Aisling Bea

Aisling Bea is a BAFTA award-winning comedian, actor, writer and producer.

As a comedian, Aisling has appeared on shows like QI (BBC), Taskmaster (Dave/ C4), Ru Paul’s Drag Race (BBC) as a judge, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4), A League of Their Own (Sky), The Big Fat Quiz of Everything (C4), Late Night Lycett (C4), The Last Leg (C4), Live At The Apollo (BBC), Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC),The Jonathan Ross Show (ITV) and The Graham Norton Show (BBC). She won a British Comedy Award for Best Female Comedian, has a mini Netflix Stand Up Special available to stream globally and regularly performs across the world. She recently appeared as a contestant on LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland, for Amazon Prime. In 2011 she became the first woman in 20 years to win the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny? competition for new stand-ups and in 2016 became the first ever female team captain of long-running panel show 8 Out Of 10 Cats.

Her brilliant 5-star series This Way Up that she wrote, produced and starred in aired on Channel 4 in the UK and on HULU in the US, earning Aisling the BAFTA TV Craft Award for Breakthrough Talent. Aisling has been seen as the lead in the blockbuster film based on the music of Take That, Greatest Days and in Sky romcom Smothered. Most recently, she’s been seen opposite Domnhall Gleeson in new romantic drama Alice & Jack for Channel 4 and dark comedy feature & Mrs opposite Colin Hanks and Billie Lourd. Aisling can now be seen in the second series of Romesh Ranganathan’s popular BBC One series Avoidance.

Aisling has had lead roles in Netflix Original series, Living with Yourself opposite Paul Rudd, Netflix feature film Love. Wedding. Repeat, James Graham’s multi-award winning TV adaptation of his Olivier-winning stage show Quiz, the hugely popular Disney remake of Home Alone, Home Sweet Home Alone and the New Years Eve Special of Doctor Who.  

Other acting credits include roles in BBC drama Hard Sun from Luther creator Neil Cross, the acclaimed BBC drama series The Fall with Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson, E4’s show Gap Year, Sky 1’s Trollied, ITV series Delivery Man, Sharon Horgan’s show Dead Boss and Channel 4’s The Damned. 

Aisling is the current face of Jameson Whiskey. She has scripts in development in the UK and US, script edited Greatest Days and also co-wrote Affairs Of State, a movie in development with Star Thrower.

• Nominee: BAFTA TV Awards for The Female Performance in a Comedy Programme 2022 (This Way Up)
• Winner: NME Awards Best Actor 2022 (This Way Up)
• Nominee: Writers’ Guild Of Great Britain Best TV Situation Comedy 2021 (This Way Up – Series 2)
• Winner: BAFTA Breakthrough Act 2020
• Nominee: RTS Awards Breakthrough Award 2019
• Winner: British Comedy Awards Best Female TV Comic 2015
• Nominee: Fosters Comedy Award Best Newcomer 2013
• Winner: So You Think You’re Funny 2012

Credits

TV

• The Jonathan Ross Show (Guest, ITV, 2019, 2021 & 2024)
• QI (Guest, BBC2, 2015-2024)
• LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland (Performer, Amazon, 2024)
• Late Night Lycett: It’s Christmas! (Guest, Channel 4, 2023)
• The Last Leg (Guest, Channel 4, 2017-2023)
• The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice (Guest, Channel 4, 2021 & 2023)
• Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK (Guest Judge, BBC1, 2022 & 2023)
• The Big Narstie Show (Guest, Channel 4, 2022)
• Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains (Guest, Channel 4, 2021)
• One Night In (Guest, Channel 4, 2021)
• I Literally Just Told You (Guest, Channel 4, 2021)
• The Kelly Clarkson Show (Guest, NBC, 2021)
• The Late Late Show with James Corden (Guest, CBS, 2021)
• Late Night with Seth Meyers (Guest, NBC, 2021)
• Have I Got News For You (Guest Host, BBC1, 2021)
• The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan (Guest, Channel 4, 2019 & 2021)
• SU2C: Gogglebox (Guest, Channel 4, 2021)
• Richard Osman’s House of Games (Guest, BBC2, 2020)
• The Graham Norton Show (Guest, BBC1, 2020)
• Guessable (Guest, Comedy Central, 2020)
• The Russell Howard Hour (Guest, Sky1, 2020)
• The Ranganation (Guest, BBC2, 2020)
• Billy Connolly: It’s Been a Pleasure (Guest, ITV, 2020)
• 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Guest, Channel 4, 2014-2015 & 2018-2019)
• 8 Out Of 10 Cats (Team Captain, More4 & E4, 2016-2017 & 2019)
• The Comedy Line Up (Stand Up, Netflix, 2018)
• Word of the Year (Guest, Channel 4, 2017)
• The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice (Guest, BBC2, 2017)
• SU2C Bake Off (Contestant, Channel 4, 2017)
• Taskmaster (Contestant, Dave, 2017)
• Travel Man (Guest, Channel 4, 2017 & 2022)
• Frank Skinner On Demand (Guest, BBC iPlayer, 2016)
• Big Fat Quiz of Everything (Guest, Channel 4, 2016)
• Very British Problems (Guest, Channel 4, 2016)
• Child Genius (Guest, Channel 4, 2016)
• Duck Quacks Don’t Echo (Guest, Sky1, 2016)
• The O2 Comedy Gala (Stand Up, Channel 4, 2014 & 2016)
• Insert Name Here (Guest, BBC2, 2016-2017)
• A League of Their Own (Guest, Sky1, 2015-2016)
• Room 10 (Guest, BBC1, 2016)
• Channel 4’s Alternative Election Night (Presenter, Channel 4, 2015)
• Would I Lie To You (Guest, BBC1, 2014-2015)
• Virtually Famous (Guest, BBC3, 2014)
• Celebrity Squares (Guest, ITV, 2014-2015)
• 8 Out Of 10 Cats (Guest, Channel 4, 2014)
• Live At The Apollo (Stand Up, BBC1, 2014)
• Sweat The Small Stuff (Guest, BBC3, 2013)
• Monumental (Guest, BBC NI, 2013)
• Russell Howard’s Good News (Stand Up, BBC3, 2013)
• Seann Walsh’s Late Night Comedy (Stand Up, BBC3, 2013)
• Don’t Sit In The Front Row (Guest, Sky Atlantic, 2013)

