Josephine Grace Brand(born 23 July 1957)[1]is an English actress, comedian, presenter and writer.[2]Starting her entertainment career with a move frompsychiatric nursingto thealternative comedystand-up scene and early performances onSaturday Live,she went on to appear onThe Brain Drain,Channel 4'sJo Brand Through the Cakehole,Getting Onand various television appearances including as a regular guest onQI,Have I Got News for YouandWould I Lie to You?.She also makes regular appearances onBBC Radio 4in programmes such asThe News QuizandJust a Minute.Since 2014 she has been the presenter ofThe Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice.In 2003, Brand was listed inThe Observeras one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.
| Jo Brand | |
|---|---|
 Brand in the cabaret tent atGlastonbury Festival 2019 | |
| Birth name | Josephine Grace Brand |
| Born | 23 July 1957 Clapham,London, England |
| Medium | |
| Education | Brunel University(BA) |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Genres | |
| Subject(s) | |
| Spouse |
Bernie Bourke (m.1997) |
| Children | 2, includingMaisi |
Early life
editBrand was born inClapham,London, nearSt Paul's Church[3][4]in a house which was "a little terraced Victorian place on theWandsworth Roadwith an outside toilet ",[1]and grew up inHastings,East Sussex.[5]Her mother was asocial workeratCharing Cross Hospitaland her father was astructural engineer.[6][7]Her father suffered fromdepressionand her parents separated when Brand was a teenager.[3]Brand is the middle of three children, with two brothers.[8]When she was about four, the family moved to the village ofSt Mary's PlattnearSevenoaksinKent,[9]and a year later, toBenenden.[9]Brand was educated at St Mary's Platt Primary School, Benenden Village Primary School,Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar Schooluntil the age of 16,Hastings High School for GirlsandBexhill College.[1]
Career
editEarly
editAfter working in a pub, forBarnardo's,and as a nursing assistant in a residential unit for adults with learning disabilities she took a joint social science degree with aRegistered Mental Nursequalification atBrunel University.She then worked as apsychiatric nursefor ten years, at theSouth London Bethlemhospital,Cefn Coed HospitalinSwanseaandMaudsley Hospitalin south London.[10][11]
Comedy
editWhen Brand began her career in comedy, she used the stage name the "Sea Monster". She was part of the Britishalternative comedymovement, working in London alternative comedy clubs in the mid-1980s, and appearing initially on theSaturday Livetelevision show. She shared a flat with fellow comic and comedy club ownerIvor Dembina.[12]
Brand's early style involved her delivering jokes in a bored monotone, one line at a time, with pauses in between. It drew heavily from pop culture and the media, with many jokes containing references to celebrities and public figures. Brand has said that she drank heavily before her first gig, was heckled throughout, and received no applause at the end of the set.[5]HerDoc Martenboots, large size and short hair led to false rumours that she was alesbian.[13]
In 2007, Brand narratedLaughter & Tears: The Les Dawson Story,a documentary tribute toLes Dawson,which was broadcast onBBC Radio 2in October 2007.
In 2010, Brand took part inChannel 4's Comedy Gala,abenefit showheld in aid ofGreat Ormond Street Children's Hospital,filmed live at theO2 Arenain London on 30 March.
Brand played the Demon Dinner Lady in theBritishlive-action filmHorrid Henry: The Movie(2011). She also provided a voice-over for theLyric, HammersmithTheatre's 2011 pantomimeAladdin.[citation needed]
In August 2015, Brand judged the first ever Class Clowns competition at theEdinburgh Festival Fringe,she also announced the winner at theGilded Balloonon the night.[citation needed]
Brand wrote a feature-film adaptation of her novelThe More You Ignore Me.The film was released in 2018.[14]
Television
editIn 1993, Brand became a resident panellist, along withTony Hawks,on BBC monologue showThe Brain Drain.Her transition into mainstream television continued when she starred in her own series onChannel 4,Jo Brand Through the Cakehole,co-written with comedy writer Jim Miller, who was already her main stand-up writer. Brand has had several solo television series, and presented shows such asJo Brand's Commercial Breakdown.She had acameo appearancein an episode ofAbsolutely Fabulousentitled "New Best Friend" (1994), and also appeared onStar Spell,a spin-off fromHard Spellin 2004.
