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Jo Brand: 'I refused to think about mortality!'
2 Nov
Summary
- Jo Brand discusses her new book on aging and assisted dying.
- She admits to suppressing emotions and avoiding mortality.
- Brand has given up smoking to become a 'champion vaper'.
Approaching her 70th birthday next year, comedian Jo Brand explores the challenges of aging in her new book, "Decline and Falling Over." The book, while humorous, addresses serious topics such as the prospect of assisted dying and her past experiences with care homes. Brand reveals a tendency to suppress emotions and avoid contemplating her own mortality, having transitioned from smoking to vaping.
Brand recounts a rebellious youth influenced by difficult family circumstances, noting that her stage persona served as a shield. She acknowledges a lifelong people-pleasing habit, contrasting it with her public image. She also discusses navigating grief after recent losses, admitting to finding anger a valid part of the process.
Reflecting on her career, Brand observes that the comedy circuit has become more uniform. She shares that her memory was affected by the pandemic, leading her to perform 'work-in-progress' shows. Brand notes that older women often face societal invisibility, a stark contrast to the respect afforded older men. Despite past tragedies, she chooses to focus on the present.
