Francesca* is a comedian, author, actress and playwright who has toured the globe with her award-winning stand-up shows. She launched her comedy career in 2000, when she became the first and only woman to win the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. She has since performed in Australia, Ireland, France, Sweden, South Africa, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, in Hollywood, on Broadway, and alongside Emma Thompson at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upcoming writing projects include a prime-time drama series commission, developing a new TV series with a major name, and writing a second play for the National Theatre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2014, Francesca\u2019s best-selling book What The **** Is Normal?! <\/em><\/strong>was published by Penguin Random House. It was nominated for Best Book in the Chortle Comedy Awards and named runner-up in the Bread & Roses Book Award. Francesca wrote and starred in her first radio play How We\u2019re Loved<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em>which aired on BBC Radio 4 in 2018. Her CBBC comedy-drama How I Found My Two Best Friends <\/em><\/strong>aired in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Francesca\u2019s first stage play All of Us <\/em><\/strong>was commissioned by the National Theatre and played to full houses at the Dorfman in the summer of 2022, with Francesca in the lead role. The play garnered critical and public acclaim, received rave reviews and standing ovations for every performance. Following the run, Francesca was nominated for the George Devine Award\u2014one of the most prestigious awards for new playwrights\u2014 and was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Francesca\u2019s last major tour was with her hit solo show What The **** Is Normal <\/em><\/strong>which won an Edinburgh Fringe Media Network Award and played 140 dates around the world. In 2016, she supported Frankie Boyle on his sell-out UK tour. She made several hugely popular appearances with the late, great Jeremy Hardy on BBC Radio 4\u2019s The News Quiz<\/em><\/strong>, and her Question Time <\/em><\/strong>debut was described as the show\u2019s \u201cbest-ever moment\u201d and went viral with over 11 million views in the first week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In-demand as a public speaker, in 2005 Francesca was nominated for the Motivator of the Year Award. She was also awarded Public Affairs Achiever of the Year in 2013, nominated a Top Ten Game Changer in BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour <\/em><\/strong>Power List 2014 and named a Hero of the Year in the European Diversity Awards. Francesca has been awarded two Honorary Doctorates – one from the Open University \u201cfor making Britain a more compassionate and fairer society\u201d, and a second from Bradford University \u201cfor her contributions to equality, inclusive thought and social commentary\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Francesca\u2019s many TV credits include Grange Hill<\/em>, Extras, Holby City, The Dumping Ground, <\/em><\/strong>The Frank Skinner Show<\/em><\/strong>, The Jonathan Ross Show, Russell Howard\u2019s Good News, Very British Problems, The Russell Howard Hour <\/em><\/strong>and Live At The Apollo<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n