Judi Love reveals her acting ambitions and an iconic TV show she would love to present

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What’s the view from your sofa?

A little footstool. I keep it very simple, really – dimmed lights and no interruptions.

Who controls the remote at home?

Yes, I definitely do! I’m a fan of thrillers and have been watching shows like Ripple on Netflix, All Her Fault on Now, and Reasonable Doubt on Disney+. It’s also really nice when my kids – my daughter is 20 and my son is 16 – come downstairs before dinner. Sometimes they watch their own thing, and other times we find something we all enjoy, which is the best way to get everyone to hang out together.

You used to be a social worker, and then you started doing comedy around the age of 30. What made you decide to pursue a career in comedy?

Doing comedy felt natural and right for me, even though it was intimidating. It felt like I’d found where I belonged, and I’m thankful I had that experience. I’m also interested in becoming a psychotherapist – I think the skills from that field can really help with comedy, building relationships, and connecting with people.

Would you like to pursue a degree in psychotherapy in the future?

I definitely enjoy entertainment, but I’m also deeply interested in understanding how people think – it’s a personal passion of mine.

You’ve achieved so much – you were the first Black British woman to headline and sell out the London Palladium, you’re a familiar face on television, and you were recently on Celebrity Sabotage. With everything going on, how do you manage your time?

I often think about work-life balance. My kids are my top priority – I always want to make sure I’m there for them and can take care of them. If I’m working long hours on a project one week, I make a point of being home the next. Even when I’m filming far away, I try my best to get home in the evenings. I’ve traveled long distances, but I really value being able to wake up at home with my children.

How do you think comedy has changed in recent years?

It’s clear that society has become more sensitive, and that impacts what people feel comfortable saying. While that’s a positive change in some ways – some things really were unacceptable – my comedy comes from my own life experiences. I only talk about things that have actually happened to me. If someone is offended by my stories, that’s their problem – I’m just sharing what I’ve lived through. Honestly, I don’t even bother reading comments; I just focus on moving forward.

You’ve spoken about getting stage fright. How do you deal with that?

I always get pretty anxious before going on stage. My stomach feels tied up in knots! I rely on a routine to calm my nerves – I listen to a specific song to get energized, and I try not to talk much beforehand. I make sure I have my opening joke memorized, because getting that first laugh helps me relax and get into a rhythm, allowing me to connect with the audience.

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You’re also dyslexic. Is that a challenge with work?

Traveling for work is manageable since it’s usually just me. My main worry is reading from a teleprompter or appearing on live television, but I’ve become much more comfortable with that. Now, for every TV show I do, I ask the writers to include pronunciation guides for how I say things. Thankfully, people in the television industry are very understanding and helpful.

What would you love to do next?

I’m really interested in doing more television work, especially on Saturday nights, and getting back into acting. I’d love to play a variety of roles – a police officer, someone in a historical drama, or even a mother who’s a superhero! I’d also be thrilled to host a show like ‘Blind Date’. Or, even better, a show featuring healthy, successful couples who can share real-life advice. It feels like people are looking for positive relationship examples, because from what I’ve heard, dating can be really complicated.

Authors

Laura Rutkowski

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2026-04-27 20:26