Holly Walsh is a BAFTA award winning comedian, writer, executive producer and director.
Holly is co-creator, co-writer and executive producer of the BBC sitcom Motherland. In May 2022, Holly and her fellow writers won the BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy. They have also been nominated for multiple prestigious awards for the show, including Royal Television Society Awards (2017), British Screenwriters’ Awards (2018) and International Emmy Awards (2021).
Holly is also the creator, co-writer and executive producer of The Other One, which launched on BBC1 in June 2020. In addition to creating, writing and exec producing the show, Holly also directed most of the first series and all of the second series, which began airing in May 2022 on BBC1. Both series of The Other One have received widespread critical acclaim. She was also a writing contributor on Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023) and script edited the widely acclaimed Channel 4 series, Big Boys.
Holly has appeared on all of the top TV British comedy shows including: Live at the Apollo (BBC2), QI (BBC2), Would I Lie To You? (BBC1), Room 101 (BBC1), Mock The Week (BBC2) and 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4).
Before turning her hand to writing, producing and directing television, Holly performed multiple sellout solo stand up shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, securing a nomination for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for her debut show Hollycopter.
Awards
- Nominee:BAFTA Television Craft Awards, Comedy Writing (Motherland), 2023
- Winner: BAFTA Television Awards, Scripted Comedy (Motherland), 2022
- Nominee:Royal Television SocietyAwards, Comedy Writing (Motherland), 2017 & 2022
- Nominee: International Emmy Awards, Best Comedy (Motherland), 2021
- Nominee: British Screenwriters’ Awards, Best Comedy Writing on Television (Motherland), 2018
- Nominee:Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award, Best Newcomer Nominee, 2011
- Winner:Chortle Awards Best Newcomer 2008
- Finalist:Hackney Empire New Act Of The Year 2007
- Finalist:So You Think You’re Funny Competition Finalist 2006
- Finalist:Funny Women Competition Finalist 2006
TV
- QI (Guest, BBC2, 2016-2024)
- Pointless Celebrities (Guest, BBC1, 2016, 2024)
- Mock the Week (Guest, BBC2, 2009–2022)
- Question Team (Guest, Dave, 2022)
- Grayson’s Art Club (Guest, Channel 4, 2021)
- Frankie Boyle’s New World Order (Guest, BBC2, 2021)
- Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier (Guest, Dave, 2019)
- Richard Osman’s House Of Games: Champion of Champions (Guest, BBC2, 2019)
- Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (Guest, ITV, 2019)
- Room 101 (Guest, BBC1, 2018)
- I’ll Get This (Guest, BBC1, 2018)
- The Apprentice: You’re Fired (Guest, BBC2, 2017)
- Parenting For Idiots (Guest, Channel 4, 2017)
- 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Guest, Channel 4, 2014–2017)
- Live At The Apollo (Guest, BBC2, 2016)
- Roald Dahl’s Most Marvelous Book (Guest, Channel 4, 2016)
- Insert Name Here (Guest, BBC2, 2016)
- Danny Baker’s Players’ Lounge (Guest, BT Sport 1, 2015)
- Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (Guest, Dave, 2015)
- Sweat the Small Stuff (Guest, BBC3, 2014)
- Comedy Central at The Comedy Store (Guest, Comedy Central, 2014)
- The Matt Lucas Awards (Guest, BBC1, 2013)
- Deal or No Deal / 8 Out of 10 Cats Mash Up (Guest, Channel 4, 2013)
- Celebrity Mastermind (Guest, BBC1, 2013)
- 8 Out of 10 Cats (Guest, Channel 4, 2009–2012)
- Jonathan Ross Film Show (Pilot) (Guest, ITV, 2012)
- Never Mind The Buzzcocks (Guest, BBC2, 2009-2012)
- The Mad Bad Ad Show (Guest, Channel 4, 2012)
- The Joy of the Single (Guest, BBC4, 2012)
- Edinburgh Comedy Gala (Guest, BBC3, 2011)
- All Over The Place (Guest, CBBC, 2011)
- Comedy Summit – Pilot (Guest, E4, 2011)
- Dave’s One Night Stand (Guest, Dave, 2010)
- My So Called Life Sentence – Pilot (Guest, BBC2, 2010)
- The Blame Game (Guest, BBC NI, 2010)
- Would I Lie To You? (Guest, BBC 1, 2010)
- Celebrity Big Brother’s Big Mouth (Guest, Channel 4, 2010)
- You Have Been Watching (Guest, Channel 4, 2009-2010)
- TNT Show (Co-Host, Channel 4, 2009)
- Big Brother’s Little Brother (Guest, Channel 4, 2009)
- Big Brother’s Big Mouth (Guest, Channel 4, 2009)
- Sound Celebrity Stalker (Guest, BBC 2, 2009)
- Charlie Brooker’s Newswipe – Pilot (Guest, 2009)
- Winging It (Performer, BBC Switch, 2009)
- CBBC (Continuity Presenter, 2008)
- Edinburgh & Beyond (Performer, Paramount Comedy Channel, 2008)
- Delta Forever (Role of Delta Fan & Writer, BBC3, 2008)
- Frank Skinner’s Skateboarding Dog – Pilot (Guest, 2007)
Radio & Podcasts
- Just A Minute (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2014, 2016, 2023)
- The Unbelievable Truth (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2014-2023)
- The News Quiz (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2009-2017, 2023)
- Great Lives (Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2022)
- Museum Of Curiosity (Radio Guest & Co-Host, BBC Radio 4, 2016 & 2021)
