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Sara Pascoe
Sara Pascoe
from Wikipedia

Sara Patricia Pascoe (born 22 May 1981)[2] is an English comedian, actress, presenter and writer. She has appeared on television programmes including 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Taskmaster for Channel 4 and QI for BBC Two.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Pascoe was born to Gail (née Newmarch) and Derek Pascoe, a singer and musician. Her great-grandmother was Rosa Newmarch, a poet and writer on music.[3]

Born in Dagenham, Greater London, Pascoe grew up in nearby Romford. Her parents divorced when she was seven[4] and she was raised by her mother.[5] She attended Eastbury Comprehensive School in Barking,[1][6][7] and later attended Gaynes School in Upminster.[7] When she was 16, she became pregnant, and had an abortion on her 17th birthday, an experience detailed in her memoir, Animal: The Autobiography of a Female Body.[8]

Pascoe studied English at the University of Sussex, where she met and befriended Cariad Lloyd.[1][3] After graduation, she worked as an actor and supplemented her income with temporary work,[7] but found work "hard to come by" and declared herself bankrupt.[1]

Career

[edit]

Before her comedy career, Pascoe was a tour guide in London.[9] She began performing stand up comedy in 2007.[10] In the following year, Pascoe was a runner-up in the Funny Women award in 2008 with Rachel Stubbings, losing out to Katherine Ryan.[11] Around the same time, she secured acting roles in The Thick of It and Being Human, among others.

In August 2010, she performed her first show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Sara Pascoe Vs Her Ego.[12]

Pascoe's comedy career led to many television appearances on panel shows, including Stand Up for the Week, Mock the Week, QI, Have I Got News For You, Hypothetical, and Would I Lie to You. She was a regular guest on Frankie Boyle's Autopsy BBC programmes and Frankie Boyle's New World Order.[13] In October 2014, she appeared in Never Mind the Buzzcocks and stood in line at the identity parade round as a former dancer and back-up singer for the entertainer (and Robbie Williams's father) Pete Conway.[14][15] She participated in the third series of Taskmaster, which was broadcast on Dave in October and November 2016,[16] and the first series of LOL: Last One Laughing UK in March 2025.

Her stand-up has been featured on Live at the Apollo[17] and Live from the BBC.

As well as on television, she has appeared as a panellist on BBC Radio 4 programmes including The Infinite Monkey Cage, The Unbelievable Truth[18] and Just A Minute.

Pascoe's acting roles on television have included The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, Campus, Twenty Twelve and its sequel W1A, plus sketches for Stand Up to Cancer and as well as all-female sketch show, Girl Friday (part of Channel 4's Comedy Showcase), which she co-wrote.[19]

In 2012, she appeared in episode 11 of the Comedian's Comedian Podcast hosted by Stuart Goldsmith.[20]

Pascoe in 2014

In 2014, she performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and toured the UK for the first time with the show Sara Pascoe Vs History.[21] The show was nominated for the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award 2014 for Best Comedy Show.[22] In 2016, along with numerous other celebrities, Pascoe toured the UK to support Jeremy Corbyn's bid to become prime minister.[23] The same year she toured with her show Animal.

On 27 October 2017, she appeared in an episode of the British travel documentary series Travel Man on Channel 4. In February 2018, she started a BBC Radio 4 series called Modern Monkey.

Pascoe performing at the Up the Creek comedy club in 2018

In May 2018, she starred in a BBC comedy short entitled "Sara Pascoe vs Monogamy".[24]

In March 2019, she appeared in Travelling Blind with Amar Latif on BBC2.[25]

In April 2019, a live recording of Pascoe's LadsLadsLads tour at the London Palladium was shown on BBC Two.[26]

In November 2020, she hosted An Evening With Yuval Noah Harari, a livestream book launch held by How to Academy and Penguin Books.[27]

