Kate Copstick

Kate Copstick is a Scottish actress, television presenter, writer, critic, director and producer.

Early life

She was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and studied for a law degree at the University of Glasgow.

Career As a comedy actor, Copstick appeared on children's TV shows No. 73 in the 1980s, and ChuckleVision in the 1990s. She played the titular role in children's series Marlene Marlowe Investigates, and performed as part of the ensemble cast of former Saturday morning BBC children's show On the Waterfront. Copstick executive produced the Natural Born Racers TV series that followed the Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup.

Copstick is a commentator on human sexuality. After years writing for the Erotic Review, she became its owner in 2009.

At the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Copstick was a Perrier Comedy Award judge in 2003 and 2004, and a Malcolm Hardee Award judge in 2008–2015. She lends her voice to the announcements at Fort William railway station.

She is The Scotsman newspaper's comedy critic, having begun reviewing for the paper in 1999.

Work with charitable organisations

Copstick has worked in Kenya with HIV+ women and their families. Through the Children With AIDS Charity, of which she is vice-chair, she started Mama Biashara ("Business Mother") in 2008, working to set these women up in small businesses, thus making them financially independent. The slogan of the charity is "A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out", and its survival is dependent on donations and on raising money from the Mama Biashara shop in Shepherd's Bush Green, London.

Copstick made Positive Thinking for BBC One, a documentary on HIV/AIDS aimed at children. She is a patron of the Waverley Care Trust.

Personal life

Copstick was attacked and robbed close to her home in west London in September 2022. The robbers took £8,500 that she had raised for her charity Mama Biashara.

Theatre Year Title Role Company Director Notes 1982 The Shepherd Beguiled Jean Theatre Alba Charles Nowosielski play by Netta B. Reid

Filmography Actress The Basil Brush Show (1 episode, 2003) ChuckleVision (10 episodes, 1992–2000) Marlene Marlowe Investigates (1993) TV series A Bit of Fry and Laurie (1 episode, 1992) On the Waterfront (12 episodes, 1988) No. 73 (20 episodes, 1986–1987) Writer Hotel Getaway (8 episodes, 2000–2003) On the Waterfront (24 episodes, 1988–1989) Lose a Million Self Show Me the Funny (2011) – Judge (TV) Dawn Goes Lesbian (2008) – Instructor The If.comedy Awards: A Comedy Cuts Special (2007) (TV) RIP 2002 (2002) (TV) Hotel Getaway (1 episode, 2000) No Kidding (1991) – Presenter Crosswits – Regular Panellist On the Waterfront (12 episodes, 1989) So You Want to be Top? (1983) (TV) – Co-host