It always satisfies me greatly to watch an accomplished performer in full command of the audience as they spring from one amusing concept to another without taking breath. I first met the award winner entertainer and podcaster Jess Robinson on the eve of my 35th birthday when I was invited by the lovely Gaby Roslin to the Leicester Square Theatre to watch a recording of the popular Radio 4 panel show Gaby’s Talking Pictures. In the interval I vividly recall a singer entering the stage and beginning to sing her interpretation of Christina Aguilera’s You’re Beautiful in the style of a plethora of soul divas. Unbeknown to me, this would be the start of a great friendship with the multi talented, versatile and all round lovely Jess Robinson who graced the podcast back in the autumn of 2022.
This year, Jess has returned to live performance with her nationwide tour Your Song based on the hits of Sir Elton John reimagined by a plethora of artists including Judy Garland, Shakira and Katherine Jenkins to name just a few. This combines both her verbal dexterity and ability to hone a voice with her incredible musical range which is extremely impressive to witness. Elton John remains one of Jess’s all time heroes and to pay such a special tribute to his repertoire of timeless hits is a dream come true. Despite the show being packed full of hilarious asides and Jess’s unique approach to stand up, it’s also a touching tribute to one of the most iconic and accomplished singer songwriters of all time.
When she’s not on the road playing to packed out theatres, Jess can be heard on the Radio 4 satirical comedy juggernaut Dead Ringers alongside Jon Culshaw and Jan Ravens. As a young performer, joining an established comedy show was a daunting prospect and it was difficult to find her niche. However, now as an accomplished entertainer in her own right, she has the confidence to make her voice heard and is increasingly comfortable with the discipline of comedy. Both her stage presence and live reputation have both encouraged her to believe in herself and as a result, she has become a better performer. No longer does she feel the need for validation because her amazing cv is more than enough!
Obviously, by participating in Dead Ringers, Jess has contributed to Britain’s rich legacy of radio comedy which is deeply rooted in the history of entertainment. From ITMA in the 1940’s, The Goons in the 1950’s to The News Huddlines in the 1990’s, radio has always been the perfect medium to embrace the power of satire and Dead Ringers is the obvious successor to this great tradition. The audio medium possibly allows for a slightly looser net when it comes to censorship and it’s possible to elude to subjects which would be deemed as inappropriate for a TV show. This has always been of great value to performers who constantly push the ever moving boundaries of acceptance and on radio it feels easier to play on this. For these reasons and so many more, Jess remains extremely proud of her contribution to Dead Ringers and is excited to explore more about the art of radio comedy.
In recent years, the concept of audio production is no longer limited to the medium of radio. Podcasts have quickly become a popular outlet for comics to showcase their work and this became particularly prevalent during lockdown. Backed by her band who are imaginatively titled Jessington World of Adventures, Jess created a hybrid of scripted comedy with a celebrity interview where she teaches a well known individual to do an impression of another celebrity. Stars In Their Ears became an instant hit and was crowned winner of the British Podcast Awards in 2022. However, due to her other commitments, Stars In Their Ears has taken a hiatus which is of great disappointment for many comedy fans who can only hope that one day Jess and her band will return to put more celebrities through their vocal paces.
Jess Robinson remains as creative, prolific and passionate about comedy as the day I met her and her talent as a performer is unparalleled. Whether she’s delivering flawless character observations on Dead Ringers or delighting audiences throughout the country with her powerful singing voice, there’s no doubt that she is an entertainment polymath with a plethora of strings to her bow. Yet on a personal note, it’s been remarkable to chart her career with the help of Gaby Roslin and hours and hours of hilarious content. Above all, it’s great to be able to call her a friend and I always look forward to being in her company. It’s always a great joy to welcome her to the podcast and I’m already looking forward to the next time!
Beyond The Title