INTERVIEW: Comedian, actor and writer Jessica Fostekew is one of the stellar stand ups taking the stage tonight for Live at the RSC
Weightlifter, professional twit and imaginary ice cream friend...
...are just three ways to describe funny as hell comedian, actor and writer Jessica Fostekew. She is one of the stellar stand ups taking the stage this weekend for Live at the RSC. The sitcom and Radio 4 regular (from Motherland to the News Quiz) has Gill Sutherland chortling away as she talks about her work, making a berk of herself in front of hero Dawn French and her upcoming plans to play an ice cream.
I just found a YouTube video of you from ten years ago at Edinburgh Festival saying it takes ten years to be a comedian. Are you there yet?!
I hope I’m there. I’ve been doing stand up for 15 years – so fingers crossed I’m funny!
It’s rare that comedians start stand up fully formed – like maybe one per cent. The rest of us have to put a shift in. You have to do the hard graft.
Although nowadays social media does offer a fast track.
Looking back, what processes did you go through during that formative decade?
The thespy term is ‘finding your voice’ – that’s a bit pukey though. From my experience there was a calming down and learning what advice to take and how to take it.
Some stand-up comedians will become a character on stage – like Jack Dee or James Acaster.
Where I became a slighter armoured slightly performative version of myself. It took that long for me to relax onstage and genuinely be present in my own personality onstage.
You come across as really confident, but not afraid to show your vulnerability.
In life I’m pretty extroverted. I feel confident in short bursts in social situations. I’m unabashedly loud and with that weirdly honest. I do have shame and embarrassment but I don’t mind people knowing my flaws.
I find it funny when people want to present a version of themselves as really successful, ultimately for me I find that weird.
Your comedy uses stories from your private life – and includes family and friends, does that ever cause problems?
That’s changed a lot over the years. I’m more careful and far more mindful. I did see my parents as relatively fair game but I’m now on a lifetime ban from talking about my mum on stage – and that’s fair.
If I’m going to mention a friend and they’re going to recognise themselves then I check that they’re going to be fine with it, so I do get consent.
With my son, who’s seven, I have all sorts of boundaries in place.
Up to the age of three it was fine, I thought it would be good for him to look back and laugh at what a piece of work he was as a toddler – really I’m just describing all toddlers.
I’m always the butt of the joke – I’m allowed to take the mickey out of my parenting but not about him or his personality.
I still use all of the things going on in my life – but as with all things, as long as it’s kind and that it’s only me that comes out of it looking silly.
Tell us about the show that’s coming to the RSC?
It’s a mixed bill with a stellar line up. I mean who wouldn’t want to come and play that venue!
As a stand up you’re punching above your weight on that stage – which is designed for far grander spectacles than us slobs standing on our own telling jokes.
It’s an absolute honour to be part of and there will be all sorts of - from naughty to irreverent to high brow.
Does it feel a bit different walking on to the stage where great actors have appeared?
You’re always mindful of the history of a place – you’re walking on the same ground as treasures and heroes – it does feel a bit special.
There’s something transgressive about being on the RSC stage.
I’m playing Canterbury the night before – so homage to Chaucer then Shakespeare.
What was your career plan?
Lawyer. I grew up in Devon then went to the LSE in London.
About a year in I went ‘Ooh I’m not sure about this’ – I thought about being a barrister but you’ve got to really want it. Then I wrote some sketches and had a go at some improvised comedy.
I ended up in an improve group with Cariad Lloyd and Sara Pascoe and a group of people that went on to amazing things.
I had a go at stand up and got completely and utterly hooked.
When you were a child did you have funny bones?
I was definitely show off. I was an only child until I was 16, and I would do impressions of Tommy Cooper, of all people.
My grandad had a fez – I’d stick that on, that’s probably problematic these days.
I also did impressions of Vic and Bob’s Shooting Stars show. I was a classic show-off only child. Around puberty I used humour to get into friendship groups.
I was definitely the clown.
My dad’s funny and his mum, my nana, was funny. Growing up humour was currency without doubt.
