Éclair, Jenny 1960- (Jenny Clare Hargreaves)

PERSONAL:

Original name, Jenny Clare Hargreaves; born March 16, 1960, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya (now Malaysia); children: Phoebe. Education: Attended Manchester Polytechnic.

ADDRESSES:

Home—London, England.

CAREER:

Actor, stand-up comedian, television and radio personality, and novelist. Has appeared in television series, including Packet of Three, 1991, Packing Them In, 1992, Pick 'n' Mix, 1997, Jenny Éclair Squats, 1997, Private Function, 1999, and (narrator) A Place in France, 2002; in several specials, including The Famous Compere's Police Dog, 1990, In the House with Cleopatra and Friends, 1998, Comic Relief: Say Pants to Poverty, 2001, There's Only One Madonna, 2001, Can We Carry On, Girls?, 2001, Grumpy Old Women at Christmas, 2004, and Grumpy Old New Years, 2006; and in episodes of Time Gentlemen Please, 2000, 2002, Liquid News, between 2001 and 2004, Loose Women, between 2003 and 2006, Comic Relief Does Fame Academy, 2005, Grumpy Old Women, 2006, Grumpy Old Holidays, 2006, Girls Who Do: Comedy, 2006, and TV Burp, 2006; host of awards presentations; guest on numerous talk shows. Appeared in the stage show Grumpy Old Women Live!, national tour of British cities, then Lyric Theatre, London, England, both 2006, followed by another national tour; appeared in West End stage productions, including Mum's the Word, Steaming, 1997, and The Vagina Monologues; appeared at Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland, including performances in Mummy's Little Boy, 1992, Vague, 1993, Bad Behaviour, 1994, Prozac and Tantrums, 1995, then on tour, 1996, The Platinum Collection (stand-up comedy; also recorded for future broadcasts) and Mrs Nosey Parker, both 1998; other shows include Jenny Éclair: Top Bitch (also released as a video) and the solo show The Andy Warhol Syndrome. LBC-Radio, London, currently presenter of a weekend radio talk show and substitute host of a week-day talk show; former radio performances include appearance on the quiz program Just a Minute, BBC Radio 4, British Broadcasting Corp.; also affiliated with the radio productions Inconvenience and Just Juliette, both BBC Radio 4, 1999. Film appearances include title role, The Girl in the Red Dress, 2002. Performed voice of Cilla Black for the video Sid the Sexist, 1992.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Perrier Comedy Award, Edinburgh Festival, 1995, for Prozac and Tantrums.

WRITINGS:

Packet of Three (television series), 1991.

Packing Them In (television series), 1992.

(With Judy Balloo and Tom Husinger) On Baby Street (radio series), BBC-4, British Broadcasting Corp., 1996.

Camberwell Beauty (novel), Little, Brown (London, England), 2000.

(With Judith Holder) Grumpy Old Women Live! (stage show), first presented on tour of British cities, then in London, England, at Lyric Theatre, both 2006.

Having a Lovely Time (novel), Time Warner UK (London, England), 2006.

Also author (with Julie Balloo) of the solo show The Andy Warhol Syndrome. Columnist. Contributor of articles to magazines and newspapers, including Essentials, She, Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, and Evening Standard.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2006, review of Having a Lovely Time, p. 863.