As soon as I put on my wig I relax & enjoy life.. I’d never stage dive as me
Tonight’s other semi-finalists
me they’d had smear tests and caught cervical cancer in time. We did a play about hoarding and it helped people start clear-outs. Hearing audiences laugh is lovely – but hearing stories like those make me feel brilliant.”
A teacher by profession, Janice was employed by Barnardo’s for eight years to teach children in care and others who refused to go to school. She says: “We did lots of outward bound stuff like Gonzo Japanese tambourine supremo who whacks himself in the face.
Libby and Charlie Contemporary dancers, both 12, are best pals.
Jacob Jones Gravel-voiced singer and barber instructor Jacob proposed to his girlfriend Faye on stage.
Leanne Mya Grenfell survivor wowed with Stage diving on BGT, and in her ‘apple mac’ walking Snowdon and I became a qualified canoe instructor.
“The work was often upsetting but also rewarding.”
Now Janice is combining her drive to help people with her skill for comedy. “At the toughest times of our lives, we can often find humour behind stuff.
“And laughing really relaxes people. It affects the head and Sam Smith’s Lay Me Down.
X Masked mindreader is a man of no words but proved a psychic connection between Ant and Dec. Fabulous Sisters Japanese dancers wowed with fiery routine.
Jonathan Goodwin Stuntman set himself alight while hanging upside down. the heart. I’ve done a lot of comedy courses with people with mental health issues, bereaved kids, people with learning disabilities, women with depression. We use comedy as a way of making people feel they can share their stories. People report they feel less anxious.” Barbara told judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams that going to the Royal Variety Show would be a dream come true. In real life, Janice has met royalty when she was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2017. “That was very much about the work of Women and Theatre. I felt extremely proud and happy because the company’s done great work all this time,” she says.
“If Barbara won BGT, she wouldn’t change at all to meet the Queen but would show due respect of course.”
Barbara backs causes close to her heart. She recently joined a campaign to support Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
“What Barbara’s really into is working people’s rights,” adds Janice, 65. “I think she’d like to help Jeremy out – maybe cut back his hedge. Or cut up sandwiches. If he’s got a glut in the allotment she’ll shift some courgettes for him.”
Neither Jeremy nor the Royal Family need worry about barbs from Barbara.
Janice says: “I don’t believe you have to be cruel to be funny. If people can have a proper good laugh, they feel better. That’s all Barbara Nice really wants.”