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46-563: Watermans Art Centre is a combined arts centre . It is located in Brentford , England alongside the banks of the River Thames overlooking Kew Gardens in West London, England. It includes a 239-seat theatre, a 125-seat cinema two galleries and two studio spaces. On 20 March 2024 it was announced that the current centre would close on 11 April 2024, with no immediate replacement. Built on

92-643: A Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Lifetime Achievement Award, an award associated with the Eileen Skellern Memorial Lecture. At this event she was praised for making mental health nursing more visible to the general public. In October 2009, she was awarded an Honorary Degree from the University of Suffolk . In January 2014, Brand was awarded a second honorary doctorate from Canterbury Christ Church University , for her work in raising awareness of mental health issues and challenging

138-486: A Dictionary Corner guest 88 times. In 2004, Brand appeared in a special episode of What Not to Wear , where fashion gurus Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine gave her a makeover. On 25 March 2007, Brand appeared on Play It Again , where she was required to learn how to play the organ in just four months. This was in preparation to perform Johann Sebastian Bach 's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor for an audience of 8,000 people at London's Royal Albert Hall on

184-681: A Minute . Since 2014 she has been the presenter of The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice . In 2003, Brand was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. Brand was born in Clapham , London, near St Paul's Church in a house which was "a little terraced Victorian place on the Wandsworth Road with an outside toilet", and grew up in Hastings , East Sussex . Her mother

230-531: A charity event in Canary Wharf , commenting that she chose not to report the incident because 'it would ruin the day and I was worried no one would believe me'. On 17 July 2007 Brand was awarded an honorary doctorate for her work as a psychiatric nurse from the University of Glamorgan (now the University of South Wales ). Professor Donna Mead, Dean of the School of Health, Sport and Science, who read Brand up for

276-399: A fantasy, but I think milk shakes are pathetic, I honestly do. Sorry." The BBC later defended Brand, explaining "the jokes made on Heresy are deliberately provocative as the title implies" and that they were "not intended to be taken seriously". The Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May , queried whether a joke about throwing battery acid was "appropriate content" for a BBC broadcast and

322-530: A fill-in host on The Paul O'Grady Show and The One Show . Brand co-created, co-wrote and co-starred in the BBC Four sitcom Getting On opposite Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine , for which she won the 2011 Best TV Comedy Actress BAFTA award. The series, directed by Peter Capaldi and Susan Tully , is a gritty and realistic satire on the current state of the NHS , set in a geriatric ward. In April 2009, Brand

368-526: A fourth from August 2017. In 2014, Brand co-wrote and starred as Rose in a comedy pilot for Sky Arts called Damned . The show was commissioned for a full series by Channel 4 , airing in 2016; its second series aired in 2018. Since 2017, she has presented the Channel 5 series Jo Brand's Cats & Kittens . The show is available in the United States on Netflix as Kitten Rescuers . On 28 January 2019,

414-611: A local myth for years. There were sightings of the ones prior to the last year. Previous ones go back to at least before the Second World War . A year ago a jogger called John Olssen reported seeing the bird as he was running by the arts centre. And a woman saw it from the top of a bus." The legend went on to be referenced in Rankin's book Web Site Story . During the 1990s, Watermans was known for focusing on South Asian arts. Doctor Alda Terracciano argued that "the last decade has witnessed

460-571: A programme of enabling access to wheelchair users and disabled individuals and groups. In the rest of Europe it is common among most art centres that they are partly government funded, since they are considered to have a positive influence on society and economics according to the Rhineland model philosophy. Many of those organisations started in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s as squatted spaces and were later legalized. Italy Palestine Jo Brand Josephine Grace Brand (born 23 July 1957)

506-462: A psychiatric nurse. Brand spoke about her experience working in emergency mental health clinics, as well lighter moments performing in hospital pantos. Brand married Bernie Bourke, a psychiatric nurse, in 1997 in Shropshire . They have two daughters, Maisie Bourke and Eliza Bourke. Her husband and two daughters are vegetarian , but Brand prefers to "pursue pork-pies in service stations when no-one

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552-733: Is a patron of the National Self Harm Network (NSHN), International Animal Rescue , and the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association, as well as London Nightline . She is the president of the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust. Brand is an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society . Brand is a supporter of the Labour Party . She was still a contributor to and supporter of the party in 2012. Brand introduced and spoke at