You’ve written on a raft on popular TV shows including, Cats Does Countdown and Mock The Week, how was it writing gags for other people?
I haven’t done that for ages. There’s a grey area between being a new comedian and what you might call successful… someone you know off the telly.
In the wilderness years you play a gig and what you get paid hasn’t changed since the 90s – so it is virtually impossible to make a living from live comedy, so everybody has a side hustle.
So if you see a new comedian whose writing is strong then next time I’m due on a job like the topical News Quiz (Radion4) then I’ll pay new comics a writing day rate.
I don’t want finished jokes just first thoughts to news stories.
I did that for years for Sara Pascoe, Sarah Millican and Susan Calman. – all sorts of people. It’s a way of giving people a step up.
You appeared in Motherland, is acting something you’re keen to do more of?
Yes – that’s what I was doing before stand up. I’m developing lots of pilots – so if any of them get to fly then I’ll get to be more than a few episodes of things.
I’ve got a sitcom coming out this month called Real Friends (Sky) it’s about an adult who never quite managed to ditch her imaginary friend, an ice cream called Mr Whippy, and that’s my character.
It’s part animation and totally bonkers – I wrote it with amazing comedy writer Rachel Stubbings who’s my best friend.
I was just listening to your Sturdy Girls podcast – tell us about the appeal of doing podcasts of which you’ve done many.
I was a guest on the Guilty Feminist podcast and that was a big launchpad for me.
So I started my own called Hoovering which is about eating – I thought there was a gap for a more nuanced look at that, and talking to interesting people about food.
Podcasts are great because no one tells you what to do or who you can or cannot talk to.
It was a real wild west when I started five years ago – there’s freedom to it – ‘right you won’t give me my own TV or radio show I’ll start my own podcast’.
I did the Sturdy Girl for Radio 4 originally then it became a podcast on BBC Sounds. I got really into fitness and weightlifting and wanted to do speak about that.
People think it’s bodybuilding but I wanted to dispel that – especially that thing that it’s not feminine.
Genuinely, after this call I’m off to practice my handstand push ups.
You seem to be an antidote to the cliché that feminism is angry humourless women, but lots of young women don’t bother declaring themselves feminists – what do you make of that?
I think it comes around in waves. When I was a teenager it was really unfashionable to be a feminist.
As a student I remember bragging (puts on mock laconic voice) ‘I’m not a feminist’ to a boy that I wanted to sleep with – it wasn’t cool.
Five years on you realise men are paid more, get on the telly more – and you think, hang on! You’re eyes open when you get into the world and you realise there’s work still to be done – we don’t have equality.
Uh-oh! I’m now ranting as a feminist in an unfunny way.
As Dolly Parton and Margaret Thatcher proved you can be a feminist without declaring you are one.
Who are your comedy heroes?
Growing up it was French and Saunders and Rik Mayall – I was obsessed with them; Blackadder and Bottom, Vic and Bob, Lee Evans.
When I was a bit older I loved League of Gentleman and Chris Morris and the Day Today. Julia Davis – so many – stand up Sarah Millican, Frankie Boyle, Jo Brand, Sean Lock. Innovative laughing and comedy that feels unexpected.
You mention Dawn French – you acted with her in The Trouble with Maggie Cole – how was it meeting such an icon?
Oh crumbs. Initially I was so starstruck that I was frankly rude – then I swung so hard the other way. She must be used to it.
I was standing with the actor playing my six-year-old son on set and she came over – do you want a toffee – obviously she’s Dawn French so she has a bag full of toffees.
He said yes please, I said no thanks… then I went (stuttering) ‘I’ve changed my mind!’
She gave me one and I started eating it and couldn’t shut up – ‘Cor this is a nice toffee, one of the nicest ever’ on and on I went. I had to walk away – leaving the star and creator of the show with my actor child unchaperoned.
I talked absolutely rubbish and made an absolute twit of myself. But by the end we were on hugging terms.
