---
title: "Donna McPhail: Comedian, Podcast & TV Roles | D.O.C."
description: "Donna McPhail: 2 podcasts and 5 screen credits. A London comedian whose sharp stand-up made her one of the most visible acts of the British circuit in the…"
url: https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-donna-mcphail.html
updated: 2026-11-13
---

Stand-up comedian · London, England

# Donna McPhail

## Who Donna McPhail is

Donna McPhail is a London comedian whose sharp stand-up made her one of the most visible acts of the British circuit in the 1990s. Nominated for the Perrier Comedy Award in 1993, she played the [Melbourne International Comedy Festival](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/melbourne-international-comedy-festival.html), Montreal's Just For Laughs and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and her spring 1996 nationwide tour ended with two sold-out performances at the Duke of York's Theatre in London. She hosted BBC Two's The Sunday Show from 1995 to 1996 alongside Katie Puckrik and Paul Kaye, appeared on Have I Got News for You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, co-wrote and presented two series of Windbags with [Jo Brand](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-jo-brand.html) for BBC Radio 1, and wrote a monthly column for Diva magazine.

## At a glance

**Based in**

London, England

**Podcasts and radio**

Windbags and Loose Ends

**On screen**

The Sunday Show, Have I Got News for You, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 2 more

## Specials, shows and podcasts

### On screen

- **The Sunday Show** host, BBC Two, 1995–1996
- **Have I Got News for You** BBC
- **Never Mind the Buzzcocks** BBC
- **The Stand-Up Show** BBC
- **Just For Laughs** Channel 4 and CBC

### Podcasts and radio

- **Windbags** co-writer and presenter, with [Jo Brand](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-jo-brand.html), BBC Radio 1
- **Loose Ends** BBC Radio 4

## Comedians like Donna McPhail

Each linked to them by something on the record — a stage they both came through, a bill, a show, a style or a home town.

- [Arthur Smith](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-arthur-smith.html) also on Loose Ends
- [Lee Hurst](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-lee-hurst.html) also in The Stand-Up Show
- [Josie Long](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-josie-long.html) also in Never Mind the Buzzcocks
- [Andy Parsons](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-andy-parsons.html) also in The Stand-Up Show
- [Johnny Candon](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-johnny-candon.html) also in The Stand-Up Show
- [Michael Akadiri](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-michael-akadiri.html) also on Loose Ends
- [Fin Taylor](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-fin-taylor.html) also in Never Mind the Buzzcocks
- [Rhod Gilbert](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-rhod-gilbert.html) also in Never Mind the Buzzcocks

[Six Degrees of Komic Bacon: how they connect to anyone →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/six-degrees-of-komic-bacon.html)

[Every stand-up comedian with a page, A to Z →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedians.html)

## Questions and answers

### What podcasts and radio shows has Donna McPhail been on?

Windbags and Loose Ends.

### What TV shows and films are they in?

The Sunday Show (host, BBC Two, 1995–1996), Have I Got News for You (BBC), Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC), The Stand-Up Show (BBC) and Just For Laughs (Channel 4 and CBC).

### Where is Donna McPhail from?

Donna McPhail is based in London, England, as their record gives it.

### Who are some comedians like them?

[Arthur Smith](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-arthur-smith.html) (also on Loose Ends), [Lee Hurst](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-lee-hurst.html) (also in The Stand-Up Show), [Josie Long](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-josie-long.html) (also in Never Mind the Buzzcocks), [Andy Parsons](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-andy-parsons.html) (also in The Stand-Up Show) and [Johnny Candon](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-johnny-candon.html) (also in The Stand-Up Show).

## The D.O.C. letter, free

Who’s on the road, festival dates as they are announced and entry windows as they open, with the news of the comedians, rooms and towns you follow: one short comedy newsletter, free every Sunday.

## The full SUCDb record

The full record — the career in order, the specials and credits, and the sources for each — is on SUCDb, with a button to add them to your D.O.C., your twelve.

[Their SUCDb record →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-donna-mcphail.html)

### Sources

- [Wikipedia ↗](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_McPhail) London comedian noted for 1990s stand-up; Perrier Comedy Award nomination 1993; hosted The Sunday Show (BBC Two, 1995–1996); Melbourne, Montreal Just For Laughs and Edinburgh festivals; spring 1996 nationwide tour ending in two sell-outs at the Duke of York's Theatre; Windbags with Jo Brand; Diva column (as of 13…
- [Wikidata (Q5296419) · wikidata.org ↗](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5296419) British comedian; occupation includes stand-up comedian (as of 13 November 2026)

Updated 13 November 2026 · the record checked 13 November 2026