JO BRAND: ANTIDEPRESSANTS SAVED HIS LIFE

Getting kicked out by her parents for dating a questionable man, how to be funny, and why she's never wanted to visit the States, Jo Brand was one of the first female comics to break through and has gone on to become a beloved household name, now hosting the Bake Off's Extra Slice.
Jo chats to Jamie about how antidepressants saved her father's life [07.57], her hatred of adverts [17.43], and why the abuse from hecklers at comedy gigs was nothing compared to her work on the ward [40.35].
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe - we have so many great guests like this one; you won't want to miss out! You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast
THE CREDITS:
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Assistant Producer: Gurlina Heer
Booking: Ben Johns
Video: Jamie Gilbert
Great Company is an original podcast by JamPot

[@sarabrigido2163]

Who doesn’t have time for JO BRAND ❤️

[@jaynesandys-renton9468]

Many experienced interviewers could take a leaf from Jamie's book. He is kind, funny and respectful. You relate with your own experiences and tap into the person you are interviewing with great maturity. Jo Brand is a wealth of knowledge with an enduring personality that is so honest but she doesn't take fools gladly. Well done xxx

[@florence1395]

Yes, I agree Jamie maybe posh & wealthy but he’s extremely kind & friendly & he’s authentic & just a nice guy!

[@doonewatts7155]

I have been on antidepressants for the best part of 30 years. Without them I would not be here writing this

[@gabrielepresby9120]

Same here! I have finally given up taking myself off of them, much to the delight of my primary doctor.

[@schielesmrs7648]

I adore Jo. Always have since the 80s. She's honest and direct. I've always wanted her to be my friend ❤

[@Barbara-yj5tl]

I agree, she’d be a great friend to have in your life.

[@elaineparker6171]

I love her

[@Happinosis]

New found respect for Jamie. You’ve come a long way from Made in Chelsea. And Jo Brand; just always utterly adored her.

[@deee1776]

I adore Jo Brand. She’s so compassionate but also straight to the point.

[@mrsthatcher9815]

she is vile

[@njg247]

What a fantastic interview. Jo really so likeable and her humanity is hugely refreshing. Jamie, your interning technique is perfect. Respectful, engaged and you let people be heard and you respond to them genuinely and with interest. Winner!

[@aderynzajicova7230]

Massive respect for Jo. A lovely, sharp, funny and ethical person. All round good'un.

[@woofywoo1263]

What a great interview, Jamie's energy is infectious and Jo was very interesting - I could spend hours with her and there's not many I could say that about! I'd love to see a documentary on her explanations of mental health and how it can be misunderstood, something I have been thinking for a long time.

[@gwenowens6727]

Wonderful Jo Brand, just herself, articulate, compassionate and funny. Surprisingly good match with Jaime.

[@sarahradford9822]

Jo is so wise .. people dont understand the nuance /spectrum of mental health.. there are aspects of it that are not discussed and remain stigmatised . Jamie is a brilliant interviewer. I wish he'd had more support as a kid ..

[@sarahlou3781]

I love Jo Brand, she is what you see is what you get, would be a brilliant dinner guest.

[@TheDeb295]

Oh my word!! Just literally came across this. I'll be honest, I listened to it because i think Jo is great, but now im blown away with how brilliant Jamie is, too. He is open, listens, emphasises really well and is open and honest, and can relate to others' situations because he's experienced similar himself. Im so impressed with him. TV can be so projecting of someone, but it's lovely to see him as he is. Brilliant series. Thanks, Jamie.

