My humour is a mix of my parents'. I get the chatty, anecdotal stuff from my dad and the filth from my mam, Valerie. She has a very dark sense of humour, I think from having grown up with disabilities. It's a coping mechanism. She had polio when she was eight and has been in a wheelchair for about 20 years.

In this quote, Sarah Millican reflects on how her humour is shaped by both of her parents. She explains that her comedic style is a blend of two different influences: the chatty, anecdotal nature of her dad and the dark, filthy humour inherited from her mam, Valerie. Millican acknowledges the role that both parents played in shaping her comedic identity, pointing out that each contributed something unique to her sense of humour.

Millican further elaborates on her mother's dark sense of humour, explaining that it likely stems from Valerie's personal experiences, particularly growing up with disabilities. Valerie contracted polio at a young age and has been in a wheelchair for about 20 years, making her life story one marked by significant challenges. Millican suggests that her mother's humour is a form of coping mechanism, helping her deal with the hardships she faced due to her physical condition. This underscores the idea that humour can be a way of managing pain, trauma, or adversity.

The origin of this quote comes from Millican's reflections on her own upbringing and the role her parents' personalities played in her development. As a comedian, she often draws from her life experiences and family dynamics in her work, and this quote provides insight into how her humour is not just an innate talent, but also a product of her family environment. It speaks to the deeper emotional and personal contexts that shape an individual's creative expression.

Ultimately, Millican’s quote illustrates the idea that humour is not only an individual trait but can also be influenced by family dynamics and life experiences. The blend of anecdotal and dark humour highlights how different forms of comedy can arise from diverse backgrounds, with each parent offering a unique perspective that can shape a person's comedic voice.