THE ROSIE JONES INTERVIEW!

By Hayley Ashton.

Publishing by Mel & Irene

Credits: ComedyCentral

You’ve said before that you use times of frustration to fuel your comedy; that in times of anger, your ‘comedy brain’ kicks in. Do you think you’re innately destined for comedy or that it’s been more of an active career choice?

Annoyingly a bit of both, I think I always used comedy as a crutch growing up because when you have a disability people meet you and they immediately shit themselves because they’re like ‘Is she okay? ‘Does she need help? ‘Does SHE know she’s disabled?’ And comedy and cracking jokes was always my way of going “don’t worry we’re all aware that I talk and walk a bit differently. Chill out and we’ll all have a lovely time.” So for sure initially it was a defence mechanism. But then, like you said, it’s always helped me get through hard times and I remember one particular time I got verbally abused on the train and I was so upset I was with my mum and her way of comforting me was to say ‘Oh look on the bright side at least that is a whole new comedy routine.’ And in that moment I literally went “No, like there’s no humour to get out of this experience.” Cut to 2 years later and it was one of my favourite routines in that tour show.

And it’s so interesting, bit like grief really, but when something awful happens in that moment you’re in fight or flight, you’re coping with all the emotions, and for me definitely one of my coping mechanisms is to go “Right. How would I tell someone this in a more comedic way?” Not getting away from how horrendous it is, but how do I go “This is the reality of being disabled in the world right now.” And comedy is such a great device to use in order to tackle the big topics of the world. So, yeah for sure I think it’s a bit of both. I think without the device of comedy and storytelling i don’t know how I’d cope in the world cause it is definitely my way of going “This shit thing happened, but let’s use it, let’s learn from it and let’s have a good old giggle in the middle of it.

I think that’s where so much good comedy comes from. It is people’s experiences and them taking ownership of it. I imagine that’s quite empowering for you.

Yeah so empowering, and one of my least favourite questions is ‘Ooh is comedy too work? You can’t say anything anymore.’ You can. You can make a joke about literally anything in the world, you just need to be ethical about how you tell that jokes or that story. You need to really consider who you are, if you’re the best person to tell that joke, who the joke is focused on and aimed at. If it’s a story or type of person that you have a full lived educational experience with AND what you want the audience to get out of your joke. Do you want them to learn and change and develop as people? Great, do it, have a good laugh, go ahead. But if you’re just punching down on a group of people that you have absolutely no right to talk about no experience with, and your aim is to be a little bit edgy. Fuck off. You have no right in telling that joke. […] And also they’re not only edgy jokes, they’re shit jokes. Hello white men: tell better jokes.

Tell us a little bit about your upcoming Edinburgh Fringe show: what can we expect from it? And how much gravy is there exactly?

A lot of gravy, as a proper Yorkshire lady, I wouldn’t be doing my people justice if I didn’t mention the good ol’ brown sauce. It’s my proudest show yet. I talk a lot about being single and my journey in coming out and being comfortable with who I am. Then my journey with fame and the lovely people who come up to me, and again, the not so lovely people who come up to me. And it was written at a time when I was like “Shit. I’m 34. I’m single. I’ve never been in a relationship. How do I meet somebody when people recognise me all the time?” It’s a weird thing to navigate, but don’t worry I make it very very funny.

Have you find it more difficult coming to terms with discussing your sexuality on stage when people have perhaps put you into a certain box and just expect you to talk about your disability?

100% My coming out process was Jooooourney: with a capital J and about 5 O’s. And it was because when I was growing up the disability representation available to me was very few and far between, and the people that I did see were depicted as vulnerable victims who were also Asexual.

I never saw a positive depiction of a disabled person in a loving, happy, healthy romantic relationship. So if you never see it how could you ever believe that it cold happen to you? So I had that shit going on, and then when you add onto that being a queer person in the closet as a teenager I was like “Oh no I really really want to kiss her, but I can’t be gay because I’m disabled.” Like i literally thought I couldn’t tick two boxes because I’d never seen a disabled queer person. So for ages i thought “Oh I must be wrong.” And then when I did accept my sexuality for myself, in quite a practical way, I thought “Right. I’m gay, I know I’m gay. But there’s no need to tell anyone, there’s no need for a big coming out process, because I’m disabled and I’ve never seen a disabled person get married, fall in love, so that won’t happen to me so I’ll just do my life and get a brilliant career, fantastic friends, and other stuff.” And I did that for a bit, ‘til i was 27, and then I thought “Fuck this!” Like, I’m a good person, I’m a catch, I’m a big deal.