[@aliciabxxx691]

Jo is a very intelligent aware empathetic person - really interesting interview 🤔

[@alicemorel6779]

Shes really bang on. I have been homeless and lived in an emergency shelter with alcoohlics and drug addicts when i was mentally unstable at the time. I learnt alot from it. People who judge the homekess dont understand how people get to that place and not only that but also that they themselves could easily end up in the same situation. Its all about mental health. Addiction is just a coping mechanism for mental unhealth no matter the illness or level of illness. I am shocked that Jo mentioned there used to be a psychoatric emergency service. I feel that now in many cases it is lacking. Walking into a&e you feel nervous and worried about what kind of treatment you will get. I have had both good but also very poor experiences deoending on the nurses on shift. I stopped going because it didnt help me. They only want yo tick a box asking you the questions they need to so they can go back gome again. If you dont have an avtial plan to kill yourself they wont do anything to help you. Theres no middle service that orevents the crisis. Its only an emergency crisis service of wanting to end your life. But many need guidance and coping skills and someone to talk to. It needs to be there to prevent crisis point. Anyway i would have loved to have jo as a nurse. It would have made such a difference.

[@anitaswart.]

Pray for strength for you my friend. I'm 73 lost my husband and for the first time ever I have felt this low, and I will never tell any of these medical idiots after what they did to my husband. I feel for you and know someone has her on your thoughts.

[@florence1395]

As a older person 65 I didn’t think I”d enjoy Jamie’s podcast but I loved all of them so far, yes he’s posh but then people think I’m quite posh, he’s truly a nice guy 🙏 And his guest are all original & extremely talented & interesting. Well done Jamie bravo 👏 might subscribe!

[@kyllancarrington]

Jo Brand is beyond fabulous!

[@barbarellajameswalker5400]

Being a whistle-blower is hated...and puts you out of a job. Respect...don't change.

[@emzicoolintheuk]

Loved this. It was like two great friends chatting together. Not like an interview. Love Jamie’s style with his guests. ❤

[@Threadbow]

Like yr in the room with them. Everyone seems so relaxed with Jamie

[@aliceellacowley]

Smart convo. Jamie's got a great way of making an interview deep & funny whilst keeping it respectful

[@jennistone364]

just stumbled on Jamies interviews .. he is just fantastic and so are his guests .. intelligent conversations.

[@florence1395]

Jamie has a loveable smile & he’s actually a good interviewer because he allows his guest to talk & he listens, bravo 👏

[@MadcapShambleton]

My gosh, this is genuinely brilliant and refreshing. Jo is a fascinating and funny human, and Jaime is an absolute revelation here. Looking forward to his other interview chats in Great Company.

[@Threadbow]

Fascinating to hear Jo speak on her experiences

[@ClareKrauss]

I absolutely loved this , Jamie you're really good at this 🎉 don't change the formula, you are getting the best out of your guests 👌👌

[@anne4083]

Loving Jamie on his own!! No vulgarity!!

[@babyblueeyes5392]

What a lovely woman. Adored since the 80s and she has such a warmth abput her.❤😊

[@buzzukfiftythree]

A really enjoyable interview Jamie and Jo. Interesting comments about how attitudes to, and the treatment of, mental illness has changed over the past few decades. My Mum had a ‘breakdown’ in the early 1960s when I was 7. Had never really heard of antidepressants before that; our elderly GP at first prescribed a ‘tonic’. It was only when she had a crisis (I remember it so clearly over 60 years later - I thought they were going to take her away and lock her up, even though she was not remotely violent, just very unhappy) that our other GP attended her, prescribed anti-depressants and she became much better fairly quickly. I would love to have Jo as a dinner guest. Her honesty is so refreshing.

[@annsmith2118]

This is one of the best podcasts I have listened to. Jo is incredibly interesting and she has such a warm, friendly personality.

[@craigmills3583]

I absolutely loved that. Never seen this guy before other than knowing he was/is on a reality TV show but he seems a really lovely fella and a good interviewer. I could listen to Jo Brand in that mode all day. I work in MH in SE London myself so it was very interesting to hear her talk about her time in the industry. In actual fact, in my previous career, Jo did one of the corporate gigs she mentioned in the interview when I was working in events at one of London’s big 5 stars on Park Lane. As she left I was standing outside smoking and sort of stared at her as she walked by so she pulled a prolonged funny face and it cracked me up! Hilarious and I’ve never forgotten it.

