# Alison Spittle

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{{Short description|Irish comedian, writer and actor}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox comedian <!-- for individuals - see Template:Infobox comedian for usage -->
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| image = Alison Spittle at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe-14 (cropped).jpg
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| caption              = Spittle at the 2025 [Edinburgh Festival Fringe](/source/Edinburgh_Festival_Fringe)
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| birth_date           = {{Birth date and age|df=y|14 June 1989}}<ref name="WMExaminer" /><!-- was 22 in September, 2011 -->
| birth_place          = [Harrow, London](/source/Harrow%2C_London), United Kingdom
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'''Alison Spittle''' (born 14 June 1989) is an Irish comedian, [comedy writer](/source/comedy_writer), radio producer and actor.<ref name="Anxiety"/><ref name="WMExaminer">{{cite news |url-status= dead |archive-date=4 October 2011 |date=9 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004001427/http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/people/articles/2011/09/09/4006468-i-dont-want-9-to-5/ |title='I don't want 9 to 5!' |work=[Westmeath Examiner](/source/Westmeath_Examiner) |url=http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie:80/news/people/articles/2011/09/09/4006468-i-dont-want-9-to-5/ |accessdate=29 November 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="loves"/> She has worked for [iRadio](/source/iRadio),<ref name="WMExaminer"/> [RTÉ Radio 1](/source/RT%C3%89_Radio_1)<ref name="WMExaminer"/> and [Newstalk](/source/Newstalk)<ref name="sparks"/> and created [sketches](/source/sketch_comedy) for ''[Republic of Telly](/source/Republic_of_Telly)'' and has written and starred in her [RTÉ Two](/source/RT%C3%89_Two) sit-com ''Nowhere Fast'' in 2017.<ref name="Anxiety"/><ref name="cross"/><ref name="Joe"/><ref name="Edge"/>

==Early life==
Spittle was born in [Harrow](/source/Harrow%2C_London), London.<ref name="abseiling"/><ref name="WMExaminer"/> Spittle's father was a builder.<ref name="WMExaminer"/><ref name="abseiling"/><ref name="cross"/> The family moved frequently, including to [Dresden](/source/Dresden), Germany, before moving to Spittle's mother's ancestral home of [County Westmeath](/source/County_Westmeath), [Tyrrellspass](/source/Tyrrellspass), [Mullingar](/source/Mullingar) and finally [Ballymore](/source/Ballymore%2C_County_Westmeath) at age eight.<ref name="WMExaminer"/><ref name="abseiling"/><ref name="shocked"/><ref name="cross"/><ref name="Crawl"/> She attended secondary school in [Moate](/source/Moate).<ref name="Crawl"/>

==Career==
Graduating from college in [Dublin](/source/Dublin),<ref name="Anxiety"/> Spittle moved back to Westmeath, where she worked as a researcher for [iRadio](/source/iRadio) with comedian [Bernard O'Shea](/source/Bernard_O'Shea).<ref name="WMExaminer"/><ref name="abseiling"/><ref name="cross"/> She began working in comedy, [supporting](/source/support_act) [PJ Gallagher](/source/P._J._Gallagher_(comedian)).<ref name="abseiling"/> This led to her participation in [So You Think You're Funny?](/source/So_You_Think_You're_Funny%3F)'s Irish heats, qualifying for rounds in [Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh).<ref name="WMExaminer"/><ref name="Crawl"/> She got a guest spot on the ''Happy Hour'' section of the ''[John Murray Show](/source/John_Murray_Show)'' [RTÉ Radio 1](/source/RT%C3%89_Radio_1) from this success.<ref name="WMExaminer"/>

Her comedy shows have included ''Alison Spittle Needs an Agent'', ''Alison Spittle Discovers Hawaii'' (2015),<ref name="abseiling"/><ref name="Crawl"/> and ''Worrier Princess'' (2017).<ref name="Anxiety"/><ref name="abseiling">{{cite news |newspaper=[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times) |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/alison-spittle-i-just-tried-stand-up-like-you-would-try-abseiling-1.2592097 |title=Alison Spittle: 'I just tried stand-up like you would try abseiling' |date=4 April 2016 |first=Aoife |last=Valentine |accessdate=29 November 2017}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> She has performed at the [Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh_Fringe) and [Dublin](/source/Dublin_Fringe_Festival) [fringe festival](/source/fringe_festival)s,<ref name="abseiling"/> as well as The Forbidden Fruit and Cork Comedy [festivals](/source/Comedy_festival).<ref name="shocked">{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/you-can-get-on-with-him-and-you-can-be-shocked-with-what-he-said-comedian-alison-spittle-on-george-hook-36303700.html |work=[Evening Herald](/source/Evening_Herald) |title='You can get on with him and you can be shocked with what he said' – Comedian Alison Spittle on George Hook |first=Sean |last=O'Grady |date=9 November 2017 |accessdate=29 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="Anxiety">{{cite web |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911034908/http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsfilmtv/how-alison-spittle-deals-with-her-anxiety-through-stand-up-comedy-458307.html |date=5 September 2017 |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsfilmtv/how-alison-spittle-deals-with-her-anxiety-through-stand-up-comedy-458307.html |title=How Alison Spittle deals with her anxiety through stand-up comedy |first=Ellie |last=O'Byrne |archive-date=11 September 2017 |work=[Irish Examiner](/source/Irish_Examiner) |accessdate=29 November 2017}}</ref>

Spittle wrote and starred in [web](/source/webisode) comedy shorts for [RTÉ Two](/source/RT%C3%89_Two), and in sketches for ''[Republic of Telly](/source/Republic_of_Telly)'' with Kevin McGahern.<ref name="Anxiety"/><ref name="Crawl">{{cite news |date=3 May 2013 |via=[InfoTrac Newsstand](/source/InfoTrac_Newsstand) |url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A328462368/GPS?sid=wikipedia |title=Crawl to the Front – Camden weekend takes centre stage |work=[Irish Daily Mirror](/source/Irish_Daily_Mirror) |page=2 |first=James |last=Ward |accessdate=29 November 2017}}{{free access}}</ref>

She was a regular contributor to ''[The Right Hook](/source/The_Right_Hook)'' with [George Hook](/source/George_Hook) on [Newstalk](/source/Newstalk).<ref name="Anxiety"/><ref name="sparks">{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/all-in-the-chemistry-as-irish-radio-hopes-for-sparks-1.2741562 |newspaper=[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times) |title=All in the chemistry as Irish radio hopes for sparks |date=2 August 2016 |first=Laura |last=Slattery |accessdate=29 November 2017}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> She is also a regular co-host of The Guilty Feminist [podcast](/source/podcast) with Deborah Francis-White.

In 2016 she created the ''Alison Spittle Show'' podcast [hosted](/source/webhosting) by HeadStuff.org, which she hosted until the podcast's end in 2020.<ref name="loves">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/the-loves-of-my-life-comedian-alison-spittle-35352247.html  |magazine=Life |title=The loves of my life: Comedian Alison Spittle |date=16 January 2017 |accessdate=29 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times) |first=Erin |last=McGuire |date=1 February 2016 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/sharon-horgan-the-divorce-industry-feeds-off-people-at-the-worst-time-of-their-lives-1.2516799 |title=Sharon Horgan: The divorce industry feeds off people at the worst time of their lives |accessdate=29 November 2017}}{{Subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407141249/http://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/04/07/the-alison-spittle-show/ |url=http://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/04/07/the-alison-spittle-show/ |author=Bodger |date=7 April 2016 |website=[Broadsheet.ie](/source/Broadsheet.ie) |archive-date=7 April 2016 |title=The Alison Spittle Show |url-status=live |accessdate=29 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="cross"/><ref name="Anxiety"/><ref name="bestPodcasts">{{cite news |newspaper=[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times) |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/ireland-now-nine-of-the-best-irish-podcasts-1.3004035 |title=Ireland Now: nine of the best Irish podcasts There has never been a better time to tune in to this growing community of talented people |date=16 March 2017 |first=Sarah Maria |last=Griffin |accessdate=29 November 2017}}{{Subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://headstuffpodcasts.com/show/the-alison-spittle-show/ |website=HeadStuff Podcasts |title=The Alison Spittle Show |url-status=live |accessdate=2026-04-06}}</ref>

She appeared in the 2019 comedy film [''Extra Ordinary''](/source/Extra_Ordinary_(film)).

