You will know Judi Love for her numerous memorable TV appearances on shows from Strictly to Masterchef, but the formidable Londoner started her performing career as a stand-up comedian. And now she is back to her – pun intended – first love, with her debut UK tour.

 

In Judi Love: The One Like you will encounter Judi in full effect. Once onstage there is no stopping this comedic force of nature. Whether it is talking about life as a single mum, dating experiences or anything else she brings the house down with her straight-talking turbo-charged delivery.

 

If you’ve enjoyed her on Live at the Apollo or The Royal Variety Performance you will already know that nothing is out of bounds once Love struts onstage. But you really have to see her in the flesh to experience total Love. Once seen never forgotten. Grab a ticket now.

Judi Love: The One Like starts in Liverpool on March 18 and tours until October 5. For tickets and information click here: www.judilove.co.uk/events

 

Judi Love is on The One Show on Thursday, February 9 at 7pm.

 

 

Are you looking forward to hitting the road?

I'm overwhelmed with shock and disbelief that this is really happening. I'm nervous, anxious, excited, I'm full of all those emotions. You see your favourites doing this so to be in the same situation now, I can't wait to start.

What will you be talking about onstage?

Who I am, where I was born, being a single parent, working class, black British and then making the transition through different stages of my life. Loss, love, discovering yourself, relationships and adult stuff lol.

 

Lol most of the time I'm like 'is this too honest? Yes… Okay let's keep this shit in!!'

 

 

My children, moments that happen that no one else sees and you have to just roll with it, because you can’t believe it happened...But you know its going to make a great story later..

 

 

Not remembering people, I've met so many people, but when they recall a moment that you are meant to have had with them, and I'm just lost…I just try to run with it, but the they say something like, do you remember? Or ask me about the event…I'm like 'omg can't you tell by my face I don’t know what you're talking about hun?!'

You've become such a familiar face on TV. You must get more offers than you can fit in, how do you choose what to say yes to?

It's about what the show brings, if it's something I'm connected to or if I can show my personality. Somewhere where I can be my authentic self. I love to talk, for example, so Loose Women and Taskmaster you get to see me just being me!

Are there ever any nerves? You seem to throw yourself 100 per cent into everything.

Ask my manager! I get so nervous. Back in the day before a gig I couldn't talk to anyone for a couple of days. Now I can talk on the day but half an hour before I go on I definitely need quiet time alone.

You were a groundbreaker on Strictly, twerking on Saturday night primetime TV.

I was definitely nervous about that because I wasn't doing comedy, there was physical aspect. But it was such an amazing show and such a great opportunity. When I twerked I felt my mission was completed.

How do you manage the work/life balance as a single mother with two teenagers?

I struggled with babysitting when they were younger. And now I worry for them when they have exams. But I try to put my foot down and not compromise. If a job comes up in half term and they can come along I'll do it but it's a struggle to get things right and I definitely have mum guilt thinking I should be home with them. You don't want them to grow up and say I was never there.

On Live at the Apollo you were a hit with your routine about Jesus being black. "He fed 5000 people with five loaves and two fishes. That's a black event. We're like no-one is leaving here hungry!" And then there was your confession about shaving your 'chum chum' before a date. Have your children heard your material?

When I was doing stand up in clubs and couldn't get babysitters they used to come with me so they know what I talk about. Now they are older they've probably heard worse when they are with their friends. But they know 'Judi Love' and they know 'mummy'. I might be extreme or cheeky onstage but I'd never talk like that in my private conversations with them.

How much of 'mummy' is there onstage?

You see glimpses of my mummy on stage as that’s always in me. But it’s not like mummy when I’m home. When I've got my mum head on I'm still funny with the kids but I'm not talking to them about online dating!

 

You have a hilarious anecdote about realising your feet are becoming rough: "Have you ever been to bed and thought to yourself what's all those crumbs? Then you realise you live by yourself. It's your foot." You talk about self-care a lot and not just in terms of beauty treatments...

Self-care is so important. We live in a society where we are so frightened to say no we end up on a treadmill. I love working but if we are not at our physical optimal best the blessing of being able to work can be taken out of your hands. It's got to be done in conjunction with looking after yourself so you can be at your best to give your best. I'm going to take a break to prepare for the tour and go on a Zen retreat. Somewhere with a white, sandy beach.

How do you relax?

I try to block out weekends unless there is something really important. I'm a football mum if my son has a game. Relaxation is important. I get a facial, take a walk, connect with friends not in entertainment. The other week I just got up, showered, put my houseclothes on, no make up, no wig and watched all of The White Lotus. It was beautiful.

Your life must have changed so much in recent years.

I feel like I do need to take time out and reflect but I'm so in the mode of 'go go go' that if I did stop I'd become so emotional. I'm doing what I dreamt of as a child and it's not like I'm an entertainment child. I went to school, college, I had depression, lost parents and went through a lot and then somehow I'm doing what I used to dream of doing, which I thought was impossible.

You previously worked in social care. Did your job help you at all as an entertainer?

I've worked with some of the most deprived people. It's easy to see someone and judge them and think you'd never end up like that but doing social care you get to see how people end up in certain scenarios. It gives you empathy and understanding how someone's life can change so drastically. When I'm tired from doing three jobs a day it's not trauma. I've worked with people in crisis and trauma and it's not that.

There were hard times though in your early comedy years?

I moved to south London from east London when my children were young and I left everything behind. We were in a house with nothing, just mattresses and a cooker. I had to get work quickly so I found a zero hours job in social care assessing parents. I remember going on a TV discussion programme early in the morning then going to work and they were going 'didn't we just see you on TV?'. I was doing TV but in the evening my emergency electricity would run out. There's always more to the story, it's not all glamour.

You once said laughter is healing. Is that still your philosophy?

When you think about all the adversity people go through laughter is what connects us. We can all laugh together. People say if you don't laugh you'll cry, so let's keep laughing!