Francesca Martinez -

Following her hugely successful tour of Australia, and fresh from winning an award at the Edinburgh Fringe, Britain’s first wobbly* comedian, Francesca Martinez, is proud to be taking her ground-breaking show on a 50 date tour of the UK.

What happens when you're branded ‘abnormal' in a world obsessed with normality? This show is Francesca's defiant, insightful and fascinating answer...

Intrigued by the power that a six-letter word has over so many people, Francesca shares her own life-changing journey of growing up as ‘abnormal’, being rescued from High-School-Hell by ‘Grange Hill’, letting Ricky Gervais take the piss out of her walk in 'Extras' and working out what to say to the BBC after being offered the role of a, ahem, vegetable.

Whatever body you’re born into, it seems that most people share the universal desire to be ‘normal’. This show is for anyone who’s ever struggled to fit in, felt ‘different’ or wondered what the **** normal means? Apart from a cycle on a washing machine, of course.

Francesca is an award-winning comedian who has toured internationally with sell-out runs around the world including the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe and appearances at the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. She has also performed in Ireland, South Africa, Canada, America (in Hollywood and on Broadway) and at the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland, where she performed alongside actress Emma Thompson. Francesca is a regular face on TV here and abroad, and is well-known for starring in five series of Grange Hill and a much-loved appearance on The Frank Skinner Show. Ricky Gervais is a big supporter of her work and wrote a starring role especially for her in Extras, opposite actress Kate Winslet.

Not one to shy away from the important issues, in 2008 Francesca made global headlines when she became the first Olympic Torch-Bearer to pull out of the London relay in protest against China’s treatment of Tibet. In 2012, she took on Michael Portillo over the government’s welfare reforms live on BBC1’s This Week. Her appearance sparked huge public interest and the programme’s producers were bowled over by the amount of positive feedback – far more than any of their previous shows had received. She continued to challenge the cuts on Newsnight BBC2 and Free Speech BBC, once again resulting massive support from the public.

2012 also saw Francesca make a splash on her debut appearances on Adam Hills Chat Show ABC, The Saturday Night Show RTE, Tonight ITV, The News Quiz BBC Radio 4, and Russell Howard's Good News BBC3.

* Francesca has cerebral palsy, but much prefers the term 'wobbly'.

“Consistently boasting the most interesting line ups in the country”

The Times