Winner of the Best Newcomer Award at the 2008 Chortle Awards, Holly Walsh has been both an onstage and onscreen favourite since her comedy debut in 2006. Tackling politics, social causes, and the banality of everyday life, Holly quickly earned her credentials as one of Britain’s funniest, frankest and most fearless female comedians.
Fancy some late-night comedy? Check out upcoming events at your local Camden comedy club.
Career Highlights
After spending “the most boring three years of [her] life” studying History of Art at Cambridge University, Holly decided in 2006 to dedicate all her time to comedy, attending comedy writing classes, and eventually writing for actress Jo Caulfield on BBC Radio 4.
Holly went on to appear at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2006, 2007, and 2008, before appearing on The Now Show on BBC Radio 4 and Winging It on BBC Switch, and Charlie Brooker’s So Wrong it’s Right. Oh and did we mention that Frank Skinner asked Holly personally when casting his TV sitcom pilot, Frank Skinner’s Skateboarding Dog?
In August 2011, Walsh received a nomination for the Edinburgh Comedy Best Newcomer Award, after performing her first hour-long show at the festival. She earned glowing reviews for the set, which was inspired by the time she broke her arm in the 2010 Worthing Birdman Competition.
While a talented comedy writer at her core, Holly has also taken to performing on the small screen as an actress. Her TV acting credits include Dead Boss, a prison comedy drama written with Sharon Horgan and starring Jennifer Saunders.
Holly has also been a regular fixture on your favourite comedy panel shows, making frequent appearances on Mock the Week, QI, The Matt Lucas Awards, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and Would I Lie to You? Holly also Walsh appeared as a guest on Celebrity Mastermind in 2012, earning second place with her chosen subject of badgers.
What do the critics have to say?
“She’s gifted with snappy wit and crackling talent.” – The Guardian
“’Delightful moments of hilarity.” – Chortle
“Walsh has an easygoing warmth that makes watching her very easy, given that what she’s saying also happens to be very funny.” – The Skinny
“The ability to make people laugh is there in abundance.” – One4Review
Where can you find her?
These days, Holly is back at the writing table, writing for television series Motherland. She also created, co-writes, and directs her own BBC comedy series The Other One, whose third season was recently released in May 2022.