TV – Acting

• Avoidance (Role of Megan, BBC, 2024)
• Alice & Jack (Role of Lynn, Channel 4, 2024)
• Smothered (4 Episodes, Role of Gillian, Sky Original, 2023)
• Chivalry (1 Episode, Role of Tatiana, Channel 4, 2022)
• Dr Who (1 Episode, Role of Sarah, BBC, 2022)
• This Way Up (Creator, Writer, Executive Producer & Role of Aine, Channel 4 & Hulu, 2019-2021)
• Cinderella: A Comic Relief Pantomime for Christmas (Role of Mrs Snitch, BBC2, 2020)
• Quiz (Role of Claudia Rosencrantz, ITV, 2020)
• Living With Yourself (Role of Kate Elliot, Netflix, 2019)
• State of the Union (1 Episode, Role of Anna, Sundance TV, 2019)
• Finding Joy (5 Episodes, Role of Amelia, Acorn TV, 2018)
• I Feel Bad (1 Episode, Role of Simone, NBC, 2018)
• Plebs (1 Episode, Role of Minerva, ITV2, 2018)
• Hard Sun (5 Episodes, Role of Mari Butler, BBC1 & Hulu, 2018)
• Gap Year (2 Episodes, Role of Kendra, Channel 4, 2017)
• The Fall (4 Episodes, Role of Nurse Sheridan, Channel 4, 2016-2017)
• Damned (1 Episode, Role of Anne-Marie, Channel 4, 2016)
• Trollied (13 Episodes, Role of Charlie, Sky1, 2014-2015)
• The Delivery Man (Role of Lisa, ITV, 2015)
• BBC Comedy Feeds, Vodka Diaries (1 Episode, Role of Nic, BBC3, 2014)
• The Assets (1 Episode, Role of Kara Jensen, ABC, 2014)
• Playhouse Presents, Damned (1 Episode, Role of Toddler Woman, Sky Arts, 2014)
• The Sunny (Role of Emma, BBC Scotland, 2014)
• Quick Cuts (1 Episode, Role of Customer, BBC4, 2013)
• Very Few Fish (Role of Grainne, BBC, 2013)
• Fit (Various Roles, CBBC, 2013)
• The Town (Role of Carly, ITV, 2012)
• Trivia (6 Episodes, Role of Ruth, RTE, 2012)
• In With The Flynns (1 Episode, Role of Naimah, BBC1, 2012)
• Dead Boss (Role of Laura, BBC3, 2012)
• Cardinal Burns (5 Episodes, Role of Sally, Channel 4, 2012)
• The Savage Eye (3 Episodes, Various Roles, RTE, 2009-2011)
• Holby City (1 Episode, Role of Amelia Warner, BBC, 2011)
• Lewis (1 Episode, Role of Hotel Receptionist, ITV, 2011)
• Come Fly With Me (1 Episode, Role of Mary O’Mara, BBC1, 2011)
• Freedom (Role of Aisling, BBC, 2010)
• L.O.L. (1 Episode, Various Roles, BBC NI, 2010)
• Inn Mates (1 Episode, Role of Elf, BBC3, 2010)
• Belonging to Laura (Role of Leanne Thompson, TV3, 2009)
• Roy (1 Episode, Role of Ticket Girl, RTE & CBBX, 2009)
• We Are Klang (1 Episode, Role of Inspector, BBC, 2009)
• Fair City (3 Episodes, Role of Cliodhna Norris, RTE, 2009)

