Prime Highlights
- Comedian and actor Helen Lederer will be a special guest at a networking event in Kendal on January 22, sharing stories from her memoir Not That I’m Bitter.
- The event will combine business networking with a relaxed book club-style discussion, offering insight into her career and life in comedy.
Key Facts
- The event is hosted by The Gather and will take place at The Venue, Castle Mills, marking the organisation’s opening evening of 2026.
- Helen Lederer is best known for her role as Catriona in Absolutely Fabulousand is the founder of the Comedy Women in Print Prize, which supports women comedy writers.
Background:
Comedian, actor and writer Helen Lederer is set to be the special guest at a unique networking event in Kendal later this month, bringing together business, creativity and conversation in an informal setting.
Ms Lederer will appear at the January 22 event hosted by The Gather, where she will share insights from her memoir Not That I’m Bitter. The evening will mix business networking with a relaxed book club-style discussion, allowing guests to hear about her career, life, and experiences in comedy.
Best known for playing Catriona in the popular sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, Helen Lederer has been a familiar face on British television for many years. She was also one of the early figures in the alternative comedy scene of the 1980s, at a time when few women were part of the movement.
Her memoir has been praised by fellow comedians such as Ben Elton and Jo Brand for its honesty and humour. In the book, Lederer reflects on her journey from childhood to building a career in comedy and television. She also reflects on growing up as the daughter of a Czech wartime refugee.
She has said that laughter has always helped her through both good and difficult times.
Alongside performing, she is also a writer and campaigner, and is the founder of the Comedy Women in Print Prize, which supports women comedy writers.
The event will take place at The Venue, Castle Mills, and marks The Gather’s opening evening of 2026. Organisers say it reflects their ongoing commitment to offering professional development opportunities across Cumbria, while also creating spaces for meaningful conversation and inspiration beyond traditional networking formats.
The evening is expected to attract a wide audience, from business professionals to fans of comedy and literature, keen to hear from one of Britain’s most respected comedic voices.