Her television success continued with guest appearances on shows such asHave I Got News for YouandQI,to the extent where she became the most frequently appearing guest on the latter, appearing in a total of 34 episodes. As a fan ofCountdown,Brand achieved an ambition when she was invited to appear in the show's "Dictionary Corner" as the celebrity guest. She later became a friend of the host,Richard Whiteley,and after his death in 2005 attended hismemorial serviceatYork Minster.She has appeared onCountdownas a Dictionary Corner guest 88 times.[15]
In 2004, Brand appeared in a special episode ofWhat Not to Wear,where fashion gurusTrinny WoodallandSusannah Constantinegave her a makeover.
On 25 March 2007, Brand appeared onPlay It Again,where she was required to learn how to play theorganin just four months. This was in preparation to performJohann Sebastian Bach'sToccata and Fugue in D Minorfor an audience of 8,000 people at London'sRoyal Albert Hallon the second largestpipe organin the United Kingdom. In order to practise her performance, she played "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind",a favourite hymn of hers at a church service in her former village church in Benenden, Kent, and accompanied dancers atBlackpool Tower.Prior to this, her only experiences with musical instruments had been childhood piano and violin lessons.[16]
Brand took part in the first celebrity version ofComic Relief Does Fame Academy.In 2007 she appeared as a celebrity contestant onComic Relief Does The Apprentice.In 2009 she participated inLet's Dance for Comic Relief,another Comic Relief fundraiser, dancing asBritney Spears,reaching the final. She has also been a judge on the show. In January 2013 Brand took part in a special Comic Relief series ofThe Great British Bake Off.
Brand has been a fill-in host onThe Paul O'Grady ShowandThe One Show.Brand co-created, co-wrote and co-starred in theBBC FoursitcomGetting OnoppositeJoanna ScanlanandVicki Pepperdine,for which she won the 2011 Best TV Comedy Actress BAFTA award. The series, directed byPeter CapaldiandSusan Tully,is a gritty and realistic satire on the current state of theNHS,set in a geriatric ward.
In April 2009, Brand was as a judge withJohn Amaechiand Jeremy Stockwell on theBBC TwoseriesThe Speaker,charting the search for "Britain's Best Young Speaker".[17]
In 2011, Brand presentedJo Brand's Big Splash,a television programme where she performed a stand-up routine and visited people with a love of water and it was produced by her production company, What Larks! Productions.[18][19]
In January 2013 and 2014, Brand was a judge, with Andy Banks andLeon Taylor,on theITVshowSplash!.
On 14 January 2014, Brand presented an episode ofThe Great Sport Relief Bake OffonBBC Two,a charity version ofThe Great British Bake Off.In February 2015 she also presented an episode ofThe Great Comic Relief Bake Off.
Brand is the presenter ofThe Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice,which premiered on 8 August 2014.[20]A second series aired from August 2015, third from August 2016 and a fourth from August 2017.
In 2014, Brand co-wrote and starred as Rose in a comedy pilot forSky ArtscalledDamned.The show was commissioned for a full series byChannel 4,airing in 2016; its second series aired in 2018.
Since 2017, she has presented theChannel 5seriesJo Brand's Cats & Kittens.The show is available in the United States onNetflixasKitten Rescuers.
On 28 January 2019, theBBCtelevision seriesImagine,presented byAlan Yentob,documented Jo's life and career, with contributions from many of her comedy peers, in a programme titledJo Brand: No Holds Barred.
In 2019, Brand became a contestant onTaskmaster.
