Barbara Nice is the stage name of one of British comedy's best loved characters, performed by Birmingham actress and comedian Janice Connolly. Billed as an exuberant Kings Heath housewife and mother of five, Barbara greets every crowd like an old friend, mixing warm chat, cheerful audience interaction and unmistakable West Midlands charm. She was spotted by Peter Kay in 1997 at a talent night in Manchester and has been a fixture of the UK circuit ever since, building a reputation as one of the most experienced comperes working today. Her act favours generosity and good humour over edge, a rare all-audience comedian.
Barbara has supported both Johnny Vegas and Peter Kay on national tours and has headlined her own solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, including Mrs Nice and Raffle!, across three separate Fringe runs. In 2019 she reached the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent, a performance watched by around eight million viewers, and BBC Radio 2 commissioned a comedy series built around the character. Janice Connolly, the actress behind Barbara, is also known to television audiences as Holy Mary in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2017 for services to community arts in the West Midlands.
That mix of national profile and genuine warmth makes Barbara Nice a dependable booking for corporate dinners, club nights and family shows alike. She reads a room instinctively, drawing people in rather than picking on them, and leaves audiences smiling rather than squirming. For organisers who want a comedian with mass appeal, proven TV recognition and a spotless reputation for keeping things good natured, Barbara Nice is a booking that rarely misses.