Katherine Ryan says growing up in a 'matriarchy' paved the way to comedy success

Katherine Ryan says comedy can be a tough environment for female comics — but that growing up in a “matriarchy” helped.

The Canadian stand-up, 34, said: “I went to visit my sister in a small town and we went out to see an open mic night, and there were 24 white men on the bill.

They were all beginners. Their material was all very misogynistic, violently sexual.

“If you can withstand that level of it, things definitely get better. Towards the top, there are lots of directors, producers and writers who are women.

"What helped me was that I grew up in a matriarchy. I have two sisters and a powerful mother. It didn’t even occur to me that anything would be harder because I was a woman.

“That was really good for me. Being a stand-up is an alpha job, but people are comfortable with women being alphas now. I love it. I love men. A lot of my favourite people are wonderful, feminist men.”

Ryan moved to the UK nine years ago with her then-partner and their daughter Violet, now eight, with whom she lives in Crouch End.

She is the face of a TK Maxx campaign, in which she dresses up as stars including Marilyn Monroe, right, using items found in stores, to highlight its range.