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Jo Brand was brought up in Kent where she was educated at Benenden Primary School and Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Girls. Aged 15, after achieving 8 'O' Levels, she transferred to Hastings High School.
After leaving school, Jo held in a variety of jobs from working in a restaurant kitchen, to a wine bar, to a flower nursery where she pulled the heads of chrysanthemums. It was perhaps whilst working for Dr Barnardos at a residential home for adults with learning difficulties that Jo was inspired to embark on a career in nursing.
She joined Brunel University in 1978 and left in 1982 with a degree in Social Science and Nursing. From Brunel she worked as a Staff nurse at Maudsley Hospital Emergency Clinic where she had trained.
It wasn't until 1986 that Jo began to work the comedy circuit by doing open spots in London comedy clubs. She was a great success and two years later was offered an appearance on Friday Night Live, a sign that she should leave the nursing profession and take a chance on a career in comedy.
July 2006
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