Comedian Rosie Jones has declared that nothing is off-limits in comedy, provided the intention is right and you are not "punching down". The star, whose daring game show Out of Order returns for a Christmas special, insists the context and the comedian's position are everything.
The 'Punching Down' Principle in Modern Comedy
In an exclusive chat, Jones tackled the common complaint that "you can’t say anything anymore". She firmly disagrees. "I don’t think anything’s off the table," she stated. "But your intention definitely matters."
She urges comics to interrogate their motives: "Who are you? And are you best placed making that joke? Who is the joke about? Are you being mean and nasty for no reason? Are you punching down?"
Jones offered a blunt example: "If the answer is: 'I’m a privileged white man making a joke about a minority that I am not part of, just because I want to be controversial.' Then a) you shouldn’t be telling that joke. But b) it won’t even be funny, it’s not even clever."
Out of Order: Judgement with Joy
This philosophy is central to her show, Out of Order, where she is joined by team captains Katherine Ryan, 42, and Judi Love, 45. The series, which returns for a second full series in the New Year, involves judging audience members on first impressions with tasks ranging from the cheeky to the controversial.
"We can joke, we can laugh about everything. Because our intention is never mean and nasty," Jones explains. "If the joke is directed at a person, we make sure they’re in on the joke."
She acknowledges the show's premise is built on snap judgements about appearances, but argues she and her co-hosts are uniquely qualified to handle it sensitively. "No one knows that more than me, Katherine and Judi, who are judged on our looks, our talent, our fame and our career on a daily basis," she said. "We will never approach that situation from a malicious point of view."
The Liberating Power of an All-Female Lineup
While the Christmas special features male guests Jon Richardson and Josh Widdicombe, the core trio remains dominant. Jones reflected on the significance of leading a show with two other women.
She emphasised that Ryan and Love were chosen purely for their talent, but the effect is profound. "When you get into it, it does feel so liberating to not be the only woman on the line-up," she shared.
"Sometimes when you are the only woman on a show, you have that impossible task of feeling like people expect you to speak for all women. And not one person could, accurately, and should sensibly do that."
Jones hopes this leads to better representation for all minorities. "I unfortunately often find myself being the only disabled person or the only queer person on a TV show," she admitted. "That again is draining because I single-handedly cannot represent all of that community."
Ahead of the festive broadcast, the 35-year-old comedian is battling exhaustion after a relentless schedule promoting the show, finishing a tour, and rewriting the fourth book in her children's series. Despite dreaming of a "big long sleep", her trademark energy remains undimmed.
The Out of Order Christmas Special airs on Comedy Central at 9pm on December 22.