Brand appeared in BBC's Antique Roadshow: Nursing Special (which aired on Sunday 26 February 2023) talking to Fiona Bruce about her time as a psychiatric nurse. Brand spoke about her experience working in emergency mental health clinics, as well lighter moments performing in hospital pantos.[21]
Personal life
edit
Brand married Bernie Bourke, a psychiatric nurse, in 1997[5]inShropshire.They have two daughters,Maisie Bourkeand Eliza Bourke.[22]Her husband and two daughters arevegetarian,but Brand prefers to "pursue pork-pies in service stations when no-one is looking".[3]
Brand delivered a guest lecture on the subject ofpsychiatric nursingfor theUniversity of DerbyPsychology Society in 1997 in return for a donation to Derby Rape Crisis. Also in 1997, she opened atLambeth HospitalinSouth London,the first major exhibition of the Adamson Collection since the death ofEdward Adamson,the pioneer of Art Therapy, in 1996.
In February 2009, Brand was among a group of British entertainers who wrote an open letter toThe Timesof London in support of the leaders of theBaháʼí Faithwho were then on trial inIran.[23]
Charity
edit
Brand is a supporter of the charityActionAidand has taken part in fundraising events for the organisation.[24]
In November 2014, Brand was a part ofGareth Malone'sAll Star Choir,[25]who released a cover version of "Wake Me Up"to raise money for theBBC'sChildren in Need.[26]
On 28 January 2016, Brand completed a 150-mile walk across Britain, in aid ofSport Relief,inLiverpool.Brand crossed the finish line at theAlbert Dockat 7.30pm, having set off from the banks of theRiver Humberon 22 January.[27]Her efforts were shown in a 60-minute documentary, which aired on 17 March 2016, calledJo Brand's Hell of a Walk for Sport Relief.[28]
Brand is a patron of the National Self Harm Network (NSHN),International Animal Rescue,and thePrader-Willi SyndromeAssociation, as well asLondon Nightline.She is the president of the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.[29]
Brand is an ambassador for theAlzheimer's Society.
Political views
editBrand is a supporter of theLabour Party.[30]She was still a contributor to and supporter of the party in 2012.[30][31]
Brand introduced and spoke at the celebration ofMichael Foot's life at London's Lyric Theatre,Shaftesbury Avenue,on 8 November 2010.[32]She is also arepublican.[33]In January 2012, she gave theSouth Shieldsannual lecture atHarton Technology Collegealongside theMember of Parliament(MP) for the town,David Miliband.
In August 2014, Brand was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter toThe GuardianopposingScottish independencein the run-up to September'sreferendum on that issue.[34]
Brand is a supporter of theWomen's Equality Party.[35]
In June 2019, Brand was featured in the BBC Radio 4 comedy showHeresy,after a number of right-wing and far-right[36]European election candidateshadbeen dousedwithmilkshakesduring campaign walkabouts the previous month. Brand said "Why bother with a milkshake when you could get somebattery acid?"She later added:" That's just me, sorry, I'm not gonna do it, it's purely a fantasy, but I think milk shakes are pathetic, I honestly do. Sorry. "[37]The BBC later defended Brand, explaining "the jokes made onHeresyare deliberately provocative as the title implies "and that they were" not intended to be taken seriously ".[38]The Prime Minister at the time,Theresa May,queried whether a joke about throwing battery acid was "appropriate content" for a BBC broadcast[39]and the BBC later announced that the remark would be edited out of any future broadcasts. TheMetropolitan Policeconfirmed that it had "received an allegation ofincitement to violencethat was reported to the MPS on 13 June ".[40]and that they were investigating the matter.[41][42]Appearing at an event inHenley,Oxfordshire, on the same day, the comedian was said to have apologised for making the joke, saying "Looking back it probably was somewhat a crass and ill-judged joke that might upset people." It was understood that the allegation reported to the police was not made byNigel Farageor theBrexit Party.Ofcomsaid it has received 65 complaints about the episode ofHeresy.[43]The police dropped the investigation two days later.[44]On 29 August 2019, the BBC's Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) partially upheld complaints about the joke, saying: 'Whilst the ECU recognised that the wider message from this episode is an argument for more civility in political discourse, not less, and Ms Brand's contribution is not intended to be taken as face value, the ECU felt that it went beyond what was appropriate for the show.'[45]
