Helen Lederer admits to rendezvous at Edinburgh Fringe before 'cheating' on Harry Enfield
05.04.2024 - 23:55
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Helen Lederer, known for her distinctive lopsided grin and large, inquisitive blue eyes, has admitted to cheating on Harry Enfield before being cast as a sex worker.
Despite often being underestimated, she is one of the few female comedians who managed to break into the male-dominated comedy scene of the 1980s, reports the Mirror.
The 80s and 90s were not particularly welcoming to women comedians. Many believed that Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, and Victoria Wood were more than enough, without the need for a quirky blonde making her way onto the scene and outshining the boys.
However, this didn't deter Helen. She carved out a career as a regular on some of the era's biggest shows, from sketch shows like Happy Families (1983-85), Naked Video (1987) and French and Saunders, to sitcoms such as The Young Ones, Bottom and Absolutely Fabulous (where she played the role of tipsy journalist Catriona).
But it wasn't a walk in the park. "People would actually ask me, 'What is it like to be a woman and funny? '," says Helen, now 69, still taken aback by the blatant sexism.
"One is held accountable for being a female comedian, and I've often been asked to justify it as a life choice. I was funny and ambitious, which wasn't seen as a comfortable mix."
Helen, who was raised in Eltham, South East London, studied criminology before securing a spot at drama school. Once she ventured into stand-up comedy, she befriended Ben Elton and Rik Mayall at the Comedy Store in London.
However, there was a certain hierarchy when they transitioned to television. "Don't crash my laughs," Rik reportedly cautioned her once.
Helen shares: "I'd do the feed [the line that precedes the punchline]. I was very earnest in the 80s. Like a comedy secretary."
But it's