Lucy Beaumont on predators in comedy: ‘People didn’t believe women speaking up’

By Carla Feric, Press Association Entertainment Reporter

Lucy Beaumont has said she “tried to speak up” about predatory behaviour in comedy, but was often dismissed as it was difficult to be believed and “trusted”.

The award-winning comic, 42, is famed for co-writing and starring in the popular sitcom Meet The Richardsons, and recently appeared in the latest series of The Celebrity Traitors.

Beaumont, who started her career as a comedian in 2009, has spoken about her experiences in the industry and how “people didn’t believe the women who were speaking up” about predatory behaviour.

Speaking to Good Housekeeping UK, she said: “When I was in my late 20s, the comedy circuit was open to abuse. Men were embarrassed at the idea that you were going to tell a joke.”

Beaumont said that when she was in her 30s she tried to speak up about predators in comedy, but people did not believe the women who were speaking up.

“They thought we might not be telling the truth.

“I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t be trusted when I was doing really well and didn’t need the bloody attention.”

Beaumont is a vocal critic of misogyny, sexism, and inappropriate male behaviour on the UK comedy circuit and has also spoken about the impact this had on her career.

She also spoke about the way her mother’s experiences working in theatre affected her own career, and said: “When my mum was working in the theatre, there was a very male culture of heavy drinking.

“It wasn’t a safe space and she never had the safe space she deserved.

“When I started out, I was like, ‘No-one is going to mess around me. No-one is going to treat me like they treated my mum’.

“My mentality was of going into battle to earn money and support myself. I wanted to be able to buy my mum a nice house, which I did.”

The Hull-born star has appeared in radio sitcom To Hull And Back and on shows including The Weakest Link, Taskmaster and Would I Lie To You?.

She was previously married to fellow comic Jon Richardson, and they headlined their comedy series Meet The Richardsons together.

The full interview can be read in the August issue of Good Housekeeping UK.