Who is queer comedian and The Festive Pottery Throw Down star Sophie Duker?
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Queer comedian Sophie Duker is set to showcase her pottery skills in the upcoming holiday special of Channel 4’s hit reality series, The Great Pottery Throw Down. The festive edition will feature four celebrities competing against each other as they attempt to impress judges Rich Miller and Keith Brymer Jones with their ceramic creations.
Joining Duker on the show will be actor and comedian Hugh Dennis, radio host and presenter Alice Levine, and former EastEnders star and I’m a Celebrity winner Joe Swash. The special will be hosted by Derry Girls star Siobhán McSweeney.
Duker, known for her witty and irreverent comedy style, expressed her surprise at being moved by clay during the filming of the show. “I didn’t expect to be moved by clay, but the tears at the end – and not just from Keith – were really special,” she said in a statement.
Sophie Duker is a London-based comedian who began her comedy career as part of the Oxford Imps, an improvised-comedy troupe, during her time at Oxford University. In 2015, she gained recognition after reaching the finals of the Funny Women Award. She later won the Funny Women Best Comedy Writer award in 2021.
Duker, who has West African heritage through her parents, has always maintained an anti-racist and pro-LGBTQ+ ethos throughout her career. She even founded her own comedy club called Wacky Racists, which hosts shows across London and promotes diverse voices in comedy.
In 2019, Duker debuted her solo stand-up show, Venus, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The show received rave reviews and earned her a nomination for the prestigious Best Newcomer award. She followed up this success with her second solo show, Hag, which also enjoyed a sell-out run at the Fringe and a popular UK tour.
Aside from her stand-up comedy, Duker has also made a name for herself as a comedy writer. She has written for popular TV shows such as Spitting Image, Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle, and CBBC series Horrible Histories. Additionally, she has appeared on various comedy panel shows, including 8 out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order.
Duker is open about her identity as a queer and bisexual woman and has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. At the PinkNews Awards in October, she called out comedians who make fun of minority groups in their routines, stating that they are scared of the wit and humor of LGBTQ+ individuals.
In an interview with DIVA magazine, Duker discussed how comedy has helped her understand and accept her queer identity. “Stand-up has been a space where I can be more myself, speak up about things, and have some power,” she said. She even came out to her mother during one of her comedy shows.
As one of the few Black bisexual individuals prominent in the comedy industry, Duker has highlighted the need for more representation. She acknowledged that while progress has been made, it is still rare to see or hear herself as a queer woman of color on stage or in the audience.
Duker’s talent has not gone unnoticed, and she has been invited to participate in several high-profile TV shows. In 2022, she won an episode of Celebrity Mastermind and later emerged victorious in season 13 of Taskmaster.
Fans of Sophie Duker can catch her in action on The Festive Pottery Throw Down, which will air on Christmas Day at 7.30pm on Channel 4. Prepare to be entertained as Duker brings her comedic flair to the world of pottery in this exciting holiday special.
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“queer comedian Sophie Duker”