598-443: Is a series of nine novels humorously chronicling the lives of a couple of drunken middle-aged layabouts who confront the forces of darkness in Brentford . In that decade. there were several reported sightings of a Griffin near Watermans. John Baraldi reported that "a woman came from the parking along the street. She was in an awful state. She had seen a huge bird and was obviously rather shaken by it." Robert Rankin said "it has been

644-660: Is an English actress, comedian, presenter and writer. Starting her entertainment career with a move from psychiatric nursing to the alternative comedy stand-up scene and early performances on Saturday Live , she went on to appear on The Brain Drain , Channel 4 's Jo Brand Through the Cakehole , Getting On and various television appearances including as a regular guest on QI , Have I Got News for You and Would I Lie to You? . She also makes regular appearances on BBC Radio 4 in programmes such as The News Quiz and Just

690-525: Is looking". Brand delivered a guest lecture on the subject of psychiatric nursing for the University of Derby Psychology Society in 1997 in return for a donation to Derby Rape Crisis. Also in 1997, she opened at Lambeth Hospital in South London , the first major exhibition of the Adamson Collection since the death of Edward Adamson , the pioneer of Art Therapy, in 1996. In February 2009, Brand

736-492: The BBC television series Imagine , presented by Alan Yentob , documented Jo's life and career, with contributions from many of her comedy peers, in a programme titled Jo Brand: No Holds Barred . In 2019, Brand became a contestant on Taskmaster . Brand appeared in BBC's Antique Roadshow: Nursing Special (which aired on Sunday 26 February 2023) talking to Fiona Bruce about her time as

782-624: The BBC 's Children in Need . On 28 January 2016, Brand completed a 150-mile walk across Britain, in aid of Sport Relief , in Liverpool . Brand crossed the finish line at the Albert Dock at 7.30pm, having set off from the banks of the River Humber on 22 January. Her efforts were shown in a 60-minute documentary, which aired on 17 March 2016, called Jo Brand's Hell of a Walk for Sport Relief . Brand

828-529: The BBC later announced that the remark would be edited out of any future broadcasts. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that it had "received an allegation of incitement to violence that was reported to the MPS on 13 June". and that they were investigating the matter. Appearing at an event in Henley , Oxfordshire, on the same day, the comedian was said to have apologised for making the joke, saying "Looking back it probably

874-461: The Bluecoat Society of Arts was founded in Liverpool in 1927 following the efforts of a group of artists and art lovers who had occupied Bluecoat Chambers since 1907. Most British art centres began after World War II and gradually changed from mainly middle-class places to 1960s and 1970s trendy , alternative centres and eventually in the 1980s to serving the whole community with

920-510: The Cakehole , co-written with comedy writer Jim Miller, who was already her main stand-up writer. Brand has had several solo television series, and presented shows such as Jo Brand's Commercial Breakdown . She had a cameo appearance in an episode of Absolutely Fabulous entitled "New Best Friend" (1994), and also appeared on Star Spell , a spin-off from Hard Spell in 2004. Her television success continued with guest appearances on shows such as Have I Got News for You and QI , to

966-601: The West End but the average person cannot afford that, so their only access to theatre is somewhere like Watermans." She also noted: "I was in a stand-up show there about 20 years ago." Other notable names who have appeared include Peter Greenaway , Elvis Costello , Mica Paris , Meera Syal , Melvin Bragg and Shabana Azmi . Watermans presented a year-round programme of independent cinema, children's theatre, cabaret, dance, music, talks and creative workshops. Watermans also worked across

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1012-646: The age of 16, Hastings High School for Girls and Bexhill College . After working in a pub, for Barnardo's , and as a nursing assistant in a residential unit for adults with learning disabilities she took a joint social science degree with a Registered Mental Nurse qualification at Brunel University . She then worked as a psychiatric nurse for ten years, at the South London Bethlem hospital, Cefn Coed Hospital in Swansea and Maudsley Hospital in south London. When Brand began her career in comedy, she used

1058-472: The award commented, "Jo incorporates much of her experience working in the field of mental health into her current work as a comedian. This has increased awareness of the work done by nurses in the mental health field. She has also used her experiences of working with individuals with conditions such as Alzheimer's to promote awareness of and raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society." In December 2007 she received

