A multi award-winning comedy writer, Jan’s most recent success has been the critically-applauded BBC Radio 4 comedy series CONVERSATIONS FROM A LONG MARRIAGE, starring Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam, which, after an initial pilot in 2018, has so far run for seven series and two Christmas specials – winning The Voice of the Listener and Viewer Award – with an eighth series to be commissioned. While that was her first solo narrative comedy, for over 30 years she had been writing hit radio and TV comedy series with her husband and writing partner Gavin Petrie, until Gavin died in 2025. Among their hits was ITV series SECOND THOUGHTS (which ran to 50 episodes on television, winning two New York Festivals awards – and, prior to that, 30 episodes on Radio 4); British Comedy Award winner FAITH IN THE FUTURE (3 ITV series) and NEXT OF KIN (3 series on BBC1). They also created PARADISE CAFÉ, a CBBC comedy drama. Series for Radio 4 include comedy drama THE CHANGE and sitcom THE OTHER MAN; and their stage play STARRY, STARRY NIGHT premiered at the Mill at Sonning Theatre in 2006. Jan has also contributed sketches to every series of Radio 4’s AYRES ON THE AIR and THE RIGHT TIME. She also runs comedy-writing workshops, has written a number of plays for arts festivals in East Anglia, still works as a journalist and columnist and is a lecturer on comedy on Cunard cruise ships.
