Information AboutJo Brand |
Jo Brand (born '''Josephine Grace Brand''' 3 May 1957 , Hastings , East Sussex ) is an English Comedienne . CAREER Brand's mother was a social worker, and Brand herself worked as a to begin a career in Stand-up Comedy , where she acquired the stage name, "The Sea Monster". She was central to the British Alternative Comedy movement, working London alternative comedy clubs, and appearing initially on the '' Saturday Live '' television show. In 1993, her transition into the mainstream was confirmed when she obtained her own series on Channel 4 , ''Jo Brand Through the Cakehole'', co-written with comedy writer Jim Miller , who was already her main stand-up writer. Her early style involved her delivering jokes in a bored monotone, one line at a time, with pauses in between. With her , who had initially persuaded her to become a comic. In other sectors, she has also tried her hand at straight acting and has written novels. More recently her humour has softened and she has been a guest on such television shows as '' Have I Got News For You '', '' Never Mind The Buzzcocks '', and '' QI ''. She has had several solo television series, and presented shows such as ''Jo Brand's Commercial Breakdown ''. She also appeared on '' Star Spell '', a spin off from '' Hard Spell '', during 2004. As a fan of '' Countdown '', she achieved an ambition when she was asked to appear in the show's ''Dictionary Corner'' as the celebrity guest. She later became a friend of the host, Richard Whiteley , and after his death in 2005 attended his Memorial Service at York Minster . She appeared again on ''Countdown'' in "Dictionary Corner" in February 2007. She also took part, against her better judgement, in the first celebrity version of '' Comic Relief Does Fame Academy ''. In 2007, Brand appeared as a celebrity contestant on '' Comic Relief Does The Apprentice '', again to raise money for Comic Relief . OTHER WORK In 2003, she was listed in '' 2006 , Jo appeared on '' Parkinson '' with Daniel Day-Lewis and Jane Fonda . Brand is known to be a big fan of Crystal Palace Football Club , and has sponsored the matchball for games in the past. Jo Brand also delivered a guest lecture on the subject of Psychiatric Nursing for the University of Derby Psychology Society in 1957 in return for a donation to Derby Rape Crisis, a chocolate cake and a couple of pints at the local (the two final offerings being gifts from the students rather than riders). This lecture is said to be highly ironic. On 25 March 2007, Brand appeared on reality television programme '' Play It Again '' where she was required to learn how to play the Organ in just four months. This was in preparation to perform Bach's Toccata in D Minor for an audience of 8,000 people at the Royal Albert Hall on the largest Pipe Organ in the British Isles with 9,999 pipes. In order to practise her performance, she played at a church service, a wedding, and accompanies dancers at Blackpool Tower . Her only other experience with a musical instrument was when Brand had previously taken piano lessons at school and had a bad experience with the Violin . ''Play it Again'' — bbc.co.uk/music/playitagain PERSONAL LIFE Between 1988 and 1996, Jo lived with her co-writer and partner James Macabre (AKA Jim Miller) in 22 Alleyn House Deverell St, The Elephant and Castle. Although a pretty rough South London Estate, this was a regular late night venue for after hours drink and drug fuelled Scrabble and Black-Mariah sessions to which Mark Lamarr , Jeff Green and Alan Davies ventured after the London Comedy Circuit closed down for the night. Jo married Bernie Bourke in 1996 and they have two daughters, Maisie and Snappy. QUOTATIONS
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