Jess is a regular co-host of The Guilty Feminist podcast, host and creator of her own podcast about eating, Hoovering, and star and writer of BBC Radio 4’s Sturdy Girl Club. We caught up with her ahead of her show with us this June to ask the hard-hitting questions that no one else will.
What’s your most memorable heckle?
Recently a woman shouted out “I hate Gladiators because Richard Osman bigged it up too much.” We spent the rest of the show discussing all the other things poor Richard Osman might have accidentally ruined for that lady. I hope she never needs a murder mystery solving once she’s getting on a bit.
What is your most controversial food opinion?
I’d do leftover curry cold for breakfast, that seems to be a dealbreaker for some people.
What’s one word to describe the state of the UK?
Boobies
Who’s the best upcoming performer in the country that we
haven’t heard of?
Sharon Wanjohi’s likely to become a national treasure I think.
Who would you describe as your arch-nemesis?
Your step-Dad. There’s a specific kind of wealthy, boomer + aged pink man who can’t work out what the hell I am, he likes talking about traffic and he HATES me.
When was the time you bombed the most onstage?
I did a suspiciously late night, well-paid preview in Aldeburgh in 2022 where I ended up having to close what had been an all day and night classical music festival. I played to a room of steaming, boomer millionaires, to a mixture of silence, snoring and one man who kept shouting “You’re not Stewart Lee” on which, at least, he was right. I got the words out and a high point was at one point I said out loud “the funniest thing about this for anyone is you hate me AND brilliantly I also hate you”
What’s been your strangest fan encounter?
I recently got to go to the Chelsea Flower Show on the swanky invite-only day along with the King! I was with much more famous comedians who were getting recognised all day but the only time someone shouted “Jessica Fostekew” was while I’d spread a huge A3 map out on the pathway and was struggling violently to fold it back away.
How do you like to relax after a gig?
It used to be with a pint of wine but these days it’s way less rock and roll, I just read in bed, KILL ME NOW.
What’s the one thing you want the audience to take away from your show?
Catharsis.
What would you tell your five year old self?
Great things are coming, make sure you listen.
Who would win in a fight: Badger or Baboon?
Badger – they’ve got a more cruel face and a more evil heart.
#science
What’s the oddest thing you’ve overheard in London?
When my cat needs a poo he involuntarily shouts HELLO. That happens in London. Imagine having that as a problem? You’d never risk a burrito again.
Tickets are on sale now for Jessica Fostekew: Mettle, 21-22 June.