Zoe Ann Lyons(born 3 October 1971) is a British comedian and TV presenter.[1]
| Zoe Lyons | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Zoe Ann Lyons |
| Born | 3 October 1971 Haverfordwest,Wales, UK |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy, radio and television |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Genres | Observational comedy |
| Notable works and roles | Mock the Week Survivor |
| Website | www |
Early and personal life
editLyons was born to an Irish father and an English mother inHaverfordwest,Pembrokeshire,Wales.Her family soon moved to Ireland, where she attended a Catholic primary school inDunmore EastinCounty Waterford.[2]The family then moved toClonmel,County Tipperary,[3]toEpsom,Surrey,when Lyons was nine,[4]and then toGlasgow.
Her first job was in a jam factory in Glasgow.[5][6][7]Lyons lives inBrightonwith her partner Sindy, a nurse, originally from the Netherlands, who is 14 years her senior. The two met around the year 2000 whilst on holiday on theIsle of Lesvos,through mutual friends.[8][9][10]
Lyons shared an Instagram post in 2020 about heralopeciain the hope that it would help "someone even just a little bit".[11]
Career
editLyons graduated from theUniversity of Yorkin 1992 with a degree inpsychology.[12]Soon making the decision to become a performer, she moved to London, and trained atThe Poor School,thereafter working as a waitress while seeking acting roles and attending stand-up comedy performances.[3]
She appeared on theITVreality game showSurvivorin 2001, in itsfirst series,placing 6th out of 16 contestants. She left after two members of her Ular tribe alliance (Richard and Jackie) aligned with the eventual winner, Charlotte, to vote against her. She was voted out in a countback tie-breaker - where votes cast during previous episodes come into play. Lyons along with the rest of the Jury of Eliminated players voted for Charlotte to win.
In 2004, Lyons won theFunny WomenAwards, beatingAnna CrillyandJanie Phayre.[13]Since then, she has toured the UK stand-up circuit, as well as playing regular gigs in London and Brighton. In 2007, her debut solo show, "Fight or Flight", was nominated for the best newcomer award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2008, her second solo show, "Mangled Mantra of the Messed up Modern Mind", featured a joke mocking singerAmy Winehousewhich was awarded digital television channelDave'sJoke Of The Fringe.[14]
Lyons featured inThe Independent's tenth annual Pink List for 2009, detailing the 101 most influentiallesbianandgaypeople in Britain. Lyons was placed at number 81.[15]
In 2011, as part of her second international tour, Lyons was invited to perform "Clownbusting" at theMelbourne Comedy Festivalin Australia. Reviews were favourable, with a critic fromAustralian Stagereporting: "I have renewed faith in stand-up comedy after seeing UK comedian Zoe Lyons. 'Clownbusting' is a magnificently written and delivered show which holds from start to finish".[16]
Television and radio
edit
Lyons' television credits include appearances onMock the Week,[17]Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow,The Paul O'Grady Show,The Wright Stuff(as a regular guest panellist),Room 101,Dave's One Night StandandQI.
Her radio appearances have includedClive Anderson's Chat Room(BBC Radio 2),PMQ with Andy Parsons(BBC Radio 4),4 Stands Up(BBC Radio 4),The Jon Richardson Show(BBC 6 Music),The Christian O'Connell Solution(BBC Radio 5 Live),Jo Caulfield Won't Shut Up(BBC Radio 4) andThe Unbelievable Truth(BBC Radio 4).
From 2018, Lyons has appeared inTuiadverts onSky One,alongside fellow comedianMark Watson.[18]
In 2021, Lyons hosted her own teatime TV quiz show,Lightning,onBBC Two,[19]as well asStand Up and DeliveronChannel 4,where she mentoredKatie McGlynn.[20]
Awards
edit- Winner,London Awards for Art and Performance:Comedy, 2011
- Nominated, Dave's Joke of the Fringe, 2009[21]
- Winner, Dave'sJoke of the Fringe,2008[22]
- Nominated, Best Newcomer, if edy Awards, 2007[23]
- Winner, Funny Women Awards, 2004[24]
- Finalist, 'So You Think You're Funny', 2004[25]
References
edit- ^"Pop Up Comic".Zoe Lyons.Retrieved4 May2013.
- ^Lyons, Zoe(26 September 2018)."Past".Zoe Lyons: Passport Paddy.Series 1. Episode 1.BBC.BBC Radio 4.Retrieved3 October2018.
- ^abGanatra, Shilpa (28 May 2018)."Were we being passport Paddies or was there a level of patriotism?".Retrieved29 January2021.
- ^Fetherston, Sinann (30 May 2019)."Zoe Lyons:" Ireland has had such a transformation "".RTÉ.ie.Retrieved29 January2021.
- ^"Happiness 2014: Zoe Lyons".whatsonhighlands.16 May 2014.
- ^"First Up: Zoe Lyons".Leicester Mercury.26 May 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 21 July 2015.Retrieved21 October2016.
- ^"When Sally Met Sally:: Interview with Zoe Lyons".When Sally Met Sally.Archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2015.Retrieved5 September2015.
- ^"Zoe Lyons Candid on Partner/ Wife; Lesbian Love at Finest".LIVERAMPUP.21 November 2018.Retrieved6 March2021.
- ^"Comedy Blog: Michael McIntyre and Zoe Lyons".BBC.Retrieved4 May2013.
- ^"Manchester Pride Meets: Zoe Lyons".Manchester Pride. 10 November 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 20 March 2012.Retrieved24 February2014.
- ^"Zoe Lyons on Instagram:" Sharing this in the hope it helps someone even just a little bit. My alopecia has got progressively worse over the course of this… "".Instagram.Archived fromthe originalon 24 December 2021.Retrieved6 March2021.
- ^"Funny Woman".Grapevine(Autumn 2005). Alumni Office,University of York:2.
- ^Guide, British Comedy (18 April 2016)."Funny Women Awards".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved6 August2022.
- ^"Festival prize for Winehouse joke".22 August 2008.Retrieved13 June2023.
- ^"British gay women make The Pink List".AfterEllen. 30 June 2009.Retrieved4 May2013.
- ^"Clownbusting | Zoe Lyons".Australianstage.au. 7 April 2011.Retrieved4 May2013.
- ^"Mock The Week - The Cast".Mocktheweek.tv.Retrieved4 May2013.
- ^"TUI Holidays - Discover Your Smile".TUI Holidays - Discover Your Smile.
- ^Cremona, Patrick."Lightning start date – rules and everything you need to know about new BBC Two quiz show".Radio Times.Retrieved28 January2021.
- ^Darvill, Josh (4 March 2021)."Stand Up and Deliver celebrity line up and how to watch new Channel 4 show online".TellyMix.Retrieved6 March2021.
- ^"Dave Award for Funniest Joke of the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe revealed".Archived fromthe originalon 27 August 2009.Retrieved24 August2009.
- ^"Festival prize for Winehouse joke".BBC News.22 August 2008.
- ^"Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2013 - newcomers".Comedyawards.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2013.Retrieved4 May2013.
- ^"Funny Women 2004 | Funny.co.uk - UK Comedy Site".Funny.co.uk.Retrieved4 May2013.
- ^"the UK's largest collection of comedians biogs and photos".comedy cv.Retrieved4 May2013.
External links
edit