Taking it to the Max with Fosh

 

Taking it to the Max with Fosh By F.W.C

“Do something that 1% of people go for, and you’ll find yourself in an interesting position.” Most people spend their entire lives worrying about the consequences of looking silly. But instead of shying away from the absurd, Max Fosh has made a career out of embracing the ridiculous and taking it to the max!

He hit the scene in early 2016 with a YouTube series called StreetSmart, interviewing everyday people on topical issues, embracing silliness at every turn. Since then, his channel has grown to 4.57 million subscribers, with several global stand-up tours and a reputation as one of YouTube’s most outlandish creators.

Max’s content has inspired many, including myself, to live more courageously—and, more importantly, to embrace our inner silliness. It’s about letting go of shame and public embarrassment to create something truly wild and special.

When I asked how he approaches his own sense of free will, he explained:

"I often get asked the reason why I do things. I've been on television as well. TV is very concerned with the why about something? They say it needs to say something, it needs to make a point. And I always kind of slightly resisted against that, because ultimately, we are, you know, children at heart. That's why I try and do a lot of stuff that I do—because it is fun and it is silly, and there doesn't need to be a wider purpose or a larger message that needs to be said."

“Doing things for the sake of fun is just something that I'm really passionate about, and also, like, if it doesn't hurt anyone, why not? You have no idea where something would lead. We're on this earth for a very short period of time. So why don't you just chase whatever you want to do?”

Max founded his own religion in 2019, “Sillyism”, which at the time became the third-largest religion in the UK. When I asked about the future of Sillyism, he awkwardly admitted, "I don't know. I haven't thought about Sillyism for a while, which is probably bad for a leader of a religion." 

Humbly though, he threw up his hands and said, "Well, hopefully, it's been used for good and for unadulterated Sillyism wherever possible, and it hasn't been, you know, bastardised and changed to fit a narrative."

Despite this, Max was clear about his stance—he sees himself not as the leader of Sillyism, but as a humble disciple of the movement. Jokingly, he added that he’d be horrified to discover if, in a thousand years, they had made him into some sort of Messiah.

Max has built a reputation for using technicalities to create entertaining and unexpected content. He has run for Mayor of London, legally married into the British Royal Family, walked the runway as a fashion icon, and briefly claimed the title of the world's richest man for about an hour, as well as technically winning several Oscars …in a game of thumb war. 

Max’s content portrays his life as an exciting and often bizarre series of events. However, when I asked how normal his life feels, he humbly admitted, "It's been incredibly normalised, and hiking up a volcano to cook some food in lava was weirdly just a day at the office." 

Curious, I asked if things had ever felt too surreal. 

"I asked my producer, Molly, whether she could get me a grizzly bear that could eat hot dogs, and we needed it within like two or three months. And we were told that the training for the bear would take six months." 

Laughing, he shared a remark from his girlfriend, who told him, "It's not heart surgery. You make stupid videos on the internet. Just chill out."—a sentiment he appreciated as a grounding force in his otherwise chaotic life.

Of course, not every video of Max’s works out, however, and he lamented that “That's the kind of beauty, but also the curse of YouTube. It's a hamster wheel that you're constantly running around in and a beast that needs to be fed all the time.”

Throughout his career, Max has created many videos that push the boundaries of legal grey areas. From adopting his best friend's dad in Germany to deliberately breaking outdated laws in front of the police—even sneaking into the UK and US world security conventions—his content often flirts with controversy. I asked if he ever worried about a knock on the door from the police, and he laughed.

"I think that the amount of time the team spends thinking about videos gives us a pretty good idea of where the line is. We understand that this might be a bit far, and this might be okay." 

However, he also admitted, "I do have a lawyer as well, who I do run a few things by before I make videos, just in case..."

When I asked if he planned to make sequels to any of his existing content, Max nervously responded, "I often get asked whether I'm going to make a sequel to ‘I hired two private investigators to follow each other.’ I guess you could just keep adding a kind of Russian doll form of private investigators." Laughing and tugging at his collar, he added, "I got into a bit of trouble last time I tried to do that."

As both a former politician and the head of his own church, I was eager to hear about his plans for his future in leadership.

When asked if he planned to run in any future elections, he laughed. "No, I am, unfortunately, a disgraced politician. You know, like every other politician before, we posh politicians that we are, go up in a ball of flames never to be seen again. I think you can make far more good in the world through being a private citizen than you can in any kind of Parliament or government."

Max’s campaign for London Mayor focused heavily on his political rival, Laurence Fox, who, according to Max, was "getting increasingly more frustrated with my appearance and my existence, which I always found quite humorous." 

During the election, Max followed Laurence—who had hired a bus with his campaign ad on it—in a small car displaying the message "Don’t believe everything you read on a bus," much to Laurence’s frustration. Reflecting on the experience, Max explained, "It was about coming up with storylines with the London mayor stuff. Constraints are often the joy of inspiration."

Max has been creating YouTube content for roughly nine years, with the past seven bringing him major popularity. I asked what he would have done if YouTube hadn’t taken off. Earnestly, he gave a wistful smile as he reflected on his time doing hospital radio for a station called Tyneside.

"I cut my teeth at volunteering for four years, and I kind of worked my way up through the ranks and did overnights. Then ended up doing the Breakfast Show, which I was really proud of."

He continued, "I think that I'd probably be in the radio world, whether that's in production or presenting. Because that's kind of what I love. But who knows? Who knows? I mean, it doesn't bear thinking about!"

However, he conceded that if he could switch places with another YouTuber, his first choice would be Colin Furze, who is famous for building an underground tunnel beneath his house.

Max excitedly explained, "You know, to be like, useful with one's hands and understanding how engineering works and building, I think it's a huge, huge skill, and one that I just don't have—And, you know, I would love to see the process of how he, kind of, like, is pouring concrete and making these structures that all live beneath this house."

My time with Max was short, our interview lasted barely 15 minutes. Yet in those 15 minutes, I learnt more about the man behind the glasses than I expected. Max Fosh is a YouTuber, the head of a religion, a disgraced politician, and even—technically—a member of the royal family. 

Over the years, he has pulled off an incredible range of stunts, from starting a fake modelling agency to attempting to start a rival business right outside a McDonald’s, and owning England's smallest roundabout. 

It’s easy to see Max as some sort of chosen one. He’s not a millionaire buying his fame like some, nor is he exceptionally skilled in a niche craft or hobby. Max isn’t inherently special—and that’s exactly what makes him special. Anyone, including you or me, could do what he does. The only real limits are the ones we impose on ourselves. 

At his core, Max is and always will be just a little bit silly. And that’s something we could all do with more of in our lives. So if you haven’t already, go check out his YouTube channel and TikTok, and keep being silly and taking it to the Max with Fosh!