With host Kemah Bob

Kemah Bob is launching a new podcast based on her Femmes of Color live comedy night.

The show, FOC It Up, will be recorded in front of an audience in London from this week and feature a total of 36 comedians, mixing stand-up and conversation.

Bob has already co-hosted the The Guilty Feminist podcast and the new venture – which will be released in weekly episodes from July 12 - is produced by the same team.

The London-based Texan said: ‘Since co-hosting the Guilty Feminist years ago, I’ve always been inspired by its ability to raise awareness of amazing comedians that are often overlooked by the mainstream. And more so its ability to align us with an audience that connects with our perspectives and may not have found us otherwise.

‘One of my greatest joys is bringing relatable talent to an audience that many comedy spaces don’t cater for, and I’m delighted to say that with the help of The House of The Guilty Feminist I’ll be able to invite an even bigger audience to get to know these FOC-ing legends.’

She says she founded her night after noticing a general a lack of non-white acts and audience members at mainstream gigs, which she found surprising in Europe’s most multicultural city.

Guilty Feminist founder Deborah Frances-White said: ‘Femmes of Color Comedy Club is the freshest and most important new outfit in the British comedy landscape presenting both the hottest legendary talent and supporting exciting new emerging voices.

‘Come out to the live shows for the IRL buzz or let us bring the big laughs to your headphones through the magic of podcasting. Prepare to be engaged, challenged and highly entertained as Kemah and the glorious comedians she showcases, in stand-up and conversation, keep you giddy with laughter.’

The shows will be taped at 21 Soho in central London and the line-ups are:

June 19: Sophie Duker, Michelle De Swarte, Njambi McGrath, Charlie George, Ola Labib & Esther Manito

June 26: Sikisa Bostwick-Barnes, Athena Kugblenu, Ariane Anantaputri, Isabelle Farah, Katie Green & Shivani Dave

July 3:  Desiree Burch, Thanyia Moore, Ninia Benjamin, Erika Ehler, Mary O'Connell & Celya AB

July 17:  Travis Alabanza, Janine Harouni, Yuriko Kotani, Bella Hull, Shazia Mirza & Ria Lina.

July 31:  Maria Shehata, Twayna Mayne, Saima Ferdows, Sharlin Jahan, Suchandrika Chakrabarti, Kate Cheka

August 7:  Priya Hall, Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, Kirshna Istha, Leila Navabi, Su Mi and Fathiya Saleh

Published: 14 Jun 2022