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United Kingdom Jo Brand is an English comedian, presenter, actress, and writer, known for her sharp wit and extensive work in television and stand-up comedy.
Jo Brand has been a fill-in host on The Paul O'Grady Show.
Jo Brand has been a fill-in host on The One Show.
Brand co-created, co-wrote and co-starred in the BBC Four sitcom Getting On.
Jo Brand featured as a guest on one of the episodes of the radio program.
Jo Brand participated in the 'Loving Linda Smith Gala Concert' to aid Target Ovarian Cancer.
Jo Brand completed a 150-mile walk across Britain in aid of Sport Relief. Her efforts were shown in a 60-minute documentary.
Brand is a supporter of the charity ActionAid and has taken part in fundraising events for the organisation.
Brand was part of Gareth Malone's All Star Choir, who released a cover version of 'Wake Me Up' to raise money for the BBC's Children in Need.
Brand is a patron of the National Self Harm Network (NSHN).
Brand is a patron of International Animal Rescue.
Brand is a patron of the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association.
Brand is a patron of the London Nightline.
Brand is a patron of Creative Communities South East C.I.O.
Brand is the president of the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.
Brand is an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society.
Josephine Grace Brand was born on July 23, 1957, in London, England. She spent ten years working as a psychiatric nurse in various hospitals, including the South London Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital, before transitioning into comedy. This background significantly influenced her early comedic style and subject matter. In the mid-1980s, Brand became a part of the British alternative comedy movement, performing in London clubs and gaining early television exposure on programs such as “Saturday Live.” Her initial stage persona, sometimes referred to as the “Sea Monster,” featured a deadpan, monotone delivery of jokes that often critiqued pop culture and public figures. She became known for her distinctive appearance and sardonic delivery.
Brand’s career progressed into mainstream television with her own Channel 4 series, “Jo Brand Through the Cakehole,” co-written with Jim Miller, which aired from 1993 to 1996. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, she made frequent guest appearances on popular panel shows like “Have I Got News for You” and “QI,” becoming the most frequent guest on the latter with 34 appearances. Her acting credits include roles in “Human Traffic” (1999) and “Horrid Henry: The Movie” (2011). A significant milestone was co-creating, co-writing, and co-starring in the BBC Four sitcom “Getting On” (2009-2012), a realistic satire set in a geriatric ward, for which she won a BAFTA in 2011. She has also presented numerous shows, notably “The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice” since 2014, and “Jo Brand’s Big Splash” in 2011.
Beyond entertainment, Brand is a committed advocate for mental health awareness, having received honorary doctorates from the University of Glamorgan (2007) and Canterbury Christ Church University (2014) for her contributions. She also actively supports various charities, including ActionAid, Children in Need, and Sport Relief, for which she completed a 150-mile walk across Britain in 2016. Her writing career includes novels such as “Sorting Out Billy” (2004) and “The More You Ignore Me” (2009), the latter of which she adapted into a feature film released in 2018.
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