
Performing her stand-up show by night and caring for her children by day means Katherine Ryan is run off her feet. Yet despite driving for hours to make sure she’s home after nearly every gig, the mum-of three admits she still feels overwhelmed by mum guilt.
“It is different touring as a mum. I don’t mean to disparage the male comedians in my industry – some of them are wonderful, hands-on dads – but I don’t see the same level of zigzagging back and forth,” she says. “There’s always going to be guilt.”
Katherine, 41, is just one-fifth of the way through her European tour Battleaxe, but tries to make it home every night so she can wake up to Violet, 15, Fred, three, and Fenna, one.
“I FaceTime them if I’m in Europe but if I’m in the north of England or anything less than three hours away, then I come home,” she says. “There was one weekend where it was raining a lot. I was in Bradford, then Warrington, then Manchester and then Stoke, and there were floods.
“It was a bit silly to be zigzagging back and forth but Fred had his assessments for reception and Violet had her assessments for sixth form. There are things going on. It’s probably not climate-friendly but I drive back and forth because then I can be home in the morning and I can be home for the day.”
The comedian has become a staple of British TV over the past decade, hosting series such as Your Face Or Mine and All That Glitters, and dominating panel shows alongside Jimmy Carr, David Mitchell, and Dara Ó Briain. From popping up on The Masked Singer last year to becoming a new judge on Canada’s Got Talent, Katherine is booked and busy.
This story is from the November 11, 2024 edition of OK! UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 11, 2024 edition of OK! UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In

ROYALS REMEMBER - WILLIAM AND KATE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Following their recent joint official visit to Wales, the Prince and Princess of Wales are set to take centre stage at national celebrations for VE Day in May

My mom and Kurt were always open about their mistakes'
Hollywood actress Kate Hudson on starring in the new Netflix series, Running Point, and how her mother, Goldie Hawn, taught her to be an independent woman

Something in the air
Save time and cut back on calories with these delicious air-fried meals

'The world is my oyster now'
Following her dramatic exit from Emmerdale, soap star Natalie Ann Jamieson says she's looking for a completely different role and would be a natural on The Traitors

THE ROYAL WEEK
A busy week for the royals saw the King pulling pints and fitting tyres - but there was still time for a date (or two) with the Queen

CLASS ACTS ARE HONOURED AT THE SAG AWARDS
Actor Timothée Chalamet stole the show at The 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards as a host of stars gathered to celebrate the best performances of the year

STARS PAY TRIBUTE TO 'MAGNIFICENT' ACTOR GENE HACKMAN
Hollywood greats and royalty shared tributes on social media following news of the death of Oscar winner Gene Hackman

REVOLUTIONARY RHODES
Not all five-star hotels feel welcoming for children, but one beautiful, high-end resort in Lindos couldn't be more family-friendly

'We bond over our love of a night out'
Old mates Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks on wild parties, their secret fondness for each other, and handling hangovers on their new radio show

I've got to embrace the instability of not knowing what's next'
Actress Nikki Sanderson chats exclusively about her “incredibly difficult” decision to leave Hollyoaks after more than a decade, how she's the happiest she's ever been and why she'll never rule out a return to Corrie