[@tim01473]

Jamie Thank You! What a beautiful interview, God Jo Brand is such an amazing Human!

[@kayemcgovern2550]

Brilliant interview Jamie - Jo is so natural..... Great to get an insight into her life... She turned her real life situations into comedy....

[@upmayo9741]

Didn't think I could love Jo Brand more, I was wrong.

[@jeanniecampbell1374]

Just discovered Jamie ..he is such a natural and great with Jo ..she is just Great ,my kind of dream friend .

[@cerezacereza8478]

Think started having an asthma attack 😂 Lady Thatcher 😅

[@karenbransome6978]

What a legend. I love her comedy and find her fascinating 😊

[@hotwheels1112]

Loved hearing this side of Jo. Shes really spot on in what shes saying

[@figgettit]

he's a good listener.

[@alicemorel6779]

I found this really refreshing and helpful. Thank-you both Jo and Jamie. ❤

[@magaroo7349]

This was fabulous! Such an insight into a great lady! Thank you so much!

[@Eve181dublin]

What a fab interview between 2 lovely, thoughtful people. Thank you both for your time & honesty. 💕👏 Big take away was the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket. Given how lucrative adverts are the fact that Jo Brand has never done any & doesn’t even seem to have been tempted makes me love & respect her even more.

[@SusayLeach]

Jamie is such a great interviewer it’s great how relaxed and funny always loved Jo brand 👏👏

[@Threadbow]

Jamie is great 👍 Should be on big show on tv. Fingers 🤞

[@elizabethpitt8404]

I loved this interview. I love Jo Brand. So enjoyable!

[@martinlawrence8427]

Loving this, Jo is amazing, and Jamie is brilliantly engaging and warm!

[@55tranquility]

what a brilliant interview, love Jo Brand 🙏. This really resonates, my dad was an inpatient in our local psychiatric hospital, which was right at the end of the old hospital system before they were all closed, around mid 90s ish. We used to visit often and it was in a wonderful location in the countryside, we used to take our dog and walk round the grounds, my dad would come and sometimes so would some of the other patients he had made friends with. My brother and I used to roam around the empty wards and corridors, it was huge and had been in the process of slowly closing down wards etc for quite a few years. It's so true what Jo describes, patients were just everyday people - we used to hang out in the visitors room and chat with many of them, also in the cafe. Many patients could come and go, I remember my mum giving a couple of them a lift into town on our way home or pick one up on the way their as it was quite a long walk if they had missed the bus! I even remember saying to my mum, theres nothing much wrong with these people - and she said what did you expect, it's just people going through a bit of a tough time at the moment. She is so right, mental illness is so nuanced - it irks me when people say 'oh I'm so OCD'. It had an impact on me as I started a career in mental health, yes people who are very unwell ie experiencing a psychotic episode or in the middle of a manic episode are a world away from the everyday stress most people experience. But these things are episodic, most people can and do recover and live fulfilling lives. I also agree that there is not one size fits all solution, what people need is time, support and kindness - i have seen and also have personal experience of the benefits of psychiatric drugs particularly antidepressants. We don't know how they work and they don't work for everyone but for many, like me they can be incredibly effective - and then you can participate in therapy and all the other things that get you back into life and keep you well. I don't know why the media is obsessed with painting ADs as terrible, all drugs have side effects - i recently was put on blood pressure medication, the first one made me feel awful, the second one didn't work and the third one works very well - you don't see or hear sensational stories about these drugs though.

[@lubabmohammad9164]

Fantastic interview. I could listen to Jo talk for hours so informative and her compassion for others is truly wonderful. Jamie, you’ve don’t a great job on this podcast. I love the simplicity of it ❤

[@KKaur1996]

Loved this, so wholesome ❤ Such a remarkable lady, one of my all time favourite comedians! (and of course, adore you so much Jamie! Just the sweetest, loveliest man. You’ve a true talent for interviewing in a way which allows your interviewee to really speak openly and “be heard”. Just brilliant) xx

[@MichaelWilliams-hz3op]

2 worlds colliding in a really positive and wonderful way. Love Jo and kinda like Jamie more now. A lovely thing.

