Hattie Hayridge

HATTIE HAYRIDGE was a major part of the late '80s, early '90s wave of comedians. Her very first gig in 1986 was a spontaneous five minute spot in a London club, after "a bad day at the office". She continued with open spots and gigs throughout 1986 and 1987, including the Edinburgh Festival, and as runner-up Hackney Empire New Act of the Year in 1987.

 

In April 1988, she appeared on FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE hosted by Ben Elton, and was spotted by Paul Jackson, the Producer of BBC's RED DWARF and writers Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. She was invited to appear in the one episode, PARALLEL UNIVERSE, (Series II) to play Hilly, the female equivalent of the male Computer, Holly (Norman Lovett). The same year, Hattie went to perform at the Montreal Comedy Festival, being filmed for the related Just For Laughs TV programme. In 1989, after the departure of Norman Lovett from RED DWARF, to star in his own show, Hattie successfully auditioned for the part of HOLLY. She appeared in RED DWARF Series III, IV and V, after which the character did not appear until Norman returned for Series VIII.

 

Most of her television appearances have been 'as herself' on panel shows and stand-up shows throughout the 1990's that included THAT'S SHOW BUSINESS, the first revival of CELEBRITY SQUARES with Bob Monkhouse, HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU, and an episode of a sci-fi panel show called SPACE CADETS with William Shatner. As an actress, she has performed in Jonathan Creek (episode The Three Gamblers) also featuring Jonathan Ross, and the North American sci-fi series LEXX (episode P4X), and sketch shows with Kevin Eldon and John Culshaw.

 

In 2009, Hattie performed a set on US TV on The LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON. She also starred alongside PHILL JUPITUS, MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE and SANJEEV BASKAR iN the UK version of the hit American improvisation show, TOTALLY LOOPED, spontaneously dubbing comedy soundtracks over random film clips from audience suggestions.

 

Robert Llewellyn's online Carpool interview with Hattie was filmed in 2010 as was her winning performance on Celebrity Mastermind. Throughout most of 2011, Hattie toured live with Rory Bremner and jazz musician Ian Shaw. She was a guest at the DONBURACON sci-fi Convention in Japan, and had her name emblazoned in brick on Blackpool's Comedy Carpet. In 2013 Hattie appeared on Stewart Lee's Alternative Comedy Experience on Comedy Central, and joined ALEXEI SAYLE on tour.

 

She has appeared in the Ben Miller directed film, HUGE and the comedy, SUPERBOB.  Hattie Hayridge continues to performs live stand up comedy around Britain and all over the world, including the Adelaide, Edinburgh and Melbourne Comedy Festivals. Having performed in Zagreb, it's now likely she has completed the A-Z of venues (if we give her Exeter).

 

"She's clever on stage and she has a lot more bite than you first expect. Hattie reminds me of one of those James Bond villains. Right when it looks like she's about to kiss you, Hattie drops a tarantula down your pants." Mike Wilmot TIME OUT

 

"Boom there it is, the deceptive and surprising edge for which she is renowned and applauded by so many of her fellow-comics" Julian Hall, The Independent,10 Aug 2007

 

Her autobiography, RANDOM ABSTRACT MEMORY published by Penguin, tells the tale of her birth as a suspected appendicitis to her spontaneous leap into comedy. An update is on the cards, sometime…..