1104-653: The borough of Hounslow, bringing outdoor arts to Bell Square , a purpose-built outdoor arts space in Hounslow Town Centre. It led the Creative People and Places Hounslow consortium, which was a 10 year programme funded by Arts Council England to help engage new audiences in the arts. During the Covid lockdowns Watermans instituted a fortnightly film club 'No Ticket Required' to continue its film programming and support its audiences. This proved to be insufficient to sustain

1150-551: The celebration of Michael Foot 's life at London's Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue , on 8 November 2010. She is also a republican . In January 2012, she gave the South Shields annual lecture at Harton Technology College alongside the Member of Parliament (MP) for the town, David Miliband . In August 2014, Brand was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in

1196-642: The centre and after a planned relocation was indefinitely delayed it was announced the centre would close in April of 2024. 51°29′09″N 0°17′55″W  /  51.4857°N 0.2987°W  / 51.4857; -0.2987 Arts centre In the United States , "art centers" are generally either establishments geared toward exposing, generating, and making accessible art making to arts-interested individuals, or buildings that rent primarily to artists, galleries, or companies involved in art making. In Britain ,

1242-431: The extent where she became the most frequently appearing guest on the latter, appearing in a total of 34 episodes. As a fan of Countdown , Brand achieved an ambition when she was invited to appear in the show's "Dictionary Corner" as the celebrity guest. She later became a friend of the host, Richard Whiteley , and after his death in 2005 attended his memorial service at York Minster . She has appeared on Countdown as

1288-498: The first celebrity version of Comic Relief Does Fame Academy . In 2007 she appeared as a celebrity contestant on Comic Relief Does The Apprentice . In 2009 she participated in Let's Dance for Comic Relief , another Comic Relief fundraiser, dancing as Britney Spears , reaching the final. She has also been a judge on the show. In January 2013 Brand took part in a special Comic Relief series of The Great British Bake Off . Brand has been

1334-616: The first ever Class Clowns competition at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe , she also announced the winner at the Gilded Balloon on the night. Brand wrote a feature-film adaptation of her novel The More You Ignore Me . The film was released in 2018. In 1993, Brand became a resident panellist, along with Tony Hawks , on BBC monologue show The Brain Drain . Her transition into mainstream television continued when she starred in her own series on Channel 4 , Jo Brand Through

1380-440: The foyer to act as a prelude to a screening of the film Wings of Desire. Peter Kember, Jason Pierce and Will Carruthers were joined by Rugby musician Steve Evans. They played a 45-minute jam, based around a single chord strummed by Evans, featuring riffs from some of the songs from their as yet unreleased Playing with Fire material. This performance was recorded and was later released, in 1990, as Dreamweapon . The performance

1426-448: The joke, saying: 'Whilst the ECU recognised that the wider message from this episode is an argument for more civility in political discourse, not less, and Ms Brand's contribution is not intended to be taken as face value, the ECU felt that it went beyond what was appropriate for the show.' In a 2018 interview, Brand recalled an incident where she was forcibly kissed by a financial trader during

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1472-431: The media, with many jokes containing references to celebrities and public figures. Brand has said that she drank heavily before her first gig, was heckled throughout, and received no applause at the end of the set. Her Doc Marten boots, large size and short hair led to false rumours that she was a lesbian . In 2007, Brand narrated Laughter & Tears: The Les Dawson Story , a documentary tribute to Les Dawson , which

1518-764: The rapidly increasing achievements of a number of British Asian playwrights, directors and actors – a trend fostered by the support of venues such as the Watermans Arts Centre," noting that the comedy circuit benefited from Watermans' support through the regular 'One Nation Under a Groove...Innit' event which "offered the opportunity to a number of emerging Asian comedians to exercise their skills before being cast in proper comedy dramas." Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar 's musical comedy double act "The Secret Indians (non-Asian)" performed at Watermans. Comedian Jo Brand visited in 2008. She said of Watermans that "these sort of places are important for local people in west London. You have

1564-601: The run-up to September's referendum on that issue . Brand is a supporter of the Women's Equality Party . In June 2019, Brand was featured in the BBC Radio 4 comedy show Heresy , after a number of right-wing and far-right European election candidates had been doused with milkshakes during campaign walkabouts the previous month. Brand said "Why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid ?" She later added: "That's just me, sorry, I'm not gonna do it, it's purely

1610-515: The second largest pipe organ in the United Kingdom. In order to practise her performance, she played " Dear Lord and Father of Mankind ", a favourite hymn of hers at a church service in her former village church in Benenden, Kent, and accompanied dancers at Blackpool Tower . Prior to this, her only experiences with musical instruments had been childhood piano and violin lessons. Brand took part in