Weightlifter, professional twit and imaginary ice cream friend…
… Are just three ways to describe funny as hell comedian, actor and writer Jessica Fostekew. She is one of the stellar stand ups taking the stage this weekend for Live at the RSC. The sitcom and Radio 4 regular (from Motherland to the News Quiz) has Gill Sutherland chortling away as she talks about her work, making a berk of herself in front of hero Dawn French and her upcoming plans to play an ice cream.
I just found a YouTube video of you from ten years ago at Edinburgh Festival saying it takes ten years to be a comedian. Are you there yet?!
I hope I’m there. I’ve been doing stand up for 15 years – so fingers crossed I’m funny! It’s rare that comedians start stand up fully formed – like maybe one per cent. The rest of us have to put a shift in. You have to do the hard graft. Although nowadays social media does offer a fast track.
Looking back, what processes did you go through during that formative decade?
The thespy term is ‘finding your voice’ – that’s a bit pukey though. From my experience there was a calming down and learning what advice to take and how to take it. Some stand-up comedians will become a character on stage – like Jack Dee or James Acaster. Where I became a slighter armoured slightly performative version of myself. It took that long for me to relax onstage and genuinely be present in my own personality onstage.
You come across as really confident, but not afraid to show your vulnerability.
In life I’m pretty extroverted. I feel confident in short bursts in social situations. I’m unabashedly loud and with that weirdly honest. I do have shame and embarrassment but I don’t mind people knowing my flaws. I find it funny when people want to present a version of themselves as really successful, ultimately for me I find that weird.
Your comedy uses stories from your private life – and includes family and friends, does that ever cause problems?
That’s changed a lot over the years. I’m more careful and far more mindful. I did see my parents as relatively fair game but I’m now on a lifetime ban from talking about my mum on stage – and that’s fair.
If I’m going to mention a friend and they’re going to recognise themselves then I check that they’re going to be fine with it, so I do get consent. With my son, who’s seven, I have all sorts of boundaries in place. Up to the age of three it was fine, I thought it would be good for him to look back and laugh at what a piece of work he was as a toddler – really I’m just describing all toddlers. I’m always the butt of the joke – I’m allowed to take the mickey out of my parenting but not about him or his personality.
I still use all of the things going on in my life – but as with all things, as long as it’s kind and that it’s only me that comes out of it looking silly.
Tell us about the show that’s coming to the RSC?
It’s a mixed bill with a stellar line up. I mean who wouldn’t want to come and play that venue! As a stand up you’re punching above your weight on that stage – which is designed for far grander spectacles than us slobs standing on our own telling jokes. It’s an absolute honour to be part of and there will be all sorts of - from naughty to irreverent to high brow.
Does it feel a bit different walking on to the stage where great actors have appeared?
You’re always mindful of the history of a place – you’re walking on the same ground as treasures and heroes – it does feel a bit special. There’s something transgressive about being on the RSC stage.
I’m playing Canterbury the night before – so homage to Chaucer then Shakespeare.
What was your career plan?
Lawyer. I grew up in Devon then went to the LSE in London. About a year in I went ‘ooh I’m not sure about this’ – I thought about being a barrister but you’ve got to really want it. Then I wrote some sketches and had a go at some improvised comedy. I ended up in an improve group with Cariad Lloyd and Sara Pascoe and a group of people that went on to amazing things. I had a go at stand up and got completely and utterly hooked.
When you were a child did you have funny bones?
I was definitely show off. I was an only child until I was 16, and I would do impressions of Tommy Cooper, of all people. My grandad had a fez – I’d stick that on, that’s probably problematic these days. I also did impressions of Vic and Bob’s Shooting Stars show. I was a classic show-off only child. Around puberty I used humour to get into friendship groups. I was definitely the clown.
My dad’s funny and his mum, my nana, was funny. Growing up humour was currency without doubt.
You’ve written on a raft on popular TV shows including, Cats Does Countdown and Mock The Week, how was it writing gags for other people?