[@barbaracranford527]

This was incredibly interesting, and what a kind woman Jo is, I already thought she was hysterically funny...she is just amazing.

[@catherineseear7069]

I’ve just discovered your channel. Great interviews❤ I love and adore Jo, she’s a gorgeous human being ❤ Firstly, Her humour is right up my street, (she always makes me laugh)”secondly she is incredibly empathetic, which is why she went into nursing. When I saw Jo on “Count down” I got how intelligent she is. I realised that to be comedian you have to be highly intelligent with an amazing memory. You know that question, “if you could have any one you wanted at a Dinner Party, who would you choose?” I would want Jo and Trevor McDonald.

[@moniquedenouden9289]

Very interesting conversation ❤ well done Jamie!

[@imyour-realdad]

This interview was brilliant. It was insightful, the dynamic was energetic and it felt like watching a genuine conversation. I’ll be watching the others you’ve done to catch up on!

[@Kat_Attack]

I love Jo, so I was so happy to see her on this! She’s brilliant!

[@jsc9000]

Yes finally someone has said I’ve got “mental health” doesn’t mean anything in isolation.

[@carolmurphy7572]

Absolutely! It annoys me to hear people use the phrase "suffering from mental health issues". Why has that become an alternate for "mental illness"? It's as though people should be ashamed of having an "illness", and it's somehow viewed as more compassionate to say they have "mental health issues". Utter nonsense!

[@callum9999]

Finally? Do you live under a rock? People have been saying this forever... It's quite annoying how people like to pretend they have the "secret truth" that no-one else understands when it's something so mundane! Very, very few people would ever say something like "anything referred to as mental health is severe and must be pandered to" (where I assume you're going with this?). I don't know you so won't comment on you personally, but this is a very big right wing trope at the moment - pretending something wacky is happening so they can fight against it when in reality, it's just a tiny subset that has no actual influence on anything.

[@callum9999]

​@@carolmurphy7572Perhaps you need to look at your own prejudice here? As someone who regularly works with people who have acute mental health issues, the difference between "mental illness" and "mental health issues" is nonexistent and, genuinely, isn't something I've even ever noticed. I see no logical reason why someone using one of those phrases over the other would bother anyone, let alone enough for them to rant about it.

[@walkwithme4975]

Excellent Jamie, loved your chat with Jo.

[@markhooper4532]

Winnie Wallace.....Thank you for this Jamie and Jo.Its extremely informative, there's a lightheartedness about it,yet it's a very serious topic.

[@mandymartin5166]

That was fantastic love Jo brand what a smashing woman nicely done interview thankyou guys x❤️

[@Dalabombana]

This channel will blow up - love the format. 👍

[@lindamcgough3645]

Jo is one of my soul sisters. I adore her!

[@jeanniecampbell1374]

I agree with both of them about bullies it starts so early for some .

[@barbarellajameswalker5400]

Love listening to people I respect. So honest.

[@annieclaire2348]

Jo, you are an absolute delight and a gem! Love hearing your stories 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼♥️♥️♥️

[@MickReviewsStuff]

Never watched the Chelsea thing, as it’s not my cup of tea. You’re a natural at this though. Brilliant stuff

[@julietaylor3237]

Great interview. As a fellow nurse, I agree with Jo’s bullying comments ❤

[@joanne4692]

Keep being you, jojo. Your loved one share close to you. Thanks for being delightful and kind. ❤❤❤

[@fionahaveloch-jones1354]

really enjoyed this interview, thank you.

[@RealSalica]

I love Jo Brand so much , I had since the first time I saw her on a tv show . I think she is brilliant !

[@jessicarowley9631]

This was a brilliant interview. You had a genuinely lovely rapport with Jo. Just marvellous 😀 Thanks you!

