Lucy Beaumont, star of Celebrity Traitors, has spoken out about male predators in the comedy industry, revealing that she and other women were not believed when they tried to speak up. In an interview with Good Housekeeping, the comedian, who has been on the comedy scene since 2009, described the earlier days on the circuit as open to abuse.
Early Struggles in Comedy
Beaumont recalled that when she was in her late 20s, the comedy circuit was rife with abuse. "Men were embarrassed at the idea that you were going to tell a joke," she said. She added that when she tried to speak up about predators in her 30s, people assumed she was referring to Russell Brand. "I was in the papers more than he was… But people didn’t believe the women who were speaking up. They thought we might not be telling the truth. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t be trusted when I was doing really well and didn’t need the bloody attention," she explained.
Personal Life and Therapy
Beaumont, who was married to fellow comedian Jon Richardson for nine years before their divorce in April 2024, also shared that even her therapist finds her "weird." She quipped, "Chaos just seems to find me. Even my therapist, who has been doing her job for 30 years, finds me weird. She wanted to know about where I felt safe and I told her about a primary-school dinner lady with a big chest who used to let me nestle under her breast… She suggested I come back for more sessions!"
ADHD Diagnosis
The comedian was diagnosed with ADHD in 2023 but was initially skeptical. She recalled being asked if she had developed tics between the ages of seven and 11, a symptom specific to ADHD. "I couldn’t believe it! I got shivers down my spine," she said. Beaumont is determined not to take medication, instead finding coping mechanisms through gardening and spending time with her 90-year-old grandad.
Career Highlights
Beaumont first gained recognition as a finalist in the 2009 competition So You Think You're Funny. She co-wrote and starred in the radio sitcom To Hull and Back with Maureen Lipman and later led the comedy series Meet the Richardsons with her then-husband Jon Richardson. She has also appeared on The Weakest Link, Taskmaster, and Would I Lie To You? before signing up for the first series of Celebrity Traitors, where she was 'murdered' and exited the show.
The full interview is available in the August issue of Good Housekeeping UK.