Pascoe's six-part comedy series Out of Her Mind premiered on BBC Two in October 2020.[28] Exploring "heartbreak, family and how to survive them", the series is loosely based on her own life, with Pascoe playing a version of herself.[29] Co-stars include Juliet Stevenson and Cariad Lloyd.[30]

Pascoe's three-part BBC Two series called Last Woman on Earth with Sara Pascoe premiered on 27 December 2020.[31] In May 2022, the series was recommissioned for a second series,[32] which premiered on 9 April 2023.[33]

As a television host, Pascoe has presented the Dave series Comedians Giving Lectures, the panel show Guessable for Comedy Central UK, and The Great British Sewing Bee.[34][35] Before presenting series 8, 9 and 11 of the latter, she was one of the competitors on a festive celebrity edition in 2020.

Pascoe has written three books. The first, Animal: The Autobiography of a Female Body, was published in 2016.[36] Her second book, Sex Power Money (published in 2019)[37] explores (mostly heterosexual) sexual relations, with particular focuses on male sexuality and on sex work. It is informed by evolutionary biology and social research, and by Pascoe's own experiences and feelings.[38] She also hosts a related podcast of the same name, in which she interviews people who have experience of sex work, stripping and pornography.

Pascoe's debut novel, Weirdo, was published in 2024.[39] It was shortlisted for the 'Published Novels' section of the 2025 Comedy Women in Print Prize[40] and won the prize's inaugural Jilly Cooper Award.[41]

Other television appearances

[edit]

In 2017, Pascoe was one of four contestants on series 7, episode 8 of The Celebrity Chase, progressing to the episode's Final Chase.

In 2025, Pascoe appeared on A Bite To Eat With Alice (Australia).

Personal life

[edit]

Pascoe lives in Crouch End, north London.[42] From 2013 to late 2016, she dated the comedian John Robins.[1][14] Her reflections on that relationship and its aftermath were the basis of her 2017 show LadsLadsLads at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[43] In 2020, she married fellow comedian Steen Raskopoulos.[44][45] In November 2021, she announced that she was pregnant.[46] In February 2022, Pascoe gave birth to her first son, announcing it on Valentine's Day.[47] Her second son was born in 2023.[48] She is vegan.[49]

Bibliography

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Sara Pascoe (born 22 May 1981) is an English comedian, actress, author, and broadcaster specializing in , television panel shows, and writing on biological and social topics related to women. Born in , she began her career as an actress before transitioning to stand-up, debuting notably with her Fringe show Sara Pascoe vs Her Ego in 2010, which established her presence in the comedy circuit. She has since appeared frequently on British television programmes such as , , 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and Taskmaster, contributing to her recognition as a versatile performer. Pascoe's authorship includes Animal: The Autobiography of a Body (2016), which analyzes physiology through , and Sex, Power, Money (2019), a Sunday Times bestseller examining mating strategies and social dynamics; these works reflect her interest in empirical explanations of human behavior. She currently hosts on and tours with stand-up shows like I Am a Strange Gloop, while co-hosting the Sara & Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club.

Early life

Upbringing and family background

Sara Pascoe was born on 22 May 1981 in , , to parents (née Newmarch), aged 20, and Derek Pascoe, aged 24. Her parents' relationship, which began under unusual circumstances, lacked stability from the outset. She was raised primarily in , , alongside two younger sisters in a working-class household. Following her parents' when Pascoe was young, her father, a , left the to pursue a career as a performer and relocated, providing no financial support. Her mother, then in her mid-20s, single-handedly raised the three daughters amid financial hardship. The family had creative influences, including Pascoe's paternal grandmother, Rosa Newchurch, a and , though the immediate household faced economic challenges post-divorce.

Education and early interests

Pascoe attended Gaynes School in , , before proceeding to Havering from 1997 to 1999, where her favorite subject was . She later earned a degree in English from the . From a young age, Pascoe exhibited a keen interest in reading, reportedly absorbing texts such as the backs of packets during and even stealing books. She also enjoyed outdoor play and nature, describing her childhood pursuits alongside her siblings as those of "feral children" enabled by substantial parental autonomy starting around age 13. During her university years, Pascoe nurtured ambitions in serious , sparked by exposure to physical theatre, including a production about chimpanzees, and envisioned a career trajectory encompassing , novel-writing, and eventually serving as . Her early school experiences included delivering assemblies to peers on topics she deemed overlooked, reflecting an inclination toward knowledge-sharing and creative expression over conventional jobs like her brief, disliked stint at .

Professional career

Entry into comedy and stand-up development

Pascoe initially aspired to an acting career, auditioning for drama school and taking roles in theatre-in-education and care settings for the elderly, while working as a London tour guide to support herself. She has recounted dismissing stand-up comedy as simplistic and improvised rather than crafted, viewing it with disdain before recognizing its appeal through personal exploration. Her transition began with writing and performing monologues in character, which emphasized acting techniques over pure observational humor, gradually evolving into stand-up routines drawn from her own experiences. Pascoe commenced stand-up performances in 2007, amid an industry context she later described as underserved by female voices, which facilitated early opportunities despite her self-admitted initial arrogance. Early recognition came in 2008 when she shared runner-up honors in the Funny Women Stage Award with Rachel Stubbings, behind winner Katherine Ryan, earning £500 and highlighting her potential amid a competitive field. This accolade, organized by the Funny Women initiative to promote female comedians, marked a pivotal validation, as Pascoe also placed third in the So You Think You're Funny? new act competition that year. Pascoe's stand-up development accelerated with her first Edinburgh Festival Fringe solo show, Sara Pascoe vs Her Ego, in August 2010 at the Pleasance Courtyard, where she examined personal insecurities and ego through whimsical, self-deprecating material. The performance garnered positive reviews for its quirky delivery and thematic depth, establishing her on the circuit and leading to subsequent UK tours that refined her style blending personal anecdote with intellectual inquiry. By this stage, she had shifted from character-driven pieces toward authentic, life-derived stand-up, building a foundation for broader television exposure.

Television appearances and hosting roles

Pascoe first gained television exposure through acting roles in the early 2010s. She played Nicole Huggins in the in 2011. She subsequently portrayed Coco Lomax, a senior trend analyst, in the series (2011–2012) and its sequel W1A (2014–2020). In 2020, Pascoe starred as a semi-autobiographical version of herself in the Out of Her Mind, which she co-wrote and executive produced. Throughout the and , she became a regular guest on British panel shows, appearing multiple times on (BBC Two, from 2013), Does Countdown (Channel 4, from 2014), Have I Got News for You (BBC One, 2014–2019), Would I Lie to You? (BBC One, from 2016), and (Channel 4, from 2017). Pascoe competed in series 3 of the comedy challenge show Taskmaster (Dave/Channel 4, 2016), finishing fourth overall with 72 points. Pascoe transitioned into hosting with comedy specials like Sara Pascoe vs Monogamy (BBC Two, 2019), a recording of her stand-up tour. She hosted the Comedy Central series Comedians Giving Lectures (2019–2022), featuring stand-up routines framed as academic lectures. From 2020, she has presented the improvisational panel game Guessable? on Comedy Central, with series running through 2023. In 2021, Pascoe succeeded Joe Lycett as host of The Great British Sewing Bee on BBC One, presenting three series until 2024. She co-hosted the hidden-camera comedy LOL: Last One Laughing UK on Prime Video in 2025 alongside Jimmy Carr and Roisin Conaty. Pascoe has also hosted episodes of Live at the Apollo (BBC Two) in 2017, 2019, and is scheduled for series 19 in 2025.

Writing career and publications

Sara Pascoe's writing career encompasses books blending personal narrative with , a , and scripts for radio and television. Her first book, Animal: The Autobiography of a Female Body, published in 2016 by Faber & Faber, examines the female experience through autobiography and evolutionary perspectives on reproduction and sexuality. The work inspired a BBC Two short film, Sara Pascoe vs . In 2019, Pascoe released Sex Power Money, a Sunday Times bestseller that analyzes human motivations around sex, power, and money via , incorporating interviews and personal anecdotes. The book spawned a of the same name, which garnered millions of listens and award nominations. Pascoe's first novel, Weirdo, appeared in 2023, following a protagonist navigating anxiety, relationships, and self-perception in contemporary . Additionally, she penned the series The Modern Monkey in 2018, a stand-up format applying to modern emotions like jealousy. Her television writing includes the sitcom Out of Her Mind.

Reception and impact

Critical acclaim and achievements

Pascoe's stand-up career has garnered several nominations and awards, including a for Best Comedy Show at the 2014 Foster's for her tour Sara Pascoe Vs History, which explored themes of relationships and evolutionary history. She also won the 2014 Chortle Breakthrough Award, recognizing her rising prominence in . Earlier, in 2008, she was a runner-up in the Awards, an early marker of her comedic talent focused on female perspectives. Her 2019 stand-up special LadsLadsLads, released on , received a 7.4/10 rating on from over 100 user reviews, praised for its skillful callbacks and thematic depth on male behavior. In television, Pascoe has hosted high-profile programs, including on since 2021, succeeding and contributing to the show's continued popularity among amateur crafting audiences. She hosted Live at the Apollo and starred in Amazon Prime's Last One Laughing alongside other British comedians, showcasing her improvisational skills. For her presenting work, she was longlisted for TV Presenter at the 2023 . Pascoe's writing has achieved commercial and critical success, with her 2023 novel Weirdo receiving acclaim for its emotionally rich storytelling, as noted by . Her book Animal: The Autobiography of a Body (2016) blended and to examine female sexuality, earning positive reviews for its humorous yet insightful analysis, though it did not secure major literary prizes. She has become a Sunday Times bestselling , with multiple books nominated for awards in the and categories. Recent tours, such as I Am a Strange Gloop (2025), have been described by critics as philosophically engaging, addressing motherhood and with strong comedic delivery.

Criticisms and professional challenges

Pascoe has reflected on early career challenges marked by self-doubt and an initial arrogance toward . She began performing in following a , admitting she approached it with condescension, having previously dismissed as suited only for "idiots." These struggles included gigs ending in and broader failures that tested her persistence, yet reinforced her dedication through rigorous post-performance analysis via gig diaries to refine material. Her 2020 BBC sitcom Out of Her Mind, in which she starred as an exaggerated version of herself navigating surreal scenarios, drew criticism for disjointed scripting and insufficient comedic payoff, with viewers noting it lacked entertainment despite her established stand-up appeal. In September 2023, Pascoe encountered backlash for a stand-up bit mocking the , which killed five individuals, including billionaire explorers, during an expedition to the Titanic wreck on June 18, 2023. She quipped onstage that deaths involving billionaires were inherently "funny," eliciting accusations of callousness toward tragedy. The clip, shared on , amplified online condemnation, highlighting tensions between dark humor and public sensitivity to real-world fatalities.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Pascoe married Australian comedian and actor in 2020, after the pair began dating in 2018 when he relocated to . Prior to their relationship, she had intentionally ceased dating during her thirties to prioritize personal growth and self-understanding. Pascoe has described feeling an immediate ease and comfort in Raskopoulos's company, recounting a moment of connection during a social event where his playful demeanor stood out to her. The couple has two sons, Theodore (born circa 2022) and Albie (born circa 2023), and maintains a relatively private family life away from public scrutiny.

Fertility struggles and motherhood

Pascoe experienced difficulties conceiving naturally in her late 30s and early 40s, leading her to initially resign herself to . Her husband, actor , encouraged pursuing in vitro fertilization (IVF), as Pascoe had begun adapting to the prospect of not becoming a . She underwent two rounds of IVF, describing the process as emotionally taxing, including challenges during treatment and after her first . Pascoe has also spoken of a prior , contributing to the highs and lows of her fertility journey. The couple's first child, son Theodore, was born in February 2022 via IVF, when Pascoe was 40 years old. Their second son, Albie, arrived in early October 2023, also conceived through IVF, with Pascoe announcing the birth on October 26, 2023, at age 42. Reflecting on the outcomes, Pascoe has expressed relief that pregnancies occurred relatively quickly after starting IVF, attributing success to luck rather than inevitability. Motherhood has profoundly impacted Pascoe, whom she describes as leaving her "completely flattened and eroded" after two children in quick succession during her 40s. She has incorporated these experiences into her comedy, including concerns about balancing career demands with , such as fears of declining work post-birth. Despite the physical and emotional toll, Pascoe reports gladness for late-in-life births, viewing them as aligning with her established professional life, though she continues to identify psychologically with .

Public views and controversies

Political positions and commentary

Pascoe has performed fundraising gigs for the Labour Party, suggesting sympathy with its policies, although she has explicitly declared no formal political allegiance. As a child, she aspired to enter after careers in acting and writing, with ambitions to become , but later abandoned the idea due to frustration with systemic barriers to change. In commentary, Pascoe has analyzed the success of prominent politicians through their unapologetic demeanor. She observed in 2019 that figures like , , and derive power from refusing to express remorse, stating, "I think what’s really interesting about and the people who are good politicians… is the unapologetic-ness." This reflects her view of politics as driven by bold, unconstrained personalities rather than ideological purity. Pascoe has critiqued in appearances, employing analogies such as comparing its negotiations to mismatched physical attributes in a 2019 The Last Leg segment. She participated in a pre-referendum Guardian-organized event featuring diverse speakers, where she shared limited stand-up on the topic, later describing herself as not primarily a . During that event, Pascoe encountered Farage backstage, who told her, "I don't find comedy funny," a remark she described as unforgettable in a June 2025 BBC Radio 4 podcast with , highlighting tensions between political figures and satirical performers. Her broader engagements, including discussions of U.S. politics alongside on The Last Leg in 2017, align with a lens critical of populist leaders. Pascoe's commentary often integrates whimsy with observation, avoiding partisan advocacy while appearing on left-leaning like Frankie Boyle's Autopsy (2014–2016), where she addressed topical issues.

Statements on the comedy industry

In a September 2023 interview, Sara Pascoe highlighted systemic issues with sexual predators in the UK industry, stating that multiple comedians had attempted to establish a union on three separate occasions to create a formal mechanism for reporting and addressing such behavior. She described a specific scenario involving "this person getting women drunk at festivals and taking advantage of them," emphasizing that informal methods like tweeting accusations were insufficient due to risks of libel and lack of institutional support. Pascoe noted the challenges for less established performers, who might hesitate to report successful predators early in their careers, fearing disbelief or retaliation that could derail their professional prospects. Pascoe indicated the presence of at least two well-known predators, including one who had assaulted men, underscoring that the problem extended beyond a single individual or dynamic. These efforts to unionize ultimately failed, she explained, primarily because of stringent libel laws that deterred collective action without concrete proof, leaving victims isolated and the industry without effective safeguards. Pascoe advocated for greater institutional willingness to believe accusers, arguing that fostering such trust would encourage reporting and reduce fear among those affected. Regarding broader cultural dynamics, Pascoe commented on in the same interview, describing it as "really funny" because "no one has actually been cancelled" and those ostensibly targeted often achieve greater success afterward, suggesting the phenomenon's impact is overstated or performative rather than genuinely punitive. Earlier, in a 2015 discussion, she stressed the importance of uncensored , warning that imposing responsibility on performers as a precondition for content could lead toward broader , though she maintained that inherently involves challenging presumptions without needing external victims.

References

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