On cats who ignore her

On Room 101

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Writer and comic Sarah performed her first stand-up gig in September 2004, and the following year was runner-up in both the Funny Women and So You Think You're Funny awards, as well as the BBC New Comedy Awards in 2006.

She was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2006 Chortle Awards and won the best newcomer if.comedy award at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe with her debut show, Sarah Millican's Not Nice. The same show was nominated for the Barry Award - the top prize at the Melbourne Comedy Festival - the following April.

In 2010, she became the first female to win the Best Headliner at the Chortle awards

Her first play Spent was staged at The Customs House in South Shields in September 2005.

Sarah Millican: Thoroughly Modern Millican
Live Review

The theme for Sarah Millican’s latest show is a gift for critics – it’s all about how she’s risk-averse.

Because her comedy is rarely, if ever, going to take a chance, being based so firmly in homely, comfortable domesticity. Equally, there’s no gamble in buying a ticket; you can be guaranteed a solid hour of charming anecdotes, easily identifiable situations, and the odd pun, all accompanied with a saucy self-deprecation. It’s that certainty that means in just four short years she’s become one of the biggest acts on the Fringe.

She splits the world into cautious dodgems and reckless bumper cars: ‘Live life to the full, that’s what it’s all about!’ she rallies, then undercuts with perfect timing. ‘No, it isn’t.’ She’s obviously a dodgem; she’s never taken drugs, preferring a Twix or a carvery, to Es and wizz, and a thrill for her is starting a new tea towel, not bungee jumping. ‘I had an apple the other day,’ she says with an air of adventure that reinforces the message – as well as her well-cultivated image as an exercise-shy cake-lover.

Such modest outlook is a snug fit for her warm Geordie tones, approachable manner and easy rapport with the audience. Maybe she reminds people of their Mam, but punters instantly find themselves comfortable in her confidence. When she asks for signs of falling in love, she gets such a delightfully romantic answer, ‘uncontrollable smiling’, it takes all her focus not to go off on a full-on conversation, ignoring the rest of the 750 people in the room.

That relaxed relationship between comic and performer is a two-way street, too. She feels completely at home sharing details of her life, from tender jokes with her boyfriend to … well, sexy times with her boyfriend that they can’t quite pull off, in that charmingly inept British way. That open honesty also extends to her love of sprouts: ‘I don’t mind telling you, I’m absolutely toxic,’ she says of her Christmas night flatulence. Thanks for sharing.

Her settled relationship with an obvious kindred spirit might make her more settled and cosy, although she does say that at the age of 36, she’s finally getting more confident, and feeling more womanly. Whether that will make her comedy more or less adventurous remains to be seen.

But this adept offering is perfect for the dodgems; a trusted and proven hour sure to generate if not ‘uncontrollable’ smiles, but plenty of grins and the odd hearty chuckle. Leave the bumper cars to fling themselves to the more obscure corners of the Fringe, and the very real possibility of disappointment you will never get with Millican.

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Saw her for the 2nd time tonight at Blackpool,definately the best female comedian in the uk at the moment by a mile. And better than most of the blokes I have seen in the last couple of years

TW, February 2012

I love Sarah. She is the funniest woman in comedy, making it look so effortless. Keep making me laugh darling

Lib Gardener, October 2011

Fantastically unfunny and comes across as really quite objectionable (horribly passive aggressive at times). Ubiquity is not a guarantee of talent.

Dan, London, October 2011

This woman has a serious talent.... Funny, quirky. edgy, soulful, dirty, evocative, thoughtful, thoughtful. A thinking person's comedian.

Steve Flashman, October 2010

This girl is fantastic a breath of fresh air to us ladies! Men who don't like her are probably at the end of her jokes!

EB, July 2010

Not funny at all - she actually annoys me. She's on the TV all the time and is ALWAYS the weakest link in a group comedy format. Just being game and brave enough to get up onstage isn't really enough. You need decent material.

ns, June 2010

Horses for courses perhaps as we saw Sarah this weekend as part of a triple bill and she held her own among some well established acts and then some!Despite a wee bit of nerves at the start she soon settled down and gave us some of the biggest and best belly laughs of the entire evening. Occasionally seriously filthy, albeit in a good way just like a raucous night with your mates after a few drinks, after 5mins Sarah managed to draw us all in to her chatter and most of the room was rapt. Sure, some of the material is her take of hack subjects like feeling a bit plumper than you would like compared to media images of women or the subtle differences between your boyfriend when you are dating and his behaviour once you settle into a relationship et al. However I have to say we found that her considerable charm and the warmth and honesty of her friendly delivery triumphed over some of the weaker material.rnTwo of our gang had only discovered Sarah recently from her Radio 4 show and were not expecting such a professionally accomplished performance. In particular we all found her banter with the audience exemplary, some gentle probing unearthed an couple of real gems and she respectfully backed off a couple who were clearly not interested in joining in despite sitting bang front row centre wearing hats. So from us four, Sarah is a hearty well recommended! Esp. if you like what you may have seen of her on TV or heard on R4. You may well find yourself pleasantly surprised by her live set, as we were.

Jeff, March 2010

Simply not funny. always Talking about her "downstairs" as she puts it, trying to be rude as Jo Brand but nowhere near as funny.

hannah, January 2010

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