Jocelyn Jee Esien
Encyclopedia
Jocelyn Jee Esien is a Black British
comedian
, of Nigeria
n origin, perhaps best known for her part in the hidden camera show 3 Non Blondes, and her own comedy sketch show, Little Miss Jocelyn
.
, and initially studied law
before giving up to study drama, graduating from Guildhall School of Music and Drama
. She came to prominence in the BBC
hidden camera show 3 Non Blondes, having also appeared in other television series such as The Fast Show
and The Bill
. In 2006 she wrote and starred in her own comedy sketch show called Little Miss Jocelyn
, a second series of which aired in January 2008. This show marks the first time in the history of television – in either the US or the UK – that a black woman has been given her own solo comedy sketch show.
In 2000, Esien won the Best Newcomer award at the Black International Comedy Awards, and she won a New Talent Award in the Women in Film and Television Awards 2006.
In 2007, Esien featured in Girls Aloud
and Sugababes
' Comic Relief
video for "Walk This Way", where she puts a parking ticket on Ewen Macintosh, a reference to the character Jiffy from the show Little Miss Jocelyn.
Esien appeared in the second series of The Sarah Jane Adventures
as Clyde Langer
's mother, Carla. In 2010, Esien reprised the role in two further episodes of the show, titled The Empty Planet
which aired on 1 and 2 November 2010, as well as in the fifth series story, The Curse of Clyde Langer
which aired on 10 and 11 October 2011.
On 11 June 2009, it was stated that Little Miss Jocelyn will not be brought back for a third series. In November 2009, she played the part of waitress Cindie Smith in the ITV series Collision.
On 22 September 2010, Esien returned to BBC Three for One Non Blonde:Down Under, an 8-part comedy stunt show with new character creations. She plays characters such as a hermaphrodite
rapper and a socialite
, touring New Zealand
. She also appeared alongside famous British comedians in BBC One's Ronnie Corbett
Christmas special, The One Ronnie
.
In 2011, Esien appeared as Tasha in British comedy Anuvahood
.
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n origin, perhaps best known for her part in the hidden camera show 3 Non Blondes, and her own comedy sketch show, Little Miss Jocelyn
Little Miss Jocelyn
Little Miss Jocelyn is a British TV sketch comedy written by and starring Jocelyn Jee Esien. The show is made up of studio sketches and hidden camera footage in which unsuspecting members of the public become part of a sketch.-History:...
.
Biography
Esien attended Raine's Foundation SchoolRaine's Foundation School
Raine's Foundation School is a Church of England Voluntary Aided school in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.Henry Raine, a very rich man who lived in Wapping, decided to create a school where poor children could get an education for free, so that they could go into skilled labour when they left....
, and initially studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
before giving up to study drama, graduating from Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
. She came to prominence in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
hidden camera show 3 Non Blondes, having also appeared in other television series such as The Fast Show
The Fast Show
The Fast Show, known as Brilliant in the US, was a BBC comedy sketch show programme that ran for three series from 1994 to 1997 with a special Last Fast Show Ever in 2000. The show's central performers were Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Simon Day, Mark Williams, John Thomson, Arabella Weir and...
and The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
. In 2006 she wrote and starred in her own comedy sketch show called Little Miss Jocelyn
Little Miss Jocelyn
Little Miss Jocelyn is a British TV sketch comedy written by and starring Jocelyn Jee Esien. The show is made up of studio sketches and hidden camera footage in which unsuspecting members of the public become part of a sketch.-History:...
, a second series of which aired in January 2008. This show marks the first time in the history of television – in either the US or the UK – that a black woman has been given her own solo comedy sketch show.
In 2000, Esien won the Best Newcomer award at the Black International Comedy Awards, and she won a New Talent Award in the Women in Film and Television Awards 2006.
In 2007, Esien featured in Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
and Sugababes
Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
' Comic Relief
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
video for "Walk This Way", where she puts a parking ticket on Ewen Macintosh, a reference to the character Jiffy from the show Little Miss Jocelyn.
Esien appeared in the second series of The Sarah Jane Adventures
The Sarah Jane Adventures
The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British science fiction television series, produced by BBC Cymru Wales for CBBC, created by Russell T Davies and starring Elisabeth Sladen...
as Clyde Langer
Clyde Langer
Clyde Langer is a fictional character played by Daniel Anthony in the British children's science fiction television programme The Sarah Jane Adventures...
's mother, Carla. In 2010, Esien reprised the role in two further episodes of the show, titled The Empty Planet
The Empty Planet
The Empty Planet is a two-part story of The Sarah Jane Adventures which has been broadcast on CBBC on 1 and 2 November 2010. It is the fourth story of the fourth series.-Part 1:Sarah Jane tells Mr Smith to do a maximum scan...
which aired on 1 and 2 November 2010, as well as in the fifth series story, The Curse of Clyde Langer
The Curse of Clyde Langer
The Curse of Clyde Langer is a two-part story of The Sarah Jane Adventures which will broadcast on CBBC on 10 and 11 October 2011. It is the second story of the fifth and last series.-Part One:...
which aired on 10 and 11 October 2011.
On 11 June 2009, it was stated that Little Miss Jocelyn will not be brought back for a third series. In November 2009, she played the part of waitress Cindie Smith in the ITV series Collision.
On 22 September 2010, Esien returned to BBC Three for One Non Blonde:Down Under, an 8-part comedy stunt show with new character creations. She plays characters such as a hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
rapper and a socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
, touring New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. She also appeared alongside famous British comedians in BBC One's Ronnie Corbett
Ronnie Corbett
Ronald Balfour "Ronnie" Corbett, OBE is a Scottish actor and comedian of Scottish and English parentage who had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the British television comedy series The Two Ronnies...
Christmas special, The One Ronnie
The One Ronnie
The One Ronnie was a one-off comedy television sketch show that aired on BBC One on Christmas Day 2010 to celebrate the 80th birthday of Ronnie Corbett. It featured sketches between Corbett and Lionel Blair, Rob Brydon, James Corden, Jon Culshaw, Harry Enfield, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Miranda Hart,...
.
In 2011, Esien appeared as Tasha in British comedy Anuvahood
Anuvahood
Anuvahood is an urban comedy film directed by Adam Deacon. Starring Adam Deacon, Paul Kaye, Wil Johnson, Ollie Barbieri, Femi Oyeniran, Jocelyn Jee Esien and Ashley Walters as the lead stars, Anuvahood was released on March 18, 2011...
.