Jo Brand

Jo Brand’s first job was at Dr Barnardo’s home - following in the footsteps of her social worker mother.

After this, she moved to London and famously became a psychiatric nurse - the daily parade of drug addicts, alcohol abuse and the clinically depressed, giving her the sense of humour and bravado to deal with any comedy audience.

A pioneer of the alternative comedy scene, she started performing at the age of 29, in 1987, under the name The Sea Monster and it only took her two years to be able to turn pro.

Her Through the Cakehole series met with great acclaim, as did her 1996 series All the Way to Worcester. Her diverse appeal is marked by appearances on such eclectic programmes as Question Time(BBC) to Nevermind the Buzzcocks and Countdown to They Think It’s All over were she deals with a daily parade of drug addicts alcohol abuse and the clinically depressed.