Living alone

From Live At The Apollo

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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: Typical Woman - Fringe 2009
Live Review

Sarah Millican’s eager to please, opening doors to get some desperately-needed air into her sweltering venue, and peeling back her backdrop to get a draught going, even if it exposes the unglamorous reality behind the showbiz façade.

That’s not a bad analogy for her show, either, as she’s willing to pull back the curtain on some aspects of her own life as long as it makes others happy.

The theme for this follow-up to her newcomer-winning debut last year is male and female traits, that most primeval of stand-up topics. So shopping, porn, cakes, DIY, books about adding spice to relationships all feature – a set list as down-to-earth as the likeably open Geordie herself.

Much of what she had to say didn’t interest me all that much, I have to confess, although you have to admire the way she says it. But equally I have to come clean that I was in a tiny minority in a packed room laughing uproariously at her every sentence.

Her delivery is exemplary, with innate charm, great timing and compelling indiscretion – and the contrary ability to be both sweet and sour in the same sentence. Her banter with the audience, getting them to share their favourite things about being a man or woman, is quick-witted and amiable, making her generous good company.

She’s not afraid to get filthy, too, though that’s not he be-all and end-all of an act based on honesty, rather than any shock-for-shock’s sake visits south of the navel. Her soft Tyneside tones certainly cushion the blow, too, making offence impossible.

In discussing broad topics such as gender, you need oversimplification; but the best routines were about Millican being herself, not just a ‘typical woman’. The little rhyme she composed to herself to remember her car needed diesel, not petrol, is hilarious in exposing her own odd behaviour.

The show’s finding that not that anyone is typically male or typically female, but sits somewhere on the continuum, is plain enough – but she doesn’t half spend a lot of time reinforcing those stereotypes before dismissing them as bunkum.

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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

I've seen Sarah a few times on TV now, & she's never failed to be anything less than entertaining. Even had me chocking on my coffee with a one-liner on the Apollo last night! ;-) Hopefully I'll have a job again soon, & therefore the money to pay to see a full live show.

JSE, December 2009

Saw her at Llangollen, at the Kill For a Seat club. I wasn't sure that she was going to be very good - TV doesn't show her off. She was brilliant, one of the best comedians I have seen. So good she was called back for an encore. I'd see her again in a heartbeat a very funny, very dirty young woman. Excellent!

Sam from Wrexham, December 2009

Just don't see what makes her funny,honestly did not laugh once watching her at the Apollo. She's boring

santos, November 2009

I saw Sarah in Birmingham last Thursday and she was fantastic. Was on stage for over an hour and had the audience hanging on her every word all the way through, even tried out some new stuff which was really good. Also had some nice put downs for one chap who became a little excited.

Lee Grant, November 2009

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