Lynne Parker was Told Women Aren’t Funny. Then She Changed Comedy.

What happens when one dismissive comment becomes the catalyst for more than two decades of change?

In this episode, Julia and Valerie are joined by Lynne Parker, founder of Funny Women, the award-winning platform that has championed female performers, writers and creators since 2002. Lynne shares how being told that women ‘aren’t funny’ led her to challenge a male-dominated comedy industry and create opportunities for emerging talent, including Funny Women Award winner Katherine Ryan.

Lynne reflects candidly on her varied career in journalism, public relations and retail, the risks behind building Funny Women and the financial realities of sustaining work in an industry where comedy is still not officially recognised as an art form. She also explores how comedy can help women strengthen their confidence, communicate with greater impact and make themselves heard in business and beyond.

This is an honest and spirited conversation about reinvention, visibility, collaboration and what it takes to keep backing an idea when the structures around you have yet to catch up.

Key Learnings

Your experience may prepare you for work you never planned to do. Lynne’s background in journalism, PR and business gave her the storytelling, commercial judgement and determination to build Funny Women.

Lasting change requires more than personal success. It depends on opening doors, recognising new talent and working together so that opportunity extends beyond one person.

Guest Information: 

https://www.lynneparker.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynneparker/

https://funnywomen.com/

https://magazine.funnywomen.com/2025/12/11/the-glitter-project-how-a-spark-became-a-nationwide-creative-movement/

Comedy Advisor to CRAFT, the newly formed Comedy Representation and Artform Trust. https://thecraft.lol/

https://magazine.funnywomen.com/2026/04/30/born-out-of-misogyny-why-we-are-still-waiting-to-be-heard/