Jo Brand
How do you take your tea?
Milk, no sugar. I don’t drink builder’s tea any more, I drink Earl Grey. That makes me sound very posh, doesn’t it? But, once I had children, builder’s tea was just too strong. I’m a philistine because I have it with milk, not a piece of lemon.
Who would you most like to have a cup of tea with?
Emily Brontë. It could’ve been any of the sisters, but Emily was probably the most sparky and unpredictable. Most famous women writers of that generation were able to write because they had a private income. For those sisters to live in that grim and impoverished area and still be able to come up with all that stuff is amazing. Comedian, writer and actress Jo Brand, 60, is best known for the award-winning geriatric ward comedy Getting On, panel games such
as QI and hosting The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Happy. I know people in every walk of life who are unhappy and I wouldn’t wish that on anybody, whether they’re a prince or a pauper. People
tend to think, ‘I want to be this and I’ll be happy.’ I don’t care if I’ve got a lot of money or no money. I could do any job and be happy if it was with people I got on with. It’s about a state of mind.
We love the audience bakes on An Extra Slice. What’s been the best and worst?
The best was a choux pastry with blue cheese. Absolutely lovely! The worst was a courgette cake that tasted like roast dinner vegetables gone cold in a cake.
What’s always in your fridge?
Cheese. I love Shropshire Blue, Boursin, Cheddar, Red Leicester, Brie… There’s very little cheese I don’t like. Oh, I don’t like Stinking Bishop. It smells horrible. My best friend’s husband loves it and, when you open their
fridge, you faint.
What’s your guilty food pleasure?
French bread with loads of butter and peanut butter. I love peanut butter. If I start… well, I can do three baguettes in a sitting!