About
Writer. Critic. Broadcaster. Stand-up comedian (”charmingly leftfield with a warm, oddball sense of humour”). MC and literary events host. Artistic Director, Bath Literature Festival (March 2014).
– Author of “stand-up meets mid-life crisis memoir” I Laughed, I Cried: How One Woman Took On Stand-Up and (Almost) Ruined Her Life, Orion, June 2013.
– Host of The Night I Died (producer: Suzanne Azzopardi of Literary Death Match), an improvised chat show about the joy and hell of live performance. Next show: 7 June, evening, Stoke Newington Lit Fest. Edinburgh 2014: Alternative Fringe at Bob’s Book Shop, 8-10 Aug, 11pm. Follow us on Twitter @TheNightIDied
– Improviser in Upstairs Downton: The Improvised Episode, a “lost” episode of 1920s TV drama in full period costume: “Just like on telly. Only made up.” Edinburgh Festival 2013: Heroes of the Fringe at The Hive, 5pm, 1-25 August.
– Resident MC, Dead Parrot Society, Teddington. New gigs coming soon.
– Made-Up Stand-Up 2013 Finalist (ongoing). Spontaneity Shop’s Maestro Improv 2012 Winner. Funny Women 2012 Finalist. So You Think You’re Funny 2012 Semi-Finalist.
Sequinned jumpsuit enthusiast. Literary Editor for Red magazine. Laissez-faire parent. Paper reviewer on Sky News. Panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions. Literary Death Match judge. Member of The Actors’ Centre. Downton Abbey fanatic. Author of “air-headed guff” (Telegraph reader) and ”Worst. Article. Ever” (Guardian reader). Loves to tweet. Hates avocados. Slightly overweight. Hair by Elnett. Name means ‘Lively Bighead’.
What they say
“Who do I like to read? Viv Groskop. Because she makes me laugh.” Claire Oldfield, MD of Wardour and judge, Editorial Intelligence Comment Awards
“Just the best Downton reviews by Viv Groskop.” @Lonotarianni on Twitter
”Genius. Almost as good as the episode itself.” @marct_01 on Twitter
”Been reading Viv Groskop’s episode articles every week at the Guardian site. They are hilarious and very spoilerish.” @JanetRutter on Twitter
”I always love your reviews. The other papers do not compare!” @lobster_squad on Twitter
”Only just caught up with @VivGroskop‘s Downton Abbey blog for this week: as usual, it made me laugh out loud.” @clairenelson on Twitter
“I love this blog as much as Downton.” @LucyGosnay on Twitter
“Insightful AND snarky.” @bkjabour on Twitter
“Jelly for brains.” — Rod Liddle
“Very funny. Loved her.” — Brett Goldstein, 99 Club
“Fresh and exciting.” — Sara Pascoe, Channel 4′s Stand Up for the Week
“…the only stand-up comic with a first in Russian…” — Financial Times Diary
“The wannabe middle class version of Julie Burchill. Not Boden well. Ahem.” — Independent reader comment
“Remind me to avoid anything she puts her pen to #numbskull” — Sky News viewer on Twitter
“Quickly! Tell this woman that she is rapidly going grey during the break!” — Sky News viewer @TomTheScottish on Twitter
“OMG!!!!!!! Who does this Viv Groskop think he is?” — Netmums thread
“Mr Critic, [...] your piffling opinions do not matter to us at all.” — comment on Downton Abbey blog, The Guardian
“jumpsuit-wearing, monkey-championing queen of costume drama” — @insomnihana on Twitter
“the only stand-up comedian who tweets about cabbage pies” — @richardlittleda on Twitter
From left to right: My Favourite Things for A Little Bird; Seven Rules of Writing Comedy for Funny Women; Screaming with Laughter Parent n’ Baby Comedy; Funny Women Finals.