In a 2018 interview, Brand recalled an incident where she was forcibly kissed by a financial trader during a charity event inCanary Wharf,commenting that she chose not to report the incident because 'it would ruin the day and I was worried no one would believe me'.[46]
Awards and honours
editOn 17 July 2007 Brand was awarded anhonorary doctoratefor her work as a psychiatric nurse from theUniversity of Glamorgan(now theUniversity of South Wales).[11]Professor Donna Mead, Dean of the School of Health, Sport and Science, who read Brand up for the award commented, "Jo incorporates much of her experience working in the field of mental health into her current work as a comedian. This has increased awareness of the work done by nurses in the mental health field. She has also used her experiences of working with individuals with conditions such as Alzheimer's to promote awareness of and raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society."[47]
In December 2007 she received aJournal of Psychiatric and Mental Health NursingLifetime Achievement Award, an award associated with theEileen SkellernMemorial Lecture. At this event she was praised for making mental health nursing more visible to the general public.[48]
In October 2009, she was awarded an Honorary Degree from theUniversity of Suffolk.[49]
In January 2014, Brand was awarded a second honorary doctorate fromCanterbury Christ Church University,for her work in raising awareness of mental health issues and challenging the stigma surrounding such illnesses.[50]
Bibliography
editNovels
edit- Mental(withHelen Griffin.HTV Sherman Plays series. Cardiff: Drama Association of Wales, 1996).ISBN1-898740-41-0
- Sorting Out Billy[51](novel. London: Review, 2004).ISBN0-7553-2336-X
- It's Different for Girls(novel. London: Headline Review, 2005).ISBN0-7553-2229-0
- The More You Ignore Me(novel. London: Headline Review, 2009).ISBN0-7553-2231-2
Autobiographies
edit- Look Back in Hunger. The Autobiography(London: Headline Review, 2009).ISBN0-7553-5525-3
- Can't Stand Up For Sitting Down. The Autobiography – Part 2(London: Headline Review, 2010).ISBN978-0-7553-5526-6
Non fiction
edit- A Load of Old Balls: Men in History(London: Simon & Schuster, 1994).ISBN0-671-71385-X
- A Load of Old Ball Crunchers: Women in History(London: Simon & Schuster, 1996).ISBN0-684-81695-4
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Up Yer News | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 1992–present | Have I Got News for You | Regular panellist/guest host | |
| 1993–1996 | Jo Brand Through the Cakehole | Presenter | |
| 1994 | Absolutely Fabulous | Carmen | 1 episode |
| 2003–present | QI | Regular panellist | 37 appearances |
| 2009 | The Speaker | Judge | |
| 2009–2012 | Getting On | Kim Wilde | Also written by Brand |
| 2009, 2013 | The Paul O'Grady Show | Stand-in presenter | 2 episodes |
| 2009–present | Would I Lie To You | Regular panellist | 9 appearances (as of series 14) |
| 2010–2017 | Let's Sing and Dance | Panellist | |
| 2011 | Jo Brand's Big Splash | Presenter | |
| Show Me the Funny | Guest judge | 1 episode | |
| 2013–2014 | Splash! | Judge | |
| 2014 | The One Show | Stand-in presenter | Two episodes |
| 2014–2015 | The Great Sport Relief Bake Off | Presenter | |
| 2014–2018 | Damned[52] | Rose Denby | |
| 2014–present | The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice | Presenter | 10 series |
| 2016 | Jo Brand's Hell of a Walk for Sport Relief | Herself | One-off episode |
| Going Forward | Kim Wilde | Also written by Brand | |
| 2016–2017 | Jo Brand's Cats & Kittens | Presenter | |
| 2018 | Britain's Best Junior Doctors | Presenter | 1 series |
| 2019 | Taskmaster | Contestant | Series 9 (10 episodes) |
| 2020 | Kitten Rescue with Jo Brand | Presenter | 1 series |
| 2022 | Christmas Carole | Ghost of Christmas Present | One-off episode |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Human Traffic | Reality | |
| 2011 | Horrid Henry: The Movie | Greasy Greta/Demon Dinner Lady | |
| 2017 | Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience | Mrs. Crocodile (voice) | Segment: The Zoo |
| 2018 | The More You Ignore Me | Sandra | Also writer |
Awards and nominations
edit- British Comedy Award1992: Top comedy club performer
- British Comedy Award1995: Best stand-up comic
- British Comedy Award2010: Best female TV comic
- BAFTA2011: Best Female Performance in a Comedy Role
- British Comedy Award2012: Best female TV comic
References
edit- ^abcBrand, Jo (2009).Look Back in Hunger: The Autobiography.Headline Book Publishing.ISBN978-0-7553-5524-2.
