Lucy Beaumont has revealed that she attempted to call out predatory behaviour within the comedy industry but was frequently dismissed because it was difficult for women to be believed and trusted. The award-winning comedian, 42, known for co-writing and starring in the sitcom Meet The Richardsons and appearing in The Celebrity Traitors, shared her experiences in an interview with Good Housekeeping UK.
Speaking Up About Abuse
Beaumont, who began her comedy career in 2009, stated that during her late 20s, the comedy circuit was rife with abuse. She explained: “When I was in my late 20s, the comedy circuit was open to abuse. Men were embarrassed at the idea that you were going to tell a joke.” The Hull-born star said that when she reached her 30s, she tried to speak up about predators in comedy, but people did not believe the women who were coming forward. “They thought we might not be telling the truth,” she said. “I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t be trusted when I was doing really well and didn’t need the bloody attention.”
Impact of Mother’s Experience
Beaumont also discussed how her mother’s experiences working in theatre influenced her own career. “When my mum was working in the theatre, there was a very male culture of heavy drinking. It wasn’t a safe space and she never had the safe space she deserved,” Beaumont recalled. This motivated her to adopt a combative mindset: “When I started out, I was like, ‘No-one is going to mess around me. No-one is going to treat me like they treated my mum.’ My mentality was of going into battle to earn money and support myself. I wanted to be able to buy my mum a nice house, which I did.”
Career Highlights
Beyond her stand-up and television work, Beaumont has appeared on radio sitcom To Hull And Back and shows including The Weakest Link, Taskmaster, and Would I Lie To You?. She was previously married to fellow comedian Jon Richardson, with whom she co-headlined Meet The Richardsons. The full interview appears in the August issue of Good Housekeeping UK.
