It all started when Laura O’Connell and Abi Denniston, hosts of the fast-rising Irish comedy podcast ‘Oh Right, Yeah’, decided to DM Dawn French because they were both “completely obsessed” with her.
A few months later, the comedy icon was sitting down with them for one of their funniest, warmest and most unexpectedly emotional conversations yet.
During the episode, which has just gone live, Dawn opened up about navigating the female comedy world in her early twenties, the inspiration behind her new novel, Enough, and the role humour has played throughout her life and career.
She shared hilarious stories throughout the episode, including an awkward royal faux pas involving King Charles, and candidly spoke about an early romance with an Irish naval officer from Belturbet, who she revealed was also her fiancé and the man she lost her virginity to! Dawn French lost her virginity to an Irish man, a fun fact just revealed today!
Dawn also discussed the lasting impact of losing her father to suicide at 19, experiences she explores in her new novel, Enough.
After asking Oliver Callan on his show if she could give Laura and Abi a little plug, Dawn said she “loved talking” with Laura and Abi and described the pair as “absolutely hilarious.”
Laura O’Connell of the comedy duo said:
“We still can’t really feel our faces after the interview. It was such an unbelievable dream come true to chat with her. And she was so incredibly open and warm, not to mention hilarious. Of course!”
“Dawn admitted she loves helping out up-and-coming female comedians, as there were so few there to help her back when she was starting out as a female comic, so we know that's really why she really did this. But that’s so fine by us! They say you should never meet your heroes, we have just proven that old wives' tales is so wrong! It was a dream come true, and the quality of this new podcast episode just backs that up”.
The hosts said recording the episode felt less like interviewing a comedy legend and more like “chatting with an old friend.”
The episode is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and YouTube Music.
ABOUT DAWN FRENCH’S NEW BOOK – ENOUGH
ENOUGH, Dawn French’s fifth novel, is published by Penguin Michael Joseph and is available now to buy and download in all major bookstores and online retailers.
The novel has already been described as Dawn’s most ambitious, darkly funny and deeply human work to date, following her previous Sunday Times bestselling novels, including Because of You, According to Yes, A Tiny Bit Marvellous, Oh Dear Silvia.