Film – Acting

• Svalta (Role of Susan, Release TBC)
• And Mrs (Role of Gemma, Release TBC)
• Swede Caroline (Role of Louise, 2024)
• Greatest Days (Role of Rachel, 2023)
• Riverdance: The Animated Adventure (Role of Margot (Voice), 2022)
• Home Sweet Home Alone (Role of Carol Mercer, 2021)
• Love, Wedding, Repeat (Role of Rebecca, 2019)
• Sherlock Gnomes (Role of Helen)

Writing

• This Way Up (Creator, Writer, Executive Producer and Role of Aine, Channel 4 & Hulu, 2019-2021)

Radio & Podcasts

• Somewhere in the Skies (Guest, eOne, 2019 & 2023)
• Dish (Guest, 2023)
• Kermode & Mayo’s Take (Guest, 2023)
• Trusty Hogs (Guest, 2023)
• The Laughs Of Your Life with Doireann Garrihy (Guest, 2022)
• Bookshelfie: Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast (Guest, 2022)
• Live To Tape with Johnny Pemberton (Guest, 2022)
• Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out (Guest, 2022)
• Taskmaster The Podcast (Guest, 2022)
• How Did This Get Made? (Guest, 2022)
• Talk Art (Guest, 2021)
• Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast (Guest, Earwolf, 2021)
• Wilosophy Podcast with Will Anderson (Guest, 2021)
• The Endless Honeymoon (Guest, 2021)
• Comfort Eating with Grace Dent (Guest, The Guardian, 2021)
• Table Manners with Jessie & Lennie Ware (Guest, 2020)
• I Weigh with Jameela Jamil (Guest, 2020)
• An Irishman Abroad (Guest, 2019-2020)
• RHLSTP with Richard Herring (Guest, 2020)
• You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes (Guest, 2020)
• Out To Lunch with Jay Rayner (Guest, 2019)
• Take Your Shoes Off w/ Rick Glassman (Guest, 2019)
• Adulting with Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos (Guest, Exactly Right, 2019)
• Off Menu (Guest, Plosive, 2019)
• The Guilty Feminist (Guest, 2018-2019)
• Griefcast (Guest, 2018)
• Do The Right Thing (Guest, Fuzz Productions, 2018)
• The Adam Buxton Podcast (Guest, 2018)
• BBC Radio 2 Comedy Showcase – What is Normal? (Radio Co-Host, BBC Radio 2, 2018)
• Get It On with Dawn O’Porter (Guest, Global, 2017)
• It’s Not What You Know (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2016)
• The Unbelievable Truth (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2016)
• Irish Micks and Legends (Writer & Performer, BBC Radio 4, 2012 & 2015)
• Loose Ends (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2014)
• Sabotage (Performer, BBC Radio 4 Extra, 2013)
• Josh Widdicombe (Radio Guest, XFM, 2014)

Press

The standout was Aisling Bea’s set… combining high-quality routines about Covid, Ireland and Jesus in an irresistible goofball package
Guardian (Top 10 Shows Of 2020 – Number 2)

A masterclass in high-impact entertainment.
Evening Standard ★★★★★

An hour of high-energy comedy that is puppyishly irresistible.
The Independent ★★★★★

Certainly lives up to the hype… brilliant material. ★★★★
The List 

A born comedian 
Steve Bennett, Chortle ★★★★

 A physical show and at times beautifully deranged…[Bea has] utter charm that’s not all down to the Irish accent. 
The Herald ★★★★

The opinions and convictions Bea smuggles into her set […] suggest a comic who’ll have meaningful things to say once she’s proven, to everyone’s satisfaction, that she’s got being funny in the bag. On which point: job done.
The Guardian ★★★★

A caustic, sarcastic yet hugely loveable second Fringe hour from the Irish jester.
The List ★★★★

Aisling Bea: unstoppable confidence in bubbly, charismatic show of escapist fantasies…I’m more than happy to be in her fan club.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard ★★★★

She returns with another high-energy hour of clowning about and rapid-fire delivery mixed with some astute political observation.
The Arts Desk ★★★★★

Praise for This Way Up

TV so good it’s indistinguishable from magic.
The Guardian ★★★★★

Series two somehow manages to be funnier, kinder and more heartbreaking than its predecessor, and is a perfect testament to Bea’s talent.
The Independent ★★★★★

A series as fiercely realistic as it is funny as it is… well, everything.
The Guardian ★★★★★

Sharp and well observed, probing the fault lines between small talk and real problems.
The Independent ★★★★

This is a comedy about mental health that deftly preys on your fears and pricks your sympathies. At the same time there was a gratifyingly high gag rate.
The Telegraph ★★★★