Rachel Parris is a BAFTA-nominated comedian, and an author, actor and musician. She is perhaps best known for her viral satirical clips on The Mash Report on the BBC, which have garnered over 100 million views online. She went on the host Late Night Mash, and has also appeared on Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week, Would I Lie To You, Q.I. and Live At The Apollo.

She is a regular on BBC Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, and Just A Minute. She has been performing as a comedian for over 15 years, with her trademark mix of acerbic comedy song and standup. Trained as a classical pianist and singer, she has been compared to Victoria Wood and Tim Minchin, and her songs have been heard on Harry Hill’s ClubNite and on the Now Show. Her interest in classical music means she has worked on the BBC Proms coverage and, on BBC3, presented “Da Da Da Daaaah” a celebration of Beethoven’s Fifth.

She has written two books – a comic memoir, Advice From Strangers, and a novel, Introducing Mrs Collins, based on the story of Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice. Both are published by Hodder and available to buy online or from your local book shop. Her interest in Jane Austen has also led her to write and perform “Austensibly Famous” on BBC Radio 4, and she has recently appeared alongside Juliet Stevenson in “By A Lady” at Wilton’s Music Hall and Buxton Opera House, acting out the life-story and favourite moments from the work of Austen.

She is a founding member of award-winning improv group Austentatious, who perform a made-up Jane Austen inspired story each week. The show has been running for 15 years and has a residency at the Vaudeville theatre in London’s West End as well as being on tour. She also improvises with the Comedy Store Players, and with Paul Merton in Paul and Suki’s improv show, all at the Comedy Store, London.

Rachel co-hosted the podcast How Was It For You? with her husband Marcus Brigstocke, a comedy review show. The podcast came about following their cult online show Tuesday Night Club, which ran every week for a year and a half, broadcast from their home, across lockdown during Covid.

She also hosts The Power of A Book, in which she asks much-loved figures to discuss their favourite childhood books. It is in aid of the Children’s Book Project and guests have included Stephan Mangan, Lauren Laverne, Andi Oliver, and many more to come in Series 2 and 3.

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“tears of laughter” – Guardian
“a gifted performer” – Times
“venomously witty” – Evening Standard