Cally Beaton (QI, Live at the Apollo) is going on tour, starting at the Lowry in Salford on Saturday, October 18 and running into spring 2026.

The show is a celebration of and for the female of the species. A funny show about a deadly serious subject, it centres around Cally’s manifesto for keeping cool when you’re a hot mess. It is called Namaste Motherf*ckers.

Combining Cally’s standup prowess with extracts from her provocative, stereotype-busting book of the same name, the show has at its heart her own story of radical reinvention - from meetings in boardrooms to treading the boards, thanks to a chance conversation with the late, great Joan Rivers. 

Cally’s book was published in July 2025. Sharing stories and experiences from her own life alongside lessons learned from the many celebrity guests and experts from her hit podcast, Cally gives a fresh, funny and life-affirming look at what it means to be a middle-aged woman who is willing to take a chance, put herself out there and is also willing to fail.

Join Cally on tour as she salutes the female of the species: invisible no more.

Cally Beaton's national tour starts at the Lowry, Salford on October 18. Click here for full tour dates and ticket links.

What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)

A wee (midlife woman) and b) remembering to dispose of the Volcalzone lozenge that is a part of my pre-stage ritual. Forgetting either of these things will mess up my flow.

What irritates you?  

Bad driving. That said, before a gig I’m nice as you like to anyone I come across for a radius of several miles from the venue, however appalling their driving, on the off chance they’re about to be in my audience.

What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

I could say skydiving, but that’s a tightly controlled risk, so I’ll go with dating fellow comedians.

What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

See above.

What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

That it took me so long to find it (and then so long to get good at it).

What do your children think of your job?    

When I did my first gig aged 45, my daughter thought it was the worst midlife crisis ever; she asked why I couldn’t just have an affair with my tennis coach like her mate Rachel’s mum. (Hope Rachel’s dad isn’t reading this.)

What's the worst thing about being a comedian?

The long drives. I included in my book that fact that when people ask my mate Paul McCaffrey what it’s like being a comedian, he just says he’s a driver and does comedy in his breaks.

I think you are very good at what you do (that's why I'm asking these questions). What do you think of you?

I’m very grateful to have found my voice; it only took half a century. 

How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

Less than I did before I traded in boardrooms for treading the boards; let’s leave it at that! Money doesn’t blow my skirt up, never did, and no amount of money in the world will make you happy. But not having enough money will make you unhappy and it’s worth being aware of the big difference between those two things.

How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

In the ‘success’ Venn diagram there’s a significant overlap between hard work and luck. As the saying goes: ‘The harder I work, the luckier I get’. That said, I have had some lucky breaks – the first, meeting Joan Rivers (kick-started my comedy career) and the second, meeting John Lloyd (kick-started my on-screen career). 

Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into third category?

I had Alan Davies on the podcast recently and it was one of the most listened-to episodes we’ve ever had; his book ‘Just Ignore Me’ is moving and funny – something for everyone (including golfers and self-harmers). Which am I? Well, I’ve never played golf and I think everyone self-harms, in whatever way. 

Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?

My dog, Jeff. (Yes, he is a person.)

Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it's to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).

The pressure! The answer is… drum roll… not brilliantly tidy, no. I run a fairly tight domestic ship, not exactly minimalist but pretty sorted, but once it’s in a drawer or a cupboard, f*ck it. That probably just about sums me up: sorted on the surface but don’t dig too deep. There’s a reason my book is a manifesto for keeping cool when you’re a hot mess. 

Click here for full tour dates and ticket links.

Picture Credit: Natasha Pszenicki 

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