Jo Brand

Jo Brand
Brand in the cabaret tent at Glastonbury Festival 2019
Birth name	Josephine Grace Brand
Born	(1957-07-23) 23 July 1957 Clapham, London, England
Medium	Stand up comedy television film
Education	Brunel University (BA)
Years active	1986–present
Genres	Observational comedy alternative
Spouse	Bernie Bourke ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	2, including Maisi

Biography

Jo Brand, born July 23, 1957, in Clapham, London, is a British comedian, writer, actress, and former psychiatric nurse, known for her deadpan delivery, sharp wit, and pioneering role in bringing feminist humor to mainstream British comedy.

Raised in Kent, Brand studied at Brunel University and later trained as a psychiatric nurse, working in mental health services for a decade. Her experiences in psychiatric hospitals deeply shaped her perspective and would later inform much of her comedy and writing.

Brand began her stand-up career in the 1980s under the stage name "The Sea Monster," performing in alternative comedy venues that challenged the male-dominated mainstream. Her humor—dry, observational, and often acerbic—offered a refreshingly blunt take on politics, gender roles, and everyday absurdities. She quickly gained recognition and became a regular presence on British television throughout the 1990s.

She has appeared on numerous panel shows, including Have I Got News for You, QI, and Would I Lie to You?, often standing out as one of the few women in the line-ups. She also created and starred in the sitcom Getting On (2009–2012), a critically acclaimed, BAFTA-winning series set in a geriatric hospital ward, co-written with Vicki Pepperdine and Joanna Scanlan.

In addition to her comedy work, Brand has authored several books, including novels and autobiographies, such as Look Back in Hunger. She is a vocal advocate for mental health awareness, drawing on her nursing background to promote understanding and empathy.

Known for her fearless honesty and down-to-earth persona, Jo Brand has broken barriers for women in comedy and remains one of the UK’s most respected and enduring entertainers. Her contributions to both mental health advocacy and British comedy have earned her widespread admiration and a loyal following across generations.

Music (likes)

BBC's Desert Island Discs (2007)

• Variations on the St Antoni Chorale – Theme – Johannes Brahms
• Oh England, My Lionheart – Kate Bush
• Gloomy Sunday – Paul Robeson
• Smash It Up – The Damned
• People Like Us – Talking Heads
• Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards – Billy Bragg
• Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4 – Elvis Costello
• The Wedding – Abdullah Ibrahim

Literature (likes)

Miscellaneous

• The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - Edward Gibbon