So I wanted to come out to everyone, not only for myself to go ‘this doesn’t define me but it is a big part of me’ but I also wanted to talk about being gay on stage because I never want another disabled young person to feel how I felt which was unworthy of love. So, like I said, big journey, a lot of therapy to get through that.

I’m getting my perfect opportunity to wave that big therapy flag loud and proud. If you’re in a position to get it, absolutely do it! Everyone should have access to therapy. I need to say I’m 35 now and you’re never done. I constantly have to fight my internalised ableism and I have a lot of mental and physical wobbles where I think because of my disability I’m not capable and worthy of love but I can sit here now at 35 and go “Yep. I’m a human being. I’m proud to be queer, and yep I am absolutely worthy and capable of love.”

Credits: ComedyCentral

I think a lot of that comes from going to therapy and realising you do actually love yourself a lot. Like ‘Oh I am deserving of love because I’m giving it to myself.’

I am a catch! I do have some qualities that other people might like in me- but it is so hard. Then when you add onto it that I grew up in the 90s, in a small Yorkshire town where there where “lesbian” was thrown around the playground like an insult. And for ages i thought I’m not gay because I don’t have short hair and I’m not a PE teacher, and I don’t fancy people who have short hair and are a PE teacher: so i must be wrong. But then it turns out just experiencing the world, educating yourself, meeting other brilliant queer people and being able to be like that. My queerness is a bit part of me, it’s not a one size fits all personality and just knowing that I can be my true authentic self and it doesn’t take away from how gay or not gay I am. Am i attracted to women? Yes I am. I’m gay. That’s all you need!

Is there a piece of queer media that you wish people were talking about more?

It is hard. Because I don’t think we can talk about it any more but honestly Heated Rivalry, you can’t talk about it enough. I think I also love the intersectionality represented. In terms of Shane, not only being a queer persona, but also a queer non-white neurodiverse person and just how beautifully represented every part of who he is is presented in that show. I think I watched the entire thing 3 times in the space of a week. People saying ‘Ha ha it’s a gay hockey show with a lot of bums’ and it is but it’s so much more than that. At the core of it it’s just a love story. And I am the most sappy most romantic person you’ll ever meet so give me any type of love story I’m in there, but when you make it queer and when you make it as diverse as they do in Heated Rivalry I just eat it up. So it feels weird to say we should be talking about it more because we talk about it a lot but I just think how well they do all the intersectionality is incredible.

What’s your favourite part about being a queer woman?

It’s boring and obvious but it’s just women. It’s not only what women look like, I think they’re so beautiful, but i think when you’re in a relationship with a woman it’s an emotional connection. It’s just being with someone who gets it, who understands you, and I don’t want to shit on all men, I’m not saying that…

HAYLEY: "Feel free to.

No, I’m trying not to. But I look at all the brilliant heterosexual women in my life and they’re all incredible. They’re gods, they’re funny, they’re independent: and then they get a boyfriend and I’m like “Who is he? What’s he contributing to the world?” Whereas all the queer women in relationships I know (don’t get me wrong, there’s a some shit queer women out there) but my own theory is: a queer woman relationship us so much more equal, they’re there for each other they go beyond the rules of ‘well that’s a boy’s job, that’s a girl’s job’ and the main focus is ‘Are you okay? Am I okay? Are we helping each other out in the situation? And it’s so much more holistic, equal, beautiful, emotional. Talking about it all is making me gayer by the second.

Also…boobs.

We’re moving onto the David Attenborough portion of this interview. You’ve said that when David Attenborough dies you’ll be taking over: will you still be doing the nature documentaries?

Yes. I will focus more on the sexual aspect to the nature world. I don’t love being cold so I reckon there will be less polar bear action and more like tropical birds, anywhere that can take me to the Caribbean will be the nature vibe.

And what do you think the gayest animal is?

Y’know what, cause I wanted to give you a proper answer but I can’t get away from a peacock. It’s what they do, they are the drag queens of the nature world. What I love is they’re walking saying “Don’t look at me,” but whats happening behind them is “You’re looking. And I like it.”