- Joe Lycett’s Obsessions (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2020)
- The Adam Buxton Podcast (Guest, 2020)
- Best Behaviour (Radio Host, BBC Radio 4, 2015)
- Al Murray’s Seven Day Saturday (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 5, 2015)
- Britain Versus The World (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2015)
- Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable (Radio Guest, BBC 6Music, 2010-2015)
- The Now Show (Radio Guest & Writer, BBC Radio 4, 2009 – 2014)
- Wordaholics (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2014)
- Fred McCauley & Co (Radio Guest, BBC Radio Scotland, 2013 & 2014)
- Life: An Idiot’s Guide with Stephen K. Amos (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2013)
- The Nick Helm Christmas Spectacular (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 1, 2012)
- Frank Skinner Show (Radio Guest, Absolute Radio, 2012)
- International Waters Podcast (Guest, Maximum Fun, 2012)
- And The Winner Is… (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 2, 2011)
- Charlie Brooker’s So Wrong It’s Right (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2010-2011)
- 7 Day Sunday (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 5, 2010-2011)
- Act Your Age (Radio Guest, BBC Radio 4, 2008 & 2010-2011)
- Out To Lunch (Performer, BBC Radio 2, 2008)
- Radio 7’s Witty & Twisted (Performer, BBC7, 2007)
Writing
- Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (Writing Contributor, Netflix, 2023)
- The Other One (Creator, Co-Writer, Executive Producer & Director, BBC1, 2020-2022)
- Motherland (Creator, Co-Writer & Executive Producer, BBC2, 2017-2022)
- Charlotte & Lillian (Writer, BBC Radio 4, 2017-2019)
- Glued (Writer, Xfinity, 2016)
- Crackanory (Writer, Tiger Aspect & Dave, 2013-2015)
- The Now Show (Writer, BBC Radio 4, 2010-2015)
- Psychobitches (Writer, Hat Trick & Sky, 2013-2014)
- Bad Management (Co-Writer, Creator & Co-Producer, ABC Productions, 2013)
- Cardinal Burns (Writing Contributor, Left Bank & Channel 4, 2013)
- Anna & Katy (Writer, Roughcut & Channel 4, 2013)
- Dead Boss (Co-Writer & Creator, BBC3, 2012)
- My So Called Life Sentence (Co-Writer, BBC, 2011)
- Bad Mom (Co-Writer, ABC Productions, 2012)
- V-EYE-P (Writing Contributor, BBC3, 2010)
- Bigipedia (Writing Contributor, BBC Radio, 2009)
- The News Quiz (Writing Contributor, BBC Radio 4, 2009)
- Broken Arts (Writing Contributor, BBC Radio 4, 2009)
- Talking and Not Talking (Writing Contributor, BBC Radio 4, 2008–2009)
- The Anna & Katy Show (Writing Contributor, BBC Radio 2, 2008)
- Delta Forever (Writer, BBC3, 2008)
- The Wall (Writing Contributor, BBC3, 2008)
- Laurence & Gus – Hearts & Minds (Writing Contributor, BBC Radio 4, 2008)
- The Charlotte Church Show (Writing Contributor, Channel 4, 2007)
- Grrrr (Writer, BBC Scotland, 2007)
- It’s That Jo Caulfield Again (Writing Contributor, BBC Radio 4, 2006–2007)
Live
- Holly Walsh: Never Had It (Soho Theatre, 2015)
- Holly Walsh: Never Had It (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 2014)
- Holly Walsh: Hollycopter (Soho Theatre, 2012)
- Holly Walsh: Hollycopter (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 2011)
- Ross Noble Tour (Support Act, National Tour, 2011)
- Leicester Comedy Festival Tour Stand Up (National Tour, 2009)
- The Comedy Reserve Stand Up Pleasance (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 2008)
Press
She’s gifted with snappy wit and crackling talent.
The Guardian
She peppers her set with callbacks and clever asides and has easy charm.
Independent
A talent for smart comic writing and the ability to keep an audience rapt.
The Observer
Holly Walsh really impressed…excellent sets and endeared herself through some assured banter with crowds who really took to her.
British Comedy Guide
Praise for Motherland
Middle class parenting comedy doesn’t get better than this.
Independent ★★★★
A joy to watch.
Evening Standard ★★★★
Stuffed with joke after joke… a hugely entertaining watch.
Radio Times ★★★★★
On 2014 Edinburgh Show ‘Never Had It’
Her steady stream of witty and astute cultural observations belie her dorkiness from the first.
Chortle
Her gift for original lines and images that make this show a joy.
The Observer
Wonderful.
Metro
Brilliantly understated comic and comedy writer who claims to have a lack of charisma, yet weaves a relentlessly high gag count into her stories.
The Times
A meticulously well prepared and delivered Fringe show.
Chortle
A lightness of touch, springing punchlines on us when we least expect it.
Beyond The Joke
On 2011 Fosters nominated Edinburgh Show ‘The Hollycopter’
Delightful moments of hilarity.
Chortle
Skilfully paced.
The Independent
Wry asides and delicate puns…genuinely endearing.
Fest Mag
Less than a week into her debut run she is confident and composed.
A bubbly and infectious persona that is complimented by abilities as a writer and performer. She has crafted a well-honed piece with plenty of laughs, a satisfying story and even a joyous conclusion…She will go a long way.
Chortle
Original humour…hilarious narrative anyone can relate to.
Three Weeks