It says a lot about the magnificence of Katherine Ryan, Judi Love and Rosie Jones that the first time they properly met was when they were part of a lineup playing Wembley. It was 2019, and the three comedians were featuring in a Comic Relief night. Their paths would cross professionally – “It’s a small world for the females in the industry,” says Love – but not really socially. All were busy with their own projects plus, points out Ryan, she and Love have children. “And Rosie’s got dates,” says Love. “A packed sexual calendar,” adds Ryan, and Jones leans back and guffaws (she doesn’t deny it). They laugh at each other’s jokes, hug each other goodbye, avoid talking over each other – you’d think they’ve been close friends for years. But that’s not the case – don’t forget Covid happened not long after they met, says Jones. And on most TV panel shows “it’s still a case of ‘we’ve got one lady’ so it means that we don’t get to do the same TV shows”.
Now, finally, they are working together properly (and have become great friends in the process) on new Comedy Central show Out of Order. Jones hosts, Ryan and Love are team captains, and it’s all based round a group of members of the public, known as “Rosie’s Regulars”, being ranked from least to most likely across a number of categories. If this sounds basic on the page, imagine Love getting up close to examine a man with four nipples, or a four-times-married regular explaining where her relationships went wrong.
