Following an earlier career as a psychiatric nurse, Jo went on to become a BAFTA award winning comic – one of Britain’s funniest and best-loved comedians. She is an extremely experienced and outstanding corporate entertainer, both as an after dinner cabaret act and as an accomplished comedy host for prestigious awards events.
Comedian and comedy actor, Jo Brand, is an established household name.
Since leaving her job as a psychiatric nurse in 1987, Jo Brand has built a large following across the UK, male and female alike. She initially appeared on the Saturday Live television show and has been named `best female comic in Britain‘ Mirror
In 1993 she became a resident panellist, along with Tony Hawks, on BBC monologue show The Brain Drain. Soon after, she had her hit Ch4“Through the Cakehole” series. This was met with great acclaim, as was her series “All the Way to Worcester” (Vera Prods for Ch4).
Jo’s diverse appeal is marked by appearances on such eclectic programmes as “Question Time” to “Nevermind the Buzzcocks.” Also “QI” and “Countdown” (YTV for Ch4) to “They Think It’s All Over” and The Graham Norton Show. She presented “Jo Brand’s Commercial Breakdown,” “Jo Brand’s Hot Potatoes” and “Jo Brand’s Rudest Home Videos.”
Jo has guest hosted “Have I Got News For You.” Jo also appeared on Star Spell and in a wonderful cameo in Absolutely Fabulous. She narrated Laughter & Tears: The Les Dawson Story, a documentary tribute to Les Dawson on BBC Radio 2.
Jo took part in the first celebrity version of Comic Relief does Fame Academy. Following which she appeared as a celebrity contestant on Comic Relief Does The Apprentice. She participated in Let’s Dance for Comic Relief, dancing as Britney Spears (‘tis true), reaching the final. She has proved herself an un-willing fashion victim on the BBC1 special, “What Not To Wear On The Red Carpet.” Jo also learnt the organ for BBC’s “Play it Again.” This resulted in her playing to a sell-out crowd at the Royal Albert Hall. She has also taken part in a charity celebrity carol singing choir!
Jo appeared as a judge in the BBC2 series The Speaker. She offered her advice in the eight-part series charting the search for “Britain’s Best Young Speaker”. She wrote & starred in the acclaimed BBC series, Getting On (plus the spin off Going Forward). The series, set on a hospital’s geriatric ward, was partly inspired by her earlier career in nursing. With this Jo went on to win a BAFTA for Best Female Comedy Performance and Royal Television Society Best Writing in Comedy Award.
She was also seen as the Demon Dinner Lady in the Horrid Henry film. Jo also co-wrote and starred in Damned (Channel 4), a sitcom which follows he lives of a set of social workers. She co-wrote and starred two series of the sitcom Damned for Channel 4, which is about social workers. Jo continues to develop sitcoms.
Other ventures include sitting on the judging panel for ITV’s smash hit ‘Splash’ for two series. She later put her cooking to the test on ‘The Great Comic Relief Bake Off’. Jo was such a success on this show that she was subsequently named as the host of the hugely popular ‘The Great British Bake Off – An Extra Slice’.
Jo’s other TV appearances include ‘QI’, ‘Countdown’, ‘Would I Lie To You’, ’8 Out of 10 Cats’, and ‘The Matt Lucas Awards.’
A critically acclaimed writer, Jo has written the hits ‘A Load Of Old Balls’ and ‘A Load Of Old Ball Crunchers’ (both Simon & Schuster), ‘It’s Different For Girls’, ‘Sorting Out Billy’ and ‘The More You Ignore Me’ (all for Headline Review). Her autobiography is ‘Look Back In Hunger.’
Jo is also an extremely popular host and cabaret artist for corporate events.
“Just to let you know that we were, once again, delighted to have Jo Brand host our Awards on 18 September. She entertained the audience, kept them going through the presentation of 18 awards and is such an easy going and lovely person to work with.” Laing & Buisson
“Jo Brand was excellent.” Coloplast Ltd
“She was absolutely superb, they LOVED her… the show was great… she asked if we had had enough and everyone shouted No! which was just the response we were looking for. Marvellous! would definitely hire again… her timing is impeccable … Will recommend to those in the industry.” Agendo / Roche
