Madeleine Brettingham is a comedy writer working across TV, radio, theatre, fiction, non-fiction and stand-up.
Her debut play, Dear Martin, premiered at the Arcola Theatre in 2025, earning an Offie Assessors’ Choice. Reviews called it “a surreal thought-provoking comedy” that “bristles with verbal and visual energy.” It’s now in TV development.
Theatre
On screen and radio, Madeleine’s credits are a who’s who of British comedy: Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Would I Lie To You?, Have I Got News For You, That Mitchell and Webb Look, Horrible Histories, and more. She’s written solo, in rooms, as lead writer, and developed original pilots for the BBC, Sky, and major streamers.
Broadcast
Recently, she’s become one to watch on the stand-up circuit — winner of Bath and West End Female New Act of the Year 2025, a top 3 finalist at Hastings and West End New Act of the Year and a semi-finalist at this year’s upcoming So You Think You’re Funny contest. Promoters have called her “feisty” and “fearless.” You can find selected gigs here, book her here, and see her solo work-in-progress at the Leicester, Machnylleth, Brighton, Camden and Edinburgh comedy festivals.
Performance
Her writing’s also appeared in The Times Literary Supplement, The Fence, and on Twitter, where viral posts have been picked up by The Sun, The Times, and The Washington Post. She’s been a BAFTA and Writers’ Guild judge, guest lectured at the National Film & Television School, and was a finalist for Best Comedy Writer at the Funny Women Awards.
Other
“Writes like a novelist, performs like a delinquent.”
“Razor-sharp wit and hilarious anecdotes.”
“Blends dark humour with thought-provoking themes.”
“A feisty and fearless performer with a definite edge.”
“See her before she becomes rich and famous.”
Praise
Frog-faced arse wipes: on satire post-Brexit, The Times Literary Supplement
Poison in jest: offence and free speech on the comedy circuit, The Times Literary Supplement
Funny Business: the inner lives of comedians, The Times Literary Supplement
Army of Me: further reflections on our robot overlords, Substack
Essays and reviews
Fiction
The Adolescents, The Fence
Can’t go on. Go on, The Times Literary Supplement Podcast
Dirty Grandpa, Smersh Pod
May, 1981, I’m So Not Over It
Podcasts
Subscribe on Substack, follow on X, Bluesky and Instagram, or contact Charlene McManus at Curtis Brown.
charlene.mcmanus@curtisbrown.co.uk +44 (0)20 7393 4260
Contact