April: Comedian Of The Month #39, Cariad Lloyd
Each Comedian of the Month on MoodyComedy is a comic who has never previously featured on the website. Reasons for selection can include various current projects the comedian is involved with, or perhaps recent appearances on television programmes or podcasts. There is no strict criteria however, as Comedian of the Month simply stands as a collection of recommendations, highlighting interesting and original aspects of certain comedians and their work.
Cariad Lloyd is a regular face on television these days. She has become a frequent guest on QI during the past few years as well as starring in the likes of Peep Show, Murder in Successville, Crackanory and Crims.
But this comic and writer has many strings to her bow. With an aptitude for improvisation, Cariad is animated and engaging, able to endear herself to audiences with ease. She is a member of the highly acclaimed Jane Austen-inspired improvised sketch group Austentatious: The Improvised Novel (fellow cast member Jospeh Morpurgo has been MoodyComedy’s Comedian of the Month in the past).
© Richard Davenport
The area of Cariad’s work that I have most recently enjoyed, however, is her relatively new podcast: The Grief Cast. As you might guess from the title, it is a series about dealing with losing a loved one. Cariad, who has personally suffered from such a loss, invites comedians and writers to talk within a lighthearted yet honest and sometimes quite frank discussion about their experiences.
Lloyd is empathetic and clearly very emotionally mature, and she supports her fellow comics as they share stories from the most painful parts of their lives. Though, at the same time, The Grief Cast is factual and both interviewer and interviewees don’t muck around when it comes to being blunt yet fair regarding the realities of death and grief. Cariad as a story elicitor is honest but never judgemental. This podcast is quite honestly a pleasure to listen to. You can listen to it here.
For more information, follow Cariad Lloyd on Twitter or visit her website.
Book tickets for Austentatious: The Improvised Novel’s nationwide tour here.