- ^Thompson, Ben (23 October 2011)."the interview JO BRAND, COMEDIAN, TALKS TO".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 9 June 2022.Retrieved3 November2015.
- ^abc"S9 Ep 5: Jo Brand".acast.4 March 2020.Retrieved10 May2020.
- ^Routledg e, Paul (1 January 2003).The Bumper Book of British Lefties.Politico's.ISBN9781842750643.Retrieved10 May2020– via Google Books.
- ^abcMcSmith, Andy (7 February 2009)."Jo Brand: A softer brand of humour".Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 9 June 2022.Retrieved30 January2014.
- ^Farndale, Nigel (23 October 2009)."Jo Brand Interview".Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved10 May2020– via telegraph.co.uk.
- ^Brand, Jo (1 October 2009).Look Back in Hunger.Headline.ISBN9780755359288.Retrieved10 May2020– via Google Books.
- ^Vincent, Sally (8 May 2004),"Kicking off the bovver boots",The Guardian,London,retrieved4 May2010
- ^abGeear, Jo (23 August 2005),"Jo Brand: a Kentish maid",BBC Kent,BBC,retrieved4 May2010
- ^Atkins, Tom (25 February 2008),"20 Questions With... Jo Brand",What's on Stage,Bandwidth Communications Ltd, archived fromthe originalon 16 June 2011,retrieved4 May2010
- ^abStanley, David (19 October 2016).Clinical Leadership in Nursing and Healthcare: Values into Action.John Wiley & Sons.ISBN9781119253778.Retrieved8 May2018– via Google Books.
- ^Brand, Jo (2010).Can't Stand Up for Sitting Down.London: Headline Review.ISBN978-0755355266.
- ^"Jo Brand is one funny woman",BBC interview, 26 October 2005 (viewed 9 July 2009)
- ^"The More You Ignore Me".IMDb.
- ^"Jo Brand – Countdown".Apterous Wiki.Retrieved27 May2017.
- ^Play it AgainBBC Television
- ^Fighting the Fear,The Speaker,BBC Television
- ^"Big Splash".What Larks! Productions. Archived fromthe originalon 2 October 2016.Retrieved20 June2012.
- ^"About Us".What Larks! Productions. Archived fromthe originalon 4 July 2017.Retrieved20 June2012.
- ^"Jo Brand to front Bake-Off spin-off: News 2014: Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide".Chortle. 23 July 2014.Retrieved29 July2014.
- ^Antiques Roadshow - Nursing Special,retrieved26 February2023
- ^Nick McGrath (13 December 2013)."Jo Brand: My family values".The Guardian.Retrieved5 April2018.
- ^"Stand up for Iran's Baha'is"Open letter toThe Times,26 February 2009 (viewed 9 July 2009)
- ^"Jo Brand, Meera Syal, and Nicholas Owen join Clive Anderson for Call My Wine Bluff".ActionAid UK.23 September 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 26 January 2012.Retrieved20 April2012.
- ^"Gareth Malone forms an all-star choir for the Official BBC Children in Need single".BBC.2014.
- ^"Gareth Malone to form All-Star Choir for official BBC Children in Need single 2014".BBC.24 September 2014.
- ^"Jo Brand's Hell of a Walk".Sport Relief. Archived fromthe originalon 11 January 2017.Retrieved9 May2017.
