Magazine

Carole Stone

Carole is chairman of YouGovStone, a freelance broadcaster, media consultant and former producer of Radio 4’s Any Questions?

"I am obsessed with bringing people together. I feel you never know what may come of such meetings, and to me friendship is one of the great joys of life. For many years I was the producer of BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions? and now run a market research company, finding out what opinion formers think about issues of the day. I always encourage people to speak up and network which is why I accepted the challenge of this stand-up comedy slot: it’s often the things you don’t do in life that you later regret most. And as I say, you never know, I could be discovered!"

Carole is a patron of Triumph Over Phobia (TOP UK), and raised her laughs to support them in association with The Victoria Foundation, with the help of Women in Journalism.

Here's what Carole had to say after completing the Challenge:

"Stand-up comedy was completely new to me. I soon became utterly absorbed in gathering my material: what I was going to try to be funny about; how to raise a laugh; and what was permissible in terms of crudeness. Knowing that there had to be a punch line at the end of every sentence was a terrific spur. Everyday events suddenly took on a new complexion; whatever happened to me from hour to hour was analysed as possible ‘joke’ material.

"And now it’s all over I feel quite lost without the anxiety of knowing I have to perform and make people laugh – but you will hear more of these feelings in my next act…"

Maureen Vincent of the literary & talent agency United Agents was at the Funny Women Comedy Challenge and said of Carole's stand-up act: “well paced and delivered with confidence and wit – your audience were in good hands”

See Carole in action here: