064: Rosie Jones (Part One)

Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham. This is part one of an in-depth conversation with comedian, writer, actor, presenter, children’s author, documentary maker and charity founder Rosie Jones. One of the boldest and most distinctive voices in British comedy, Rosie has appeared on The Last Leg, Live at the Apollo, QI, Taskmaster, Question Time and many more. She is also the creator, co-writer and star of Channel 4 sitcom Pushers, the author of The Amazing Edie Eckhart, founder of The Rosie Jones Foundation, and the driving force behind the powerful documentary Rosie Jones: Am I a R*tard?. In this candid, moving and frequently riotous conversation, Rosie discusses growing up in Bridlington with ataxic cerebral palsy, the love and encouragement of her family, and her experiences of ableism from a very young age. She charts her journey from working behind the scenes as a television researcher and joke writer to finding her own voice as a stand-up comedian. Rosie also explores the extraordinary precision behind her comedy, the performers who shaped her work, and how she transformed the rhythm of her speech into one of her greatest creative strengths. In a deeply personal conversation, Andrew and Rosie discuss coming out, internalised ableism, the absence of positive queer-disabled representation, and learning that everyone deserves to be seen, celebrated and loved. Episode Highlights Include: • Growing up in Bridlington with ataxic cerebral palsy • How Rosie’s parents encouraged her to believe she could become anything she wanted • Her close relationship with her brother Oliver and his instinctive refusal to judge others • Experiencing ableism from the age of four and understanding its impact later in life • Why Rosie chose to confront the power of the R-word in her Channel 4 documentary • Living with daily ableist abuse and refusing to allow cruelty to diminish her • How the circumstances of her birth shaped her ambition and determination to live fully • The assumptions people make about physical disability and intelligence • The teachers who recognised Rosie’s talent and the importance of accessible education • Her lifelong admiration for children’s author Jacqueline Wilson • Working behind the scenes as a television researcher and joke writer • Writing lies for Would I Lie to You? and jokes for major comedy programmes • Her spontaneous first stand-up performance in front of eight people at a small comedy club • How Victoria Wood, Billy Connolly and Tig Notaro influenced her comic voice • Rosie’s “jigsaw” theory of joke-writing and why she considers every single syllable • Turning the natural rhythm of her speech into a powerful comedic advantage • The three questions comedians should ask before making a joke about somebody else • Her gradual journey towards coming out as a gay, disabled woman • How a lack of queer-disabled representation affected Rosie’s belief that she was worthy of love • Overcoming internalised ableism and finding a happy, loving relationship • Andrew and Rosie on shame, visibility, resilience and living unapologetically • And many stories about comedy, writing, identity, disability, queerness and finding your voice Like and Subscribe Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment our next episode is released! Support Us If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us Sponsors & Supporters: Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance. Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts. Videography by Ned Wakeley of The Showreel Company theshowreelcompany.com | Instagram: @theshowreelcompany_ Photography by Sean Lindsell @skl.photog on Instagram Audio and Stage Management by Liam Chaplin @djliamchaplin on Instagram Special Thanks Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of the Two Brewers. Rosie’s Hair Styled Louis Wilson Queer Theatre This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQ+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about their acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases and events. Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk, Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK, TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK, @Threads @QueerTheatreUK. Follow The Show People Podcast Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast, X: @ShowPeopleUK www.queertheatre.co.uk Follow Andrew Keates Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates, TikTok: @andrewkeates, X: @andrewkeates www.andrewkeates.co.uk Follow Rosie Jones Instagram: @josierones www.rosiejonescomedy.com www.rosiejonesfoundation.com Until next time - love always, Ax