Comedian Katherine Ryan on motherhood, marriage and the reality show she’d love to do…
WORDS: ARIANA LONGSON. PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, GETTY
Unapologetically herself and refreshingly honest, comedian Katherine Ryan is a joy to chat to thanks to her witty banter and hilarious one-liners.
Katherine, 40, who is mum to Violet, 14, Fred, two, and one-year-old Fenna, has Woman in stitches during our interview as she reveals the truth about why she and husband Bobby Kootstra sleep in separate bedrooms, why she’d never live in LA and the harsh realities of being a working mum…
Hi Katherine, what’s new with you?
I’m going on tour in the autumn. Last time, I brought my son, Fred. He had reflux and was up eight times in the night. I wanted to give people the same quality of show, but that’s hard on little sleep, so I’m not bringing a single baby with me on this tour. No one crying, no breastfeeding. And I’m not getting pregnant again this year! I’m going to focus on getting back to the Katherine Ryan that I used to be and give people an incredible show.
Do you want more children in the future?
I hate the idea that I won’t have another baby. I love being pregnant and giving birth, and I love my children, so having another baby sounds like a win-win. At my age there’s an urgency; it’s like, ‘OK, I’m 40, what am I going to do?’
So I did have fertility tests to check how many eggs I have left. They said it looks like I still have a few years, so I’ve shelved the idea in order that I can go on tour, perform really well and not be throwing up at the side of the stage. Halfway through the tour I might have to get pregnant again! I shouldn’t, but I want to.
What did you make of Lily Allen’s comments that her children ruined her career?
I’m in both camps. My children have enriched my life; they’re such a blessing and I would never trade them for anything. But I would be lying if I said they didn’t ruin the life I had before. But I rebuilt a better one and that’s fine. I would be pretending if I said that I could still do all the things that I could before and I think we’re selling this fantasy of what motherhood means if we aren’t honest about that.
Do you get ‘mum guilt’?
I have guilt that I’m short-changing the people who come to see me on tour because I might not be as rested or as sharp as I would be if I didn’t have two small children at home. But equally, I have guilt that I have to leave the house and might n
