KATHERINE RYAN (Female comedian of the day)

 

KATHERINE RYAN   (Female comedian of the day)

Katherine Ryan is a Canadian-Irish comedian, writer, actress, and presenter, known for her biting wit, sharp observational comedy, and bold stage presence. Born on June 30, 1983, in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, she was the eldest of three children in a family with Irish and British roots. Her father owned an engineering company while her mother worked as a draughtsperson. Ryan’s early life was shaped by her parents’ divorce when she was a teenager, and she later attended the University of Toronto, where she studied city planning. During her time there, she also worked at Hooters, where she honed her performance skills in promotions and eventually began dabbling in open mic comedy.

After university, Ryan moved to the UK in 2007 for what was meant to be a temporary job transfer with Hooters. Instead, she settled permanently, diving headfirst into the British comedy scene. Her Canadian perspective and quick wit made her stand out, and she soon found success on TV panel shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, and Have I Got News for You. Katherine’s comedic voice is heavily influenced by her own experiences as a single mother and as a woman navigating fame, relationships, and feminism in the public eye. She is known for tackling difficult topics with dark humor and honesty, often drawing from her own life.

Ryan's stand-up career has flourished both on stage and on screen. She has released several critically acclaimed comedy specials, including In Trouble (2017), Glitter Room (2019), and Missus (2022), all of which have been featured on Netflix. Each special reflects a different stage in her life, from solo parenting to her marriage to childhood sweetheart Bobby Kootstra in a civil partnership ceremony in 2019. Her style—a blend of sarcasm, satire, and glam—is unmistakably her own. In addition to stand-up, she has also written and starred in the Netflix comedy series The Duchess (2020), where she played a fictionalized version of herself, a single mother navigating her eccentric London life.

In terms of acting, Katherine Ryan’s filmography is modest but notable. Aside from her own projects, she has appeared in British shows like Campus, Episodes, and Badults. She’s also been a frequent guest and sometimes host on a wide array of British television formats, including Your Face or Mine, Roast Battle, and All That Glitters: Britain's Next Jewellery Star. While she hasn't headlined major feature films, her presence in the UK television landscape has made her a familiar face to millions, admired for her unfiltered commentary and high-fashion look.

Ryan has not been immune to controversy. In recent years, she made headlines for making bold public statements about sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry, claiming in 2022 that she had confronted a fellow well-known comedian—whom she did not name—about being a “predator.” Though she received praise for her courage, she also faced scrutiny for not naming the individual. She later revealed in interviews that she had spoken out in the safest way possible, balancing personal integrity with legal risk. The incident reignited conversations around #MeToo in the British comedy world and positioned Ryan as a voice for accountability in the industry.

As of 2025, Katherine Ryan continues to be a vibrant force in comedy and entertainment. She lives in London with her husband and children and frequently tours, performs, and appears on television. She also hosts a popular podcast called Telling Everybody Everything, where she offers insights into her life, career, and opinions with her trademark honesty. Known for mixing glamor with grit, she remains one of the most distinctive and fearless voices in comedy today—proof that humor, when wielded sharply, can be both powerful and healing.

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