Credits: Rosie Jones

Would you rather live in a world where Sir David dies (peacefully) and you take his place BUT you’re heterosexual. Or, you live normally as a queer woman but David is immortal?

That is so easy for me. There’s absolutely no chance in hell I am ever loosing my queerness, so I’ll have to live with the status of ‘nearly a national treasure’ But it’s okay because I get to still shag women. […] David, you are welcome.

What’s a common misconception about you that you actually love hearing?

That’s a hard one because I feel like everyone knows me. Right. I’m kinda changing the question now but what I hate hearing is, because I’ve lived in London for 15 years people think I’m from London and I hate it. But what I do love is that gives me an opportunity to go “How fucking dare you! I’m from Yorkshire!” and then I love giving then a lecture on how great Yorkshire is for about 4 hours, and I ramp up my Yorkshire accent and I get them a Yorkshire tea. So I don’t like people thinking I’m a Londoner but if I’m able to then chew their ear off about how great Yorkshire is, I’ll take it.”

What’s your favourite bit about being from Yorkshire?

The people. You honestly you get back up north and everyone talks to you, you’ve got a friend on every park bench. As well as Yorkshire tea, Yorkshire puddings, beautiful countryside, beautiful beaches. You can’t beat a good Yorkshire lass.

Can you tell me a little bit about your charity foundation?

The Rosie Jones Foundation Logo - credit: Rosie Jones

We launched a year ago and it’s called the Rosie Jones foundation (because I have a massive ego.) We help people with Cerebal Palsy. Our mission is to create a world where no person with Cerebral Palsy feels alone and unheard. Our focus in the first year has been on mental health. We work with an amazing service provider called Disability Plus that pairs people in critical need of mental health support to see a counsellor or therapist with the same disability as them, so there’s that common ground. You can also pay for it privately if you can afford it, and I am doing that, and just to be able to talk every week with a person who gets it, who also has the same disability as you, is a breath of fresh air and a game changer.

We also do a lot around building community in the Cerebral Palsy world, because the thing with CP is it’s not genetic. You can go for decades without meeting another person with CP and that can be very isolating, especially when you’re a young person. So we do a lot of creative workshops and every year we get young people with CP in the same room and they can chat to adults from the creative world: actors, writers, DJs, directors, camera people who also have CP. To show that there’s not only a future out there for them, but also for them to meet other people just like them and to let them know they are not alone. There are hundreds and thousands of us taking over in our own brilliant unique way. So, like I said, only been going a year- we’re real babies but I’m really proud of what we’ve done so fair and we can’t wait to take over the world. […] And Disability Plus is amazing because it just cuts out that thing of “Oh, where are they? Where can i find them?” It’s just a great way to go “Here’s someone you can meet that gets it.”

You’ve said before that you feel let down by the Labor government (same): If you were Prime Minister what queer icons would you elect into your cabinet?

Oh my god. This is such a great question. Curveball, I’m immediately demoting myself to deputy PM. I think I can do that, I can be in a cabinet but I don’t want top dog. I want that top spot to go to our queen, queen of my heart: Sandi Toksvig. Everything that comes out of that lady’s mouth is so thoughtful and interesting. I just think whatever she thinks and whatever she says I’d be like “Yes Sandi. Whatever you say Sandi”

Another person that just absolutely has to be there is Miriam Margolyes. I’m not sitting around any cabinet table if Miriam isn’t there saying “What the fuck are we gonna do about this cunting country?” I just think with Sandi and Miriam at the helm of the country we could not go wrong. […] Because obviously me and Miriam would have a swear off at any moment and Sandi can be the good calming influence.

What’s something that queerness has taught you that you think straight people don’t quite get?

This is interesting because my initial answer I would say ‘Is that because of my disability or my queerness?’ And I’m gonna say it anyway becasue I see it in all my queer friends: just never to judge a book by it’s cover. If you can, you should absolutely be wanting to have a conversation with every single person. Because you cannot know a person until you sit down, chat, find out who they are; why they are how they are. And I think because all queer people I know have a story, have had hardships, have had to come out to their parents, come out into their world, you never know what they’re dealing with internally. And I think a lot of people are so quick to dismiss somebody and assume they’re a type of person because of what they look like and who they are. And that’s how all the problems in the world start: people assuming they have the facts and information when they don’t. It’s absolutely taught me to be kinder, to listen, and never assume anything about a person.

What a perfect hours chat!