[@devina1100]

Just Excellent! Jo is such a fascinating person . Loved this interview and so happy this channel showed up on my feed. Awesome!

[@joanne4692]

I live Joe brand. She's a boss.❤❤❤

[@shelleyjackson8793]

This is one of the best interviews ever. I love Jo but Jamie has also really gone up in my opinion too! He’s actually quite intelligent and very warm. And so sad that he went to boarding school. At least he didn’t turn into a psychopath like Tory politicians.

[@lindamcgough3645]

Jo is very wise!

[@SHSS8855]

What a lovely interview, thank you

[@SiobhanBeechinor]

Great interview! Great connection between Jo and Jamie. Looking forward to more.

[@valeriemoffat1877]

I love the anti advert! I feel exactly the same. And that is why I love jo.

[@caroledrury1411]

Great conversation! Fascinating great questions

[@ChorltonandtheWheelies]

Did not plan on watching all of this - that's the biggest compliment I can give you. I like Jo Brand but you are so good at this interviewing lark Jamie that I enjoyed every bit of this. I used to watch you when you did this with your friend (sorry I've forgot his name? He won Celebrity Coachtrip?) and that was good fun but then I lost contact with it. However Jamie - you are doing a cracking job on your own - new subscriber 😊✌

[@sophiemitchell2545]

Great interview love Jo total legend 👏

[@annrubino6252]

Terrific interview - new to this channel and have never heard of Jo before now. Where have I been?! I truly wish I knew her personally and as another 82 yr. old woman, I absolutely love her attitude and insights to our current culture. So happy that she visited Canada and I wish her all good things.

[@mandymartin5166]

Great watch thankyou xx💕

[@lss74]

Loved this !! Great stuff 🎉🎉🎉🎉 Thank You ❤

[@Bunny-xg3hx]

Great interview! I loved it!

[@LisaParkesWildheart]

What an interesting and entertaining chat. Thank you for sharing. ❤

[@aborigini1]

Love this podcast! Great interview Jamie… Jo Brand is a legend!🌺🌷⭐️

[@mollywoodburn9101]

Really great podcast’s and brilliant conversations . Thank you

[@samlightbowne3862]

What a great interview Jamie! ❤

[@nkdnkd5844]

I'm loving these podcasts!

[@albiewebb2206]

Brilliant interview!

[@Welshlad8383]

What a wonderful interview

[@hermeslover340]

Great interview best yet !

[@kes78]

I LOVE Jo Brand i went into labour watching her do stand up because i was laughing so much. You can keep your raspberry leaf tea and bouncing ball give me Jo Brand. Whod have thought id enjoy Jamies podcast but i really did, he should never jave done MIC hes rich but didnt he start Candy Kittens which do the best strawberry sweets? When he said he was trying to make "it relatable" when he was talking about his sisters pony so hes pretty self aware. My mums friend had really bad ppd and tried to unalive herself when i was 3 and my mum took me to a hospital just like Jo described and shed leave me in the car (it was '81) and one day all the patients were at the window waving so she went to look and id openedd the sunroof, climbed up and was sitting on the roof of the car singing and waving at the patients and i had no fear.

[@jacquiemartin9090]

Hi Jamie, loved these interviews. What’s coming up next? Can’t wait!

[@laurabuckley9219]

That’s was great! Thoroughly enjoyed it

[@catherine649]

Great interview!

[@Roxanne670]

21:00 - This is brilliant!

[@susanlaffan6934]

Great podcast ! Seeing Jamie at his absolute best

[@user-ng6jp4zs5b]

Jo is fantastic. ❤

[@catherinethorpe3940]

This was so interesting and nice neither of them talking over each other just a nice converstion which is rare in a lot of interviews so great job look forward to seeing more 😘

[@mrstiggywinkle]

Fantastic interview!!! 🎉 Jo Brand has always made me laugh! Nice to hear more about her ❤

[@user-emc79]

Jamie is fabulous!

[@hea7055]

Another great interview by Jamie 🙂