Francesca Martinez

Francesca Martinez is not only a comedian, but an actress and motivational speaker also. She received a nomination for the UK’s Motivator of the Year award, alongside the likes of Matthew Pinsent, and Sir Bob Geldof. She won the 2011 Fringe Media Network Award, and was an ambassador for the London 2012 Olympics.

Francesca has toured internationally, including sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival, the Melbourne Comedy Festival and the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. She has completed a 33-date UK tour and two off-West End London runs at the Tricycle Theatre and the Hackney Empire. She has cerebral palsy but prefers to describe herself as "wobbly".

In 2003, Francesca was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy, and she has performed internationally, including in the United States, where she gigged at Caroline's on Broadway, and at the 2008 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Before becoming a stand-up, Martinez appeared in the BBC children's drama serial Grange Hill for several years, and has acted in other drama series such as Casualty. She has also appeared as a guest on The Frank Skinner Show, and in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's comedy series Extras.

In 2008, Francesca made global headlines when (live on Channel 4 News) she became the first Olympic torch bearer to pull out of the London relay in protest over China's treatment of Tibet. She is an avid campaigner and her good work has seen her be nominated for Red Magazine’s Woman of the Year Award in 2014 and for a European Diversity ‘Hero of the Year’ Award in 2014.

In 2014. Her best-selling book ‘WHAT THE **** IS NORMAL?’ was published to great acclaim and eas nominated for the Chortle Comedy ‘best Book’ award

Paving the way for performers of all abilities, Francesca’s unique position as a successful mainstream performer is proof she is breaking down many barriers and changing attitudes.

A stand-up comic, actress and inspirational speaker, Francesca Martinez is a passionate speaker, who can talk about facing your fears, the power of positive thinking and defying expectations.