- ^Sam Dean (29 January 2016)."Jo Brand thanks Liverpool for rousing welcome as she finishes Sport Relief" Walk from Hell "".Liverpool Echo.Retrieved9 May2017.
- ^"Ectopic – Who we are".Ectopic.org.uk. 25 October 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 5 November 2013.Retrieved30 January2014.
- ^abDipper, Andrew (23 January 2012)."Interview: Jo Brand".Giggle Beats.
- ^Thorpe, Vanessa (14 February 2010)."Parties in pre-election battle to sign up stars".The Guardian.London.Retrieved6 May2010.
- ^"Friends and supporters of the late Labour leader Michael Foot paid tribute to" a great leader "at a memorial service in his honour".thisisplymouth.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 12 September 2012.Retrieved14 February2011.
- ^Saner, Emine (21 September 2011)."Jo Brand: fat jokes matter".The Guardian.Retrieved2 September2018.
She turned down the Royal Variety Performance because she didn't want to be a hypocritical republican.
- ^"Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories | Politics".The Guardian.7 August 2014.Retrieved26 August2014.
- ^Catherine Mayer(host), Jo Brand (guest) andRosie Boycott(guest) (3 April 2016).Jo Brand & Rosie Boycott @ 5x15 – Women's Equality Party(Video). 5x15 Stories viaYouTube.Retrieved28 April2016.
- ^Weaver, Matthew (20 May 2019)."Nigel Farage doused with milkshake in Newcastle".The Guardian.Retrieved19 November2021.
- ^"Left-Wing Comedian Fantasizes About Acid Attacking Right-Wing Politicians".12 June 2019.Retrieved12 June2019.
- ^"BBC defends Jo Brand over 'battery acid' joke".BBC News.12 June 2019.Retrieved12 June2019.
- ^"PM asks BBC to explain Jo Brand broadcast".BBC News.13 June 2019.Retrieved13 June2019.
- ^"BBC edits out Jo Brand acid joke".BBC News.13 June 2019.Retrieved13 June2019.
- ^Murphy, Simon (13 June 2019)."Police investigate Jo Brand's battery acid remark".The Guardian– via theguardian.
- ^Singh, Anita (13 June 2019)."Jo Brand investigated by Met Police over 'battery acid' politicians joke".The Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022 – via telegraph.co.uk.
- ^"Jo Brand 'apologises for battery acid joke' after police launch probe".Evening Standard.14 June 2019.Retrieved16 June2019.
- ^"Police take no action over Brand acid joke".BBC News.14 June 2019.Retrieved15 June2019.
- ^"'Jo Brand's battery acid joke went too far', BBC rules ".BBC News.29 August 2019.Retrieved8 September2019.
- ^"Jo Brand shocker: 'I don't really like cake': Interviews 2018: Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide".chortle.co.uk.Retrieved4 May2020.
- ^"Glamorgan Honours"University of Glamorgan, 17 July 2007 (viewed 15 July 2011)
- ^"2007".skellern.info.Retrieved8 May2018.
- ^"Jo Brand".University of Suffolk.
- ^Warren, Gerry (29 January 2014)."Comic Jo Brand honoured with honorary doctorate at Christ Church University in Canterbury".Kentonline.co.uk.Retrieved30 January2014.
- ^"The digested read: Sorting Out Billy by Jo Brand".The Guardian.London. 14 June 2004.Retrieved6 August2009.
- ^British Comedy Guide (25 May 2016)."Channel 4 to film Jo Brand and Alan Davies sitcom Damned – News – British Comedy Guide".Comedy.co.uk.Retrieved9 May2017.
External links
edit
- Jo BrandatIMDb
- Jo Brand: Me? Singing? I couldn't get arrested?Interview by Jasper Rees,The Telegraph,30 January 2008.
- Keep on running: Jo BrandInterview by Tarquin Cooper,The Telegraph,9 April 2005.
- Article about Brand's careerfor TV showThe Speaker,BBC website
- BBC Interview by Matt Stadlen– Five Minutes With: Jo Brand (2009-08-14)