Kemsley began stand-up in 2011 and within months won the Funny's Funny contest. In 2012, she won Bath Comedy Festival New Act of the Year and Brighton Comedy Festival New Act of the Year and was named by Rhod Gilbert as one of the Ten Must See Comics of 2012. Her autobiographical solo show, Slutty Joan, was reviewed positively in The Guardian. She hosts a podcast, Why Is Harriet Crying?, with fellow comedian Sunil Patel. Kemsley has appeared on Sam Delaney's News Thing, Roast Battle, 8 Out of ...