Jo hits out at 'bearpit' panel games

Jo Brand says she will never appear on Mock The Week again, because she hates the aggressive, bearpit atmosphere.

Her comments come after Victoria Wood criticised panel shows such as Have I Got News For You? and Never Mind The Buzzcocks for being ‘male-dominated’ and ‘testosterone-fuelled’.

Wood told this week’s Radio Times: ‘A lot of panel programmes rely on men topping each other, or sparring with each other, which is not generally a very female thing.’

Now Brand – who can usually be relied on to hold her own against any male comic – said that on panel shows women are often ‘perceived as window dressing (Never Mind the Buzzcocks) or figures of ridicule (They Think It\'s All Over, Have I Got News For You)’.

Writing in the Guardian, she said: ‘Some panel shows, however, are more women-friendly than others. The News Quiz is a joy. QI also allows you to take your time and join in.

‘But I don\'t do Mock The Week any more and neither do some male stand-ups I know who have tried it once. We just didn\'t like the prospect of having to bite someone\'s foot off before they let us say something.

‘Regular panellists on shows can be terrifying. They own that space and many guest comics suspect they are favoured in the edit, while their own hilarious jokes end up being ejected into the ether.

Sandi Toksvig, who hosts The News Quiz on Radio 4, has previously made similar comments about the competitive nature of panel shows,

She said last year: ‘Testosterone-fuelled arguments between the boys make it difficult. Women\'s jokes aren\'t about trying to top the last person or “win” the game.

‘ I think that if more women were in charge, everyone would get a look-in.’

Published: 10 Jun 2009