Entertainment

Why was Jo Brand investigated by the police, what was the battery acid joke and has the BBC commented?


JO BRAND was investigated by police after making a gag about throwing battery acid at politicians.

The comedian, loved by many for her sharp wit, made the joke on Victoria Coren Mitchell’s Heresy radio programme on June 12, and was criticised by Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage among others.

 Jo Brand has apologised for her acid 'joke'

3

Jo Brand has apologised for her acid ‘joke’Credit: Nick Obank – The Sun

Why was Jo Brand being investigated by police?

Cops launched a probe into left-wing comic Jo Brand after she joked Nigel Farage should be doused in battery acid rather than milkshake.

The Met Police said it received an allegation of “incitement to violence” after Brand, 61, joked about attacking politicians on Radio 4 show Heresy.

Brand apologised before appearing to back-track as broadcasting watchdog Ofcom said the number of complaints had soared from 19 to 65.

The Metropolitan Police has said it will take no further action over Brand’s comments.

In a statement the Met said: “Police received an allegation of incitement to violence on 13 June, relating to comments made on a radio programme.

“The referral has been considered by the MPS and no further police action will be taken in relation to this allegation.”

What has the BBC said about the joke?

The BBC initially defended airing the remark, saying: “Panellists often say things which are deliberately provocative and go against societal norms but are not intended to be taken seriously.”

However, the broadcaster said it would edit the joke from the show, despite wanting to promote comedy that “pushes boundaries”.

On June 14, the episode was unavailable on its website and BBC Sounds app.

It is understood Brand will continue to work for the BBC.

Who is Jo Brand, how old is she and what’s her background?

Jo Brand is a comedian and TV personality known for her dry sense of humour.

She was born in Wandsworth, London in July 1957 and grew up in a small village in Kent.

Brand, who turned 60 last year, was a rebellious teen and was eventually kicked out of her family home by her parents.

The counter-cultural menace was persuaded by agent Malcolm Hardee to begin a career in stand-up comedy in the early 1980s, and acquired the stage name “sea monster”.

In 1993, Brand transitioned into mainstream television and became a resident panellist on BBC comedy panel show the Brain Drain.

Since then her TV career has continued to blossom and she’s won four British Comedy Awards and a Bafta for her sitcom Getting On.

If that wasn’t enough, Brand became an unlikely fitness hero when she completed a 150-mile coast walk for Sport Relief in 2016.

 Jo was once a psychiatric nurse for 10 years before carving out a career in showbiz

3

Jo was once a psychiatric nurse for 10 years before carving out a career in showbizCredit: PA:Press Association

Who’s Jo Brand’s husband Bernie Bourke?

Jo has been married to her husband Bernie Bourke since 1997 and the pair have two daughters, Maisie and Eliza.

The pair met at a comedy show when Jo was 38, and Bernie is six years younger than his famous wife.

Unlike many celebrity spouses, Bernie is not in showbiz as he works as a psychiatric nurse at a hospital in London.

The couple do have a lot in common, however, because Jo was a psychiatric nurse herself before becoming a comic.

 Jo Brand has been awarded with two honorary degrees in nursing

3

Jo Brand has been awarded with two honorary degrees in nursingCredit: Trevor Leighton

When was Jo Brand a nurse?

Jo worked as a nursing assistant for ten years in a residential unit for adults with learning difficulties.

Before that, she had gained a joint social science degree with a Registered Mental Nurse qualification from Brunel University between 1978 and 1982.

In July 2007, Brand was awarded an honorary doctorate for her work as a psychiatric nurse from the University of South Wales.

She was honoured by Canterbury Christ Church University for her work in mental health nursing in 2014.

What TV shows has Jo Brand presented?

Jo Brand is a regular guest host on BBC quiz Have I Got News For You.

The red-headed funnywoman has hosted her own 90s programmes, Jo Brand’s Big Splash and Jo Brand Through The Cakehole.

She appeared on Never Mind The Buzzcocks several times.

But her proudest telly achievements are arguably her sitcoms Getting On, set in an NHS geriatric ward and directed by Peter Capaldi, and Damned, set in a Social Services office.

She’s the host of The Great British Bake Off spin-off show on Channel 4, after hosting The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on BBC.

The small screen seems to be just too small for Jo now though, as she’s also set to star in her own adaptation of her novel The More You Ignore Me, alongside Sheridan Smith and Sheila Hancock.

It’s said to be about “Mental illness, Morrissey and guinea pigs” and is set for release later in 2017.

Jo Brand says freedom of speech in comedy is ‘extremely important’ as she faces criticism over sick ‘acid attack’ comment

 





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.