I haven’t done that for ages. There’s a grey area between being a new comedian and what you might call successful… someone you know off the telly. In the wilderness years you play a gig and what you get paid hasn’t changed since the 90s – so it is virtually impossible to make a living from live comedy, so everybody has a side hustle. So if you see a new comedian whose writing is strong then next time I’m due on a job like the topical News Quiz (Radion4) then I’ll pay new comics a writing day rate. I don’t want finished jokes just first thoughts to news stories. I did that for years for Sara Pascoe, Sarah Millican and Susan Calman. – all sorts of people. It’s a way of giving people a step up.
You appeared in Motherland, is acting something you’re keen to do more of?
Yes – that’s what I was doing before stand up. I’m developing lots of pilots – so if any of them get to fly then I’ll get to be more than a few episodes of things.
I’ve got a sitcom coming out this month called Real Friends (Sky) it’s about an adult who never quite managed to ditch her imaginary friend, an ice cream called Mr Whippy, and that’s my character. It’s part animation and totally bonkers – I wrote it with amazing comedy writer Rachel Stubbings who’s my best friend.
I was just listening to your Sturdy Girls podcast – tell us about the appeal of doing podcasts of which you’ve done many.
I was a guest on the Guilty Feminist podcast and that was a big launchpad for me. So I started my own called Hoovering which is about eating – I thought there was a gap for a more nuanced look at that, and talking to interesting people about food.
Podcasts are great because no one tells you what to do or who you can or cannot talk to. It was a real wild west when I started five years ago – there’s freedom to it – ‘right you won’t give me my own TV or radio show I’ll start my own podcast’.
I did the Sturdy Girl for Radio 4 originally then it became a podcast on BBC Sounds. I got really into fitness and weightlifting and wanted to do speak about that. People think it’s bodybuilding but I wanted to dispel that – especially that thing that it’s not feminine. Genuinely after this call I’m off to practice my handstand push ups.
You seem to be an antidote to the cliché that feminism is angry humourless women, but lots of young women don’t bother declaring themselves feminists – what do you make of that?
I think it comes around in waves. When I was a teenager it was really unfashionable to be a feminist. As a student I remember bragging (puts on mock laconic voice) ‘I’m not a feminist’ to a boy that I wanted to sleep with– it wasn’t cool. Five years on you realise men are paid more, get on the telly more – and you think, hang on! You’re eyes open when you get into the world and you realise there’s work still to be done - we don’t have equality. Uh-oh! I’m now ranting as a feminist in an unfunny way.
As Dolly Parton and Margaret Thatcher proved you can be a feminist without declaring you are one.
Who are your comedy heroes?
Growing up it was French and Saunders and Rik Mayall – I was obsessed with them; Blackadder and Bottom, Vic and Bob, Lee Evans. When I was a bit older I loved League of Gentleman and Chris Morris and the Day Today. Julia Davis – so many – stand up Sarah Millican, Frankie Boyle, Jo Brand, Sean Lock. Innovative laughing and comedy that feels unexpected.
You mention Dawn French – you acted with her in The Trouble with Maggie Cole – how was it meeting such an icon?
Oh crumbs. Initially I was so starstruck that I was frankly rude – then I swung so hard the other way. She must be used to it. I was standing with the actor playing my six-year-old son on set and she came over – do you want a toffee – obviously she’s Dawn French so she has a bag full of toffees. He said yes please, I said no thanks… then I went (stuttering) ‘I’ve changed my mind!’ She gave me one and I started eating it and couldn’t shut up – ‘Cor this is a nice toffee, one of the nicest ever’ on and on I went. I had to walk away – leaving the star and creator of the show with my actor child unchaperoned. I talked absolutely rubbish and made an absolute twit of myself. But by the end we were on hugging terms.
What’s on: Live at the RSC
Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband & Geoff Lloyd
Saturday 3 June, 7.15pm
Saturday Night Comedy:
Ivo Graham, Rhys James, Jessica Fostekew, Celya AB and Tadiwa Mahlunge
Sunday 4 June, 2.30pm
Austentatious – An Improvised Jane Austen Novel
Tickets from £18.50 to £27.50 available at the RSC box office.