No, that didn’t happen, because it was something I always wanted to do. It’s an idea I’ve always romanticized because the picture books I grew up with, like Where the Wild Things Are, were some of my favorite fables and stories. In children’s picture books, you can’t spend 400 pages on intricate details. I think what surprised me was how difficult it is to actually do it, to be so concise and capture feeling and emotion at the same time.

What was the spark – the first seed of an idea – that made you start this story? Harlan Cobenauthor of mystery novels
The seed went into therapy and the realization that the reasons adults can’t resolve conflict are due to things we weren’t taught as children: how to communicate through a disagreement; how to entertain conflicting but equally valid opinions; how to compromise; how we can see ourselves in relation to others. As children we don’t learn these things, and then we wonder why we struggle to come to those realizations as adults. It’s much harder when you’re an adult because you’re anchored in your view of the world. So the spark thought, what would some of those lessons be and how would those lessons be needed in today’s world?

Like you, I’ve written about my mother in fiction and memoir. Which have positive effects writing about your mother-son relationship had on that relationship in real life? Dean Attapoet
One of the biggest positives is that it forces me to think in a very active way about why I value my mother, and to see her as a human being and not just as a mother. We never really spend time thinking about our parents as human beings because we are tied to them. It helped me understand why I love my mother more than just because you’re expected to. When you write about someone, you get to understand all the shades and layers that make them who they are to you.

How daunting it was to take over Jon Stewart on The Daily Show and what advice, if any, did he give? Louis Therouxbroadcaster and author
It was extremely frightening. Just the stress of starting a new position on television that was on every day of the week. Moreover, I took over a position beloved of an institution and an individual who had – and continues to have – an indelible mark on American politics. The best advice I got was from Jon Stewart himself, who was kind enough to show me how many people didn’t believe in him when he took over the show. It was before social media, but he was bashed by the critics. People wrote articles about how he was doomed to failure. I think it’s really great of him to show me that there was a time when he was doubted and no one thought he could do it. Now he seemed the most obvious choice. The advice he gave me was: just keep going until someone notices what you’ve created.

What was the worst advice you received as a child? Adam Kayformer doctor and writer
I think the worst advice was to try to fit in. You met someone you don’t get along with and were told, “Tolerate it for now.” Only later in life do you realize that prison involves not being yourself around the people you want to build a life with. So that was probably the worst advice I got as a kid: people telling me to suck it up so I could maintain connections with other people in my life. The advice I would give to a child today would be, “Be yourself as much as possible.” Some people you will lose along the way, but the ones you keep will know the real you.

You speak many languages. Do you use speech recognition technology in different languages? Susie DentCountdown lexicographer and author
I don’t actually use the speaking aid. I find them stilted and stiff, and I spend more time correcting them than getting the information I’m looking for. I wouldn’t even know how many languages ​​they speak or don’t speak. How many languages ​​do I speak? It changes depending on how often I practice them. Right now I speak… let me think… English, Zulu, Afrikaans, Tsonga. My German is not fluent, but I can get by. I’m trying to learn Spanish, so I’ll call it five and a quarter.

Apparently you made 315 jokes about President Trump’s first 100 days. What was your favorite? Joel Golbyauthor of Four stars: a life. Ratedpublished by Mudlark, gone now
I’m assuming these jokes were all made on The Daily Show. My only response to that would be to not make 300 jokes about Trump’s first 100 days as president. I would argue that in his first 100 days as president, Trump made 300 things worth joking about happen. And so I just observed them and commented on them. I think one of my favorites was when he went into the White House and got the tour from President Obama. It was hilarious to see how easily he was grabbed by Barack Obama, leaving him a very nice note. Trump entered the White House with almost hostility. He had the blunder he carried throughout his campaign. After reading the note Obama left for him on the desk, Trump almost turned into a romantic in a war movie where they read a beautiful letter from their love. One of the funniest stories for me was how he told the story of the letter Obama left for him.

Who is the most annoying man and woman in the world you have ever met? Konnie HuqTV presenter, screenwriter and children’s author
The most annoying thing is people on planes who get up before the plane has come to a complete stop, pull their suitcases out of the air and then prevent other people from getting up while we’re all trying to get off the plane. They are in such desperate need that they will crush you and your family to death just so they can get to the baggage claim two minutes early. I think these are the most annoying men and women in the world. I don’t know their names, and I don’t want to know their names.

I just wrote Shadowplaybased on the classic 1970s TV show UFO. Have you ever had a close encounter? yourself? James Swallow, author and screenwriter
Sometimes we look up at the sky, but I don’t know. I feel like if aliens are as advanced as they are, they can probably disguise themselves to be just like us. I’ve met a few people where I thought to myself, “Yeah, you’re probably an alien.” I try to be as nice to them as possible so that when they come back and drop in, they’ll remember me and think, “Oh yeah, that guy was pretty nice. We will not kill him.”

What are the five most important elements of a great roller coaster? Stuart HeritageGuardian writer and children’s author
I don’t know why my IMDb page says I like roller coasters. However, it is true. I like roller coasters. What are some of the key elements? Number one: seating position. Roller coasters that deviate from the norm have an advantage over roller coasters where you sit in a normal position because your body is already uncomfortable and ready for something that is going to scare it. A great roller coaster should put you in a position where you can see the people next to you. I think it adds to the anxiety you will collectively experience. Another element of a good roller coaster is the initial thrill, the first ascent. It must have some crazy twists that completely confuse your orientation. You don’t have to know where is up or down. The roller coaster should also travel around the line where people are waiting, because the thrill is part of how you actually experience the ride. South Africa has many famous things, but we have never had a famous roller coaster. Maybe that’s why I love them.