From social care to stand-up

Comedian Angela Barnes chats to PIP LARKHAM about her worries, switching careers and having a late-life love of history

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ANGELA Barnes is a worrier. Whatever it is, she'll worry about it. But don’t let that worry you - she'll worry enough for the both of you.

And now the fretting comedian is taking her hilarious show Angst on an extensive UK tour with stories of success and sound logic, but mostly it features tales of unmitigated failure, a distinct lack of wisdom, a little bit of German and loads of jokes.

Angela swapped a career in health and social care for stand-up in 2010 and hasn't looked back. Within just a couple of years she had won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2011 and toured around the country with her stand-up shows.

She returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2022 with her celebrated show Hot Mess, which toured nationwide in 2023.

Angela has starred in BBC Two's Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo, House of Games, and Hypothetical on Dave. She is also a firm favourite on BBC Radio 4, having featured on The Now Show and The News Quiz - including a recent stint as the host. She has also hosted BBC Radio 4 Extra’s Newsjack. And she co-hosts the less-than-serious popular podcast We Are History with John O'Farrell, where the two history nerds discuss, explain and laugh at interesting and quirky episodes from the olden days.

So, what’s worrying you right now, Angela?