Katherine Ryan

Katherine Ryan, born Katherine Louisa Ryan in June 1983 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, established herself as a notable figure in comedy and television. Her early career included performing at Yuk Yuks venues across Canada and the Comedy Store in Los Angeles. She was featured on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and appeared on national television programs in the US, Canada, and the UK. Audiences often noted her ability to deliver edgy material while maintaining a seemingly wholesome demeanor.

After initially studying city planning at Ryerson University in Toronto, where she also worked at Hooters and began performing at open mic nights, Ryan relocated to London, England, permanently in January 2008. This move marked a significant turning point in her career. In 2008, she won the Funny Women award, gaining recognition in the British comedy scene. She later became a regular on British panel shows such as “8 Out of 10 Cats,” “Never Mind the Buzzcocks,” “A League of Their Own,” “Mock the Week,” “Would I Lie to You?,” “QI,” and “Have I Got News for You.” Her television appearances extended to acting roles in sitcoms like “Campus,” “Episodes,” and “Badults.”

Ryan’s career progression also includes hosting roles on shows like “Hair” on BBC Two (2015) and co-presenting “Your Face or Mine?” with Jimmy Carr (2017-2019). She achieved global recognition with her Netflix stand-up specials, “Katherine Ryan: In Trouble” (2017) and “Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room” (2019). In 2020, she created, wrote, and executive-produced “The Duchess” for Netflix, a semi-autobiographical comedy series where she also starred. Her contributions to television and stand-up have solidified her position as a prominent comedian and writer, earning her the Outstanding Female Comedy Entertainment Performance award at the 2023 National Comedy Awards for “Backstage with Katherine Ryan.”