one4review | On 10, Aug 2025

Gilded Balloon marks four decades at the festival with a series of special in-conversations featuring comedy greats. Tonight is comedian, novelist and actress Jenny Eclair.

Jenny is joined in conversation with Kaye Adams. This is a career which has spanned more than thirty years. Jenny was the first woman to win the prestigious Perrier Award at the Fringe back in 1996. Jenny has enjoyed an incredible career, but as we hear this evening, her life away from the spotlight had it’s low points and there were struggles.

The chemistry and rapport between Jenny and Kaye is clear and this makes for a relaxed and entertaining hour in great company.

There is so much to talk about! The TV work over the years. Who remembers that Jenny took part in I’m A Celebrity back in 2010, and managed a respectable 3rd place. Oh and the bravery of taking part in Splash. A diving, yes celebrities learning to dive, with Tom Daly. There was a brief period as a regular on the Loose Women panel, which we are told, all ended quite badly when Jenny just couldn’t contain her urge for sheer naughtiness! There are also countless TV credits in acting roles.

Jenny is also a successful author and is currently working on her latest book, a novel.

Various photos of key moments in Jenny’s life are projected on stage from the 90’s onwards. There is an iconic image of Jenny clutching her well deserved Fringe Perrier award and this was indeed the springboard for the career that has followed. Jenny, of course, regales us with hilarious stories behind many of the images. There was definitely some outrageous behaviour from Jenny around this time but also a time that she regrets not being at home doing “mum” things with her very young daughter.

A fascinating, entertaining and quite hilarious chat from the one and only Jenny Eclair.

*****
Reviewed by Margot

Gilded Balloon at the Museum of (Auditorium)
August 8th and 9th @ 14:45