‘Cats Are Less Annoying Than Humans!'

Comedian and presenter Jo Brand tells TV Times why helping our feline friends is her ‘purr-fect’ job

- Rebecca Fletcher

She may be the doyenne of deadpan delivery, but Jo Brand is a softie at heart.

‘It’s true – I love cute kittens and old cats – the more raggedy the better. There, I’ve admitted it,’ laughs Jo, proud owner of felines Louis and Dotty. ‘Millions of us love moggies!’

That is why she’s the ‘purrfect’ host for Channel 5’s Kitten Rescue, which follows the RSPCA officers, vets, and volunteers who together protect the nation’s cats and kittens.

‘It’s perfect lockdown viewing,’ explains the comedian, who also presents C4’s The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice. ‘We all need to see happy endings at the moment – what can be better than kittens?’

Here, in an exclusive interview, Jo, 63, chats to TV Times about some of the dramatic rescue stories in the new second series, and why she thinks cats make wonderful companions…

We bet you’re thrilled to be back for another series…

I’m so pleased. I like to do things that go slightly against the grain of people’s expectations and I’m not exactly fluffy, am I? But I quite like that. Just like I love cats. I always have done – ever since I was given a kitten for Christmas when I was four and it promptly escaped, ran up the chimney and wouldn’t come down!

What do you enjoy most about presenting this show?