Katherine Jakeways trained at LAMDA and is an actor, writer, presenter and comedy performer who BAFTA recently described as “ one of the most exciting young comic talents on the current scene” and the Radio Times described as “the new Victoria Wood”.

Having begun her career as a straight actor, Katherine quickly began writing and performing her own comedy characters.   She spent two years as a presenter on radio and on GMTV, during which time she also became a regular on the comedy circuit.  

Her first solo show at the Edinburgh Festival in 2003 gained huge critical acclaim. ( “Her acutely observed character comedy is the best on the Fringe ” Independent on Sunday; “ Talent in abundance…killer performer ” The Guardian).   She followed up her debut with another solo show “Lost in Bank Station” which she performed at the Assembly Rooms during the 2004 festival.   ( " This year's revelation is Katherine Jakeways, a one-woman Little Britain " Independent on Sunday; “ Katherine Jakeways is going to be a huge star. It must only be a matter of time before she's gracing our screens with her own TV show” Sunday Express.)

Since then Katherine has worked extensively on television and radio.   She was a regular performer on all 3 series of The Armstrong and Miller Show on BBC1, and accompanied the duo on their 2010 live show as the Entire Supporting Cast.   Katherine played Louise in the second series of Extras on BBC2 and Amanda Barnes in Miranda on BBC1.

She has numerous other TV credits including Mark Gatiss’ The First Men In The Moon and Bremner, Bird and Fortune.  Katherine will also appear alongside the regular cast of CBBC’s Horrible Histories for their 2012 series, for which she has also written several sketches (See CV for full details of other TV credits) 

In 2010, the first series of Katherine’s show North By Northamptonshire aired on Radio 4.  Katherine wrote the show and appeared as several characters in it.  Narrated by Sheila Hancock and also starring Penelope Wilton, Felicity Montagu, Kevin Eldon and Mackenzie Crook, North by Northamptonshire received a glowing critical reaction (see Reviews page for full details).  The 2nd series of 6 episodes will air from December 2nd 2011, and the original cast will be joined by Geoffrey Palmer.

Numerous other radio projects have included Radio 2’s Buy Me Up TV, 2 series of Radio 4’s Deep Trouble and being a regular member of the team in Radio 4’s Look Away Now.  Katherine also plays Elizabeth Pepys in all 9 volumes of Radio 4’s The Diary of Samuel Pepys (see CV for full details of other radio credits).

As herself Katherine has regularly appeared on shows such as Teenage Kicks on BBC4 and The History Toys on BBC2.  She’s also a regular guest on Big Brother’s Bit On The Side.  In its Channel 4 days, Katherine presented on Big Brother’s Little Brother and Celebrity Big Brother’s Little Brother – and could be seen in her jumpsuit fronting reports as well as in the studio with Dermot. 

In the West End, Katherine played Sandy in 2004 and 2006's production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, which starred Christian Slater.  In August 2005 Katherine appeared alongside Bill Bailey and Alan Davies in Neil Simon's The Odd Couple. She was also a founder member of the Ealing Live! Team, and performed four sell out seasons with them at Ealing Studios.