Television & Radio | Helen Lederer

HELEN LEDERER

discreet showing off…

(not that discreet )

TV appearances span such shows as ‘The Young Ones’, ‘French and Saunders’, ‘Happy Families’, ‘One Foot in the Grave’, ‘Bottom’, ‘Love Soup’, ‘Miss Marple’ and ‘Hollyoaks’. Children’s TV includes the much-loved children's favourite 'Miss Bowline-Hitch' along with Bernard Cribbins for CBeebies' ‘Old Jacks Boat’. She starred as Rich Aunt Ruby in ‘Horrid Henry: The Movie’.

Helen's first radio job was a live comedy series for BBC Radio called 'In One Ear' winning the Sony award for radio comedy where she wrote her infamous 'pen pal' letters to politicians.

Since then she's been a mainstay on the radio with her most recent podcast series 'Knock Knock' where she talks to other comedians to see if they share the same head space. 'Knock Knock' is available on the BBC website.

COMEDY & DRAMA

Absolutely Fabulous

I’ve been Catriona for 20 years and I still think it’s all to do with ‘good lighting’ Lovely chairs anyone?

Casualty

A joy to play Dr Oppe in ‘Casualty’ and to look over my glasses knowingly and not be affected by the odour of a tuna sandwich.

Heartbeat

Channelling Felicity Kendal while playing Kath Harrison in Heartbeat ( I got rounded up by a sheep dog if memory serves).

Miss Marple

My favourite character paying Marjorie Atfield in Miss Marple ‘Why Didn’t They Ask Evans’. I had to eat cake several times (with a fork du gateau).

Bottom

The bottom that got away – a Nurse already - I loved those boys in Bottom.

Filthy Rich & Catflap

Looking focused and engaged as ever with the dapper Adrian.

Horrid Henry

Everyone needs a rich Aunt Ruby -available now for weddings, open days and fetes – (Horrid Henry still rocks my world).

Love Soup

I Loved playing TV commissioning editor who did blow jobs in her stocking feet - needs must.

The Young Ones

I LOVED being in charge of a bank. 'Good morning sir, good morning sir, good morning sir …'

Saturday Night Live

This very posh cockney accent can so easily stray to South African – but the ‘kick in your wongly dangles’ bit remained pure.

Hollyoaks

Woops - as an alcoholic midwife who carelessly swapped 2 babies in error – is not something one likes to boast about…

Old Jack's Boat

Cheek to cheek with Bernard Cribbins – My Miss BowlineHitch getting pouty in Whitby. CBeebies - Old Jack's Boat

REALITY TV

Home Front Heroes - BBC One

BBC’s ‘HomeFront Heroes’ took me to Bletchley Park to discover my mother’s secret intelligence work in HUT D. I also learned about my Czech grandfather who posed as a German officer at Trent Park where he was a ‘secret listener’ in WW2.

Splash

Not my finest silhouette I grant you but at least I was going in the right direction #swmmingfrock

Celebrity Big Brother

Oh boy…this was an UNUSUAL departure …

War Hero in my Family

A wonderful film - secrets that came out that have never left me… A different kind of Reality TV but very real. This was my very moving visit to Auschwitz, during the making of War Hero in my Family, tracing the history of my father and grandfather when they came to England

Who's doing the dishes?

Reading a recipe is where you sing ‘cheese cakey’ in top C

love4language

I loved being in the snug with Welsh people singing nicely and also loudly - S4C's Reality TV for Guardian readers involving Learning Welsh and Glamping.

Celebrity Coach Trip

I remember the matching pink suitcases of my fellow traveller … and having to vote people OFF oh noooo