1656-507: The site of gas works , Watermans Arts Centre was in planning for 15 years. A trust was put in place in 1975 and there was a fundraising drive. The Watermans Arts Trust managed to raise around £150,000 but it was not enough to build the centre. A planning deal was made with the developer of offices adjoining the current site which, along with the Trust's money, paid for the construction. It took about three years to build and cost about £2m. The building

1702-551: The stage name the "Sea Monster". She was part of the British alternative comedy movement, working in London alternative comedy clubs in the mid-1980s, and appearing initially on the Saturday Live television show. She shared a flat with fellow comic and comedy club owner Ivor Dembina . Brand's early style involved her delivering jokes in a bored monotone, one line at a time, with pauses in between. It drew heavily from pop culture and

1748-566: Was a social worker at Charing Cross Hospital and her father was a structural engineer . Her father suffered from depression and her parents separated when Brand was a teenager. Brand is the middle of three children, with two brothers. When she was about four, the family moved to the village of St Mary's Platt near Sevenoaks in Kent , and a year later, to Benenden . Brand was educated at St Mary's Platt Primary School, Benenden Village Primary School, Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School until

1794-540: Was a judge, with Andy Banks and Leon Taylor , on the ITV show Splash! . On 14 January 2014, Brand presented an episode of The Great Sport Relief Bake Off on BBC Two , a charity version of The Great British Bake Off . In February 2015 she also presented an episode of The Great Comic Relief Bake Off . Brand is the presenter of The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice , which premiered on 8 August 2014. A second series aired from August 2015, third from August 2016 and

1840-533: Was among a group of British entertainers who wrote an open letter to The Times of London in support of the leaders of the Baháʼí Faith who were then on trial in Iran . Brand is a supporter of the charity ActionAid and has taken part in fundraising events for the organisation. In November 2014, Brand was a part of Gareth Malone 's All Star Choir , who released a cover version of " Wake Me Up " to raise money for

1886-466: Was as a judge with John Amaechi and Jeremy Stockwell on the BBC Two series The Speaker , charting the search for "Britain's Best Young Speaker". In 2011, Brand presented Jo Brand's Big Splash , a television programme where she performed a stand-up routine and visited people with a love of water and it was produced by her production company, What Larks! Productions. In January 2013 and 2014, Brand

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1932-773: Was broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in October 2007. In 2010, Brand took part in Channel 4's Comedy Gala , a benefit show held in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital , filmed live at the O2 Arena in London on 30 March. Brand played the Demon Dinner Lady in the British live-action film Horrid Henry: The Movie (2011). She also provided a voice-over for the Lyric, Hammersmith Theatre's 2011 pantomime Aladdin . In August 2015, Brand judged

1978-418: Was designed by the architectural firm Oscar Garry & Partners. The original building contained a theatre, cinema, and gallery. The two studios are a later addition. John Baraldi was the first director of the arts centre. The first event in the theatre was a concert by sitar player Ravi Shankar . Watermans established a reputation for live music and early raves took place there. In fact, the term Acid Jazz

2024-559: Was not well received at the time. Pat Fish said "it was fucking beautiful, but in this setting it was really, really annoying people. It was quite loud in the room... tempers were beginning to fray." Robert Rankin held a position as the Writer in Residence of Watermans during the 1980s and organised a regular poetry event which he claims was the largest in Britain. Rankin's The Brentford Trilogy

2070-699: Was originally coined by DJ Gilles Peterson at one of Nicky Holloway's Special Branch gigs at the Watermans in late 1987. Gilles Peterson recollected that "Acid jazz happened when Bangsy and me were playing at the Waterman's Art Centre in Brentford. A one-off gig by Nicky Holloway. I think Paul Oakenfold or Pete Tong were DJing. It was all ‘get on one, matey’ and it was banging acid house." On 19 August 1988, alternative rock band Spacemen 3 gave an unusual live performance. An Evening of Contemporary Sitar Music took place in

2116-459: Was somewhat a crass and ill-judged joke that might upset people." It was understood that the allegation reported to the police was not made by Nigel Farage or the Brexit Party . Ofcom said it has received 65 complaints about the episode of Heresy . The police dropped the investigation two days later. On 29 August 2019, the BBC's Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) partially upheld complaints about

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