Jules O’Brian’s Top 10 Comedy Influences

My Top 10 Comedy Influences list is part homage, part confession, and probably says more about me than any personality quiz ever could.

I once read that your sense of humour starts forming around age five – and if that’s true, then mine was shaped by sarcasm, smut, and Sunday night telly. The people on this list aren’t all trendy, diverse, or even still alive – but they made me laugh, made me think, or made me realise that being a bit “too much” could actually be a superpower.

This isn’t a definitive list – just the ones who nudged me, one gag at a time, toward the stage. I didn’t know it back then, but every weird VHS recording, Live at the Apollo rerun, or after-school sketch show was rewiring my brain for comedy.

Joan Rivers

The original savage. No one sliced through hypocrisy like Joan. She could be mean – but she was never boring. Watching her made me realise that being a woman on stage didn’t mean softening anything. Quite the opposite. You could be sharp, loud, and still sparkle. She never asked permission to take up space – she just did it, brilliantly.

Rik Mayall

Utter chaos in human form. I grew up worshipping his mad eyes and elastic face. He was rude, silly, and weirdly poetic. Rik’s comedy was a punch in the face – and I loved every second of it. He made anarchy feel like art, and you could tell he meant every word, even if he was screaming it while falling off a chair.

Victoria Wood

The gold standard. Observational, musical, working-class wit with warmth and bite. She could find beauty and hilarity in the most mundane situations. I watched her and thought: that’s how you connect – by telling the truth, with jokes.

She made being clever and Northern feel like a superpower.

Mae West

Before there were sex-positive podcasts and “main character energy,” there was Mae West.
She didn’t just ooze confidence – she wrote it. Her comedy was flirtatious, provocative, and razor sharp. An icon for women who dare to be the punchline and the punch.

She swaggered through a man’s world like she owned it.

Katherine Ryan

Posh glam with venom underneath. I love the contradiction – she’s beautiful, unapologetic, and fierce as hell. Katherine’s style reminds me that you can be cutting and classy, feminine and formidable. She makes every syllable count, and never backs down from a punchline.

Ben Elton

Somehow both angry and wordy – and absolutely electric. I admired his political fire and rhythm – the way he could rant without losing the joke. He made opinionated comedy feel like a rock concert with a brain. Watching him, I realised comedy could be smart, urgent and still wildly funny.

Amy Schumer

Fearless, filthy, and funny. When Amy burst onto the scene, she blew the lid off the idea that female comics had to be sweet or self-deprecating. She made “brash” feel like a badge of honour.

She wasn’t trying to be one of the lads – she was something else entirely.

Jules O’Brian’s Top 10 Comedy Influences Amy Schumer Great British Comedians — Maryanne Ventrice, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Morwenna Banks

Criminally underrated. Her “Little Girl” character on Absolutely made me cry laughing. That mix of surrealism and sweetness is something I always come back to. It’s why I love anything with a dark heart and a daft edge.

She made weird feel wonderful.

Bob Hope

A total throwback – but I was obsessed with old black-and-white films as a kid. There was something about Bob Hope’s quick delivery and raised eyebrow that felt timeless. It’s all about rhythm and charm.

It’s all about rhythm and charm. He made every line feel like it had a wink built in.

Bill Burr

Not someone I always agree with, but I love the clarity of voice. He’s consistent, confrontational, and never plays it safe. That level of honesty – even when it’s uncomfortable – is something I really respect in comedy. He’ll say the thing most people are too scared to think.

Final Thoughts

Comedy, like life, is messy and contradictory – but the people who made me laugh made me brave too. These are the voices I carry with me when I step on stage. They gave me permission to be loud, opinionated,

About the author:

Jules O’Brian is a UK-based comedian and former teacher whose stand-up blends storytelling, silliness and subtle rage. She’s available for corporate gigs, festivals, hen dos and probably funerals if the price is right.