RADIO & PODCASTS

Radio Appearances Helen discussing the latest news stories and lighter topical issues.	Hope & Anchor How to not stay bitter and trying to meet boys at church	The Scummy Mummies Podcast Helen talks to Ellie Gibson and Helen Thorn about her memoir.
The Graham Norton Book Club Graham talks to Helen about her wry memoir, Not That I’m Bitter	What Goes Around? Helen talks to Deb and Eamon about her memoir.	How To Be 60 with Kaye Adams Helen Lederer on Why She's Not Bitter and Finding the Funny in Life's Challenges
Full Disclosure with James O'Brien Helen Lederer: "I've never been on the winning team when it matters"	The Shift with Sam Baker Helen talks to Sam about anxiety, failure & living an “alarmingly truthful” life.	Hoovering with Jessica Fostekew The podcast about eating. Helen talks about her memoir, Not That I'm Bitter.
RHLSTP with Richard Herring Book Club #96 - Richard talks to comedy legend Helen about her honest, hilarious and sad memoir.	Iain Dale All Talk Iain interviews Helen about getting through rejection in her career, being honest on stage and the changing comedy landscape, as well as plenty of stories from her memoir NOT THAT I'M BITTER.	Quick Book Reviews Helen talks about her memoir and recommends some other titles too.
Ken Bruce Greatest Hits Radio Helen chats to Ken Bruce about her Golden Year	BBC Radio London Breakfast Helen chats to Salma El-Wardany	The Friendship File Helen and Tony Slattery's 41-year friendship has dealt with everything.
BBC Radio Guernsey Helen chats to Steph Watkins about her memoir	BBC Mornings Helen tells Connie McLaughlin why she isn't bitter in her brand new book.	BBC Radio 4 - Loose Ends Helen Lederer joins Clive Anderson for conversation, music and comedy
Mumbelievable Helen Lederer has just released her memoir "Not That I'm Bitter" and as well as plugging the book (gently) Helen talks to Sonia about her mum	BBC Radio 5 Live Helen with Gordon Smart, discussing her new memoir ‘Not That I’m Bitter’	Crushed Helen talks to Margaret Cabourn-Smith
BBC Radio 2 - The Michael Ball Show Michael is joined by comedian and writer, Helen Lederer.	BBC Somerset Helen talks to Andy Bennett about her new book and appearance at the Bath Comedy Festival	Love Reading Deborah Maclaren in conversation with Helen Lederer
Namaste Motherf**kers Still Crazy After All These Years with Helen Lederer	Times Radio - Off air with Jane and Fi Helen discusses her new memoir 'Not That I'm Bitter'.	BBC Radio - Late Night Jo Helen discusses her new memoir 'Not That I'm Bitter'.
The Breakup Monologues Live from Primadonna Festival – with Helen Lederer and Samantha Baines	Nick Helm and Nathaniel Metcalfe's Fan Club Episode 145 - Helen Lederer	In Conversation with... Helen in conversation with Journalist Michael Crick and broadcaster Mark Lawson
Helen chats to Michael Ball Helen chats to Michael about her Edinburgh Fringe show, what it was like in the Big Brother House and baring all in Splash!	My Teenage Diary Helen reads from her teenage diaries and talks about her school days in South-East London.	Geoff Lloyd's Hometown Glory Broadcasting legend and bearded-beauty Geoff Lloyd natters with Helen.
The Divorce Club Helen joins Samantha Baines to chat divorce in this hilarious episode.	Wit Lit Lily Lindon's Wit Lit podcast. Lily says: "Actual comedian, author, and founder of the Comedy Women in Print Prize Helen Lederer talks about writing wit, and how to enter for the 2020 prize. Meanwhile we talk about how Helen will literally die if she laughs too much, how groups of women are funnier to groups of men, and Helen writes the first line of my comedy novel.	Philosophy for our Times From 'How The Light Gets In Festival' Lederer is philosophical in a reductive and small manner.
Older and Wider From the writers of the internationally successful Grumpy Old Women, award winning Comedian Jenny Éclair and Producer and Writer Judith Holder deliver Older & Wider, a podcast that offers insight, gossip and general news from the menopausal front and beyond. A podcast worth getting your ears syringed for. In this episode Jenny & Judith are joined by Helen Lederer. They discuss Jenny and Helen's short lived double act, shitting your pyjamas, Splash and Helen's current project, CWIP.	Drunk Women Solving Crime What happens when a comedy legend downs a few proseccos and wanders on stage at the Pleasance Theatre? They solve a crime of course! This week's fourth Drunk Woman is the one and only Helen Lederer! Helen proved to be the kind of detective who cuts to the chase and gets to the crux of the matter, which was especially useful when getting to the bottom of her own true crime.	The Back Seat Join actress/comedian Helen Lederer and actress/journalist Elizabeth Healey for a six-part podcast extravaganza on The Back Seat! The two will be out and about over the holiday season – attending exhibitions, movies, pantos and parties – and sharing their antics every Friday.
Inheritance Tracks Inheritance tracks celebrates the music that we cherish and would like to bestow to future generations.	Knock knock My new podcast series for BBC Radio. I love doing this - a unique opportunity to talk to genuinely funny people who do the same job as me about anything at all and feel all connected eew	Times Literary Supplement May 16 I was invited to the Times Literary Supplement to discuss gender and comedy and of course the CWIP prize.
Front Row Not that I’m competitive or anything …it’s the OTHER people who mind…. I love a quiz	Great Lives My Dorothy Parker worship was joyous - the quoted quotes will tingle and tangle and last for ever	Graham Norton well all I can say is YES Graham …. a fast talking romp with the best
Be in the Now Be in the Now	Pick of the Week I enjoyed my return to pick of the week.