Top impressionist of BBC Radio 4's Dead Ringers talks about growing up in a house dominated by Liverpool FC and her father's schizophrenia. Her love of Thora Hird's certainty. Spitting Image and beyond.
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Description
Impressions, insecurity, and the struggle for control.
Jan Ravens, one of the brilliant key voices behind BBC Radio 4’s Dead Ringers and a Spitting Image veteran, didn’t have the easiest start. Growing up in a household dominated by Liverpool FC and her father’s schizophrenia, she often felt powerless—until she discovered something that gave her control: comedy.
She talks about impersonating teachers for laughs, dropping weight (and suddenly being the most popular girl at the disco), and why Thora Hird’s unwavering certainty became an unexpected source of comfort. She reflects on awkward and poignant moments with her father, her mother’s anger, and the lasting impact of living in a house where mental illness loomed large.
But Jan didn’t just survive—she excelled. Inspired by local legend Glenda Jackson, she made it to Cambridge University , Footlghts, the RSC, Spitting Image, and beyond. From winning Celebrity Mastermind to dancing on Strictly, she’s built a career on fearlessly stepping up—even when she doubted herself.
A funny, fierce, and deeply honest conversation about fear, resilience, how comedy became her lifeline.
Life Jackets
Lifejackets in this podcast refer to the personal tools and rituals that keep us afloat in the waves of life. Whether it’s a film, tv show, music, a favourite book, a crossword puzzle, or the steady presence of a dog, these are the things that keep us afloat. Everyone needs their own lifejackets—small but essential things that help us stay sane in an insane world.
- Novels – Persuasion – Jane Austin, Middle March – George Elliott, Being Mortal – Atul Gawande
- Films – Parenthood, Betty Davis – Now Voyager
- TV – Victoria Wood “As seen on TV”
- Music – Changes all the time. Currently enjoying classical music but more of a pop music lover. Loves anything by Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run.
- Gardening – More of a live life gardener – “Let your garden grow” – in what you do in life.
- Pets – Used to have a mini schnauzer called Thora – but since she passed away, she plans to be creatively indeoendant and travel.