A former psychiatric nurse, Jo was one of the first women to break through as a stand-up comedian on the alternative comedy scene in the 80s
Jo started performing in 1986 using the stage name 'The Sea Monster?. She made then her tv debut on LWT's Saturday Night Live. Other guest spots followed, which led to her being rewarded with her own stand-up and sketch show, ?Jo Brand Through The Cakehole?, which ran for two series on Channel 4.
She has presented ?Jo Brand?s Big Splash? for UKTV in which she immersed herself in all things water-based, including being taught to dive by former GB diver, Blake Aldridge. This interest made her natural choice to be a judge on ITV?s Splash! alongside host Olympic diver Tom Daley in 2013.
Brand is a regular panellist on QI and often chairs ?Have I Got News For You? and is a great supporter of Comic Relief.
Her autobiography ?Look Back In Hunger? was a Sunday Times bestseller and a second volume ?Can?t Stand Up for Sitting Down? was released in 2011.
She still tours regularly and now presents Jo Brand's Great Wall of Comedy for Gold.