In 2020, she and fellow comedian [Fern Brady](/source/Fern_Brady) started a podcast for the [BBC](/source/BBC) called ''Wheel of Misfortune''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08m3z73|title=Wheel of Misfortune on BBC|website=bbc.co.uk|publisher=[BBC](/source/BBC)}}</ref> Brady left the podcast in early 2021 and Spittle hosted the show with guests until [Kerry Katona](/source/Kerry_Katona) became permanent co-host in November 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kerry Katona joins Wheel of Misfortune |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/other-news/2022/11/08/52048/kerry_katona_joins_wheel_of_misfortune |website=Chortle |access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref> The podcast ended in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/audio/brand/p08m3z73 |title=Wheel of Misfortune |accessdate=2026-04-06 |website=BBC Audio |url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2023, she appeared on game show ''[Richard Osman's House of Games](/source/Richard_Osman's_House_of_Games)''.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

===''Nowhere Fast''===
In 2017, she [co-wrote](/source/co-written) a six-part [sitcom](/source/sitcom) ''Nowhere Fast'' with her boyfriend Simon Mulholland.<ref name="Anxiety"/><ref name="Crawl"/><ref name="cross">{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/alison-spittle-if-you-re-friends-with-a-mad-bastard-that-s-your-cross-to-bear-1.3283179 |title=Alison Spittle: 'If you're friends with a mad bastard, that's your cross to bear' |date=11 November 2017 |first=Patrick |last=Freyne |newspaper=[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times) |accessdate=29 November 2017}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> The series was directed by [Simon Gibney](/source/Simon_Gibney).<ref name="cross"/> The show sees Angela (played by Spittle) moving back down to Ballybeag in the [Midlands](/source/Midland_Region%2C_Ireland), having lost her job on a radio show in Dublin following a high-profile [libel case](/source/libel_law).<ref>{{cite web  |accessdate=29 November 2017 |url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A514914951/GPS?sid=wikipedia |title=Platinum couple; |date=19 November 2017 |work=[Sunday Times](/source/Sunday_Times_(Ireland_edition)) |page=56 |via=[Academic OneFile](/source/Academic_OneFile)}}{{Free access}}</ref> The series began in November 2017, and was generally well received by critics and viewers.<ref name="cross"/><ref name="Joe">{{cite web |url=https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/nowhere-fast-reaction-606430 |archive-date=14 November 2017 |date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114021115/https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/nowhere-fast-reaction-606430 |title=It seemed like everyone tuned in for RTÉ's new comedy Nowhere Fast, and everyone loved it |first=Rory |last=Cashin |website=[Joe.ie](/source/Joe.ie) |url-status=live |accessdate=29 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="Edge">{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyedge.ie/mary-alison-spittles-nowhere-fast-3695443-Nov2017/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114191233/http://www.dailyedge.ie/mary-alison-spittles-nowhere-fast-3695443-Nov2017/ |archive-date=14 November 2017 |title=Everyone fell in love with the outrageous Mary on Alison Spittle's Nowhere Fast last night |date=14 November 2017|accessdate=29 November 2017 |website=[DailyEdge.ie](/source/DailyEdge.ie)}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/a/34492/alison_spittle/tour Profile on Chortle] including tour dates
* [https://www.headstuff.org/the-alison-spittle-show/ The Alison Spittle Show] podcast
*{{Twitter|AlisonSpittle}}
*{{Instagram|alisonspittle}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spittle, Alison}}
Category:Irish women comedians
Category:Irish stand-up comedians
Category:Living people
Category:People from County Westmeath
Category:Irish comedy writers
Category:Irish television writers
Category:Irish women television writers
Category:Irish expatriates in England
Category:People from Harrow, London
Category:1989 births
Category:21st-century Irish comedians
Category:Irish women screenwriters
Category:21st-century Irish screenwriters
Category:Irish sketch comedians
Category:Comedians from the London Borough of Harrow

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alison Spittle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Spittle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Spittle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.