Jessica Knappett


Jessica Amy Knappett is an English comedian, actress, and writer. She is the creator, writer, executive producer, and star of the E4 sitcom Drifters, and appeared as Lisa in The Inbetweeners Movie. She was also one of the writers on the BBC1 sitcom Avoidance, in which she co-stars.

Early life

Jessica Amy Knappett was born on 9 April 1984 in Bingley, West Yorkshire. She attended Woodhouse Grove School in nearby Apperley Bridge before studying Drama and English at the University of Manchester. She was a co-founder of Lady Garden, a sketch comedy group formed in Manchester in 2005.

Career

Knappett was the creator, writer, executive producer, and star of the E4 sitcom Drifters, in which she played Meg. She described the show as a semi-autobiographical and therapeutic re-writing of her own history.
Knappett played Lisa in The Inbetweeners Movie and appeared in the Alan Partridge film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and the TV film Irreversible. Other credits include Drunk History for Comedy Central, Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge for Sky One, Twenty Twelve for BBC Two, Meet the Parents for E4, and How Not to Live Your Life and Lunch Monkeys for BBC Three. She also played Carly in the BBC Radio 4 comedy series Shedtown alongside Johnny Vegas. She has recorded a string of pilot episodes, including Everything Happens for No Reason written by Richard Herring, alongside Noel Fielding.
Knappett appearances on panel shows include 8 Out of 10 Cats, Hypothetical, and The Last Leg. She has written for The Guardian. She was a contestant on the seventh season of Dave's comedy gameshow Taskmaster, falling off the stage during a task in one episode.

Personal life

Knappett married Dan Crane in September 2016. They have two children and live in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2024Would I Lie to You?HerselfSeries 17, Episode 8
2024Celebrity MastermindHerselfSeries 22, Episode 9
2023Richard Osman's Festive House of GamesHerselfSeries 7, Episodes 56–60
2022–2024AvoidanceClaireSeries 1, Episodes 1–6, and Series 2, Episodes 1–6
2022DodgerThe CountessSeries 1, Episode 10: "Revenge"
2022The Weakest LinkHerselfSeries 2, Episode 8: "New Year's Eve Special"
2022Mel Giedroyc: UnforgivableHerselfSeries 2, Episode 8
20228 Out of 10 Cats Does CountdownHerselfSeries 22, Episode 4
2022Meet the RichardsonsHerselfSeries 3, Episode 4
2021Meet the RichardsonsHerselfSeries 2, Episode 3
2021Question TeamHerselfSeries 1, Episode 8
2021OutsidersHerselfSeries 1, Episodes 1–6
2021Rob Beckett's UndeniableHerselfSeries 1, Episodes 1–6
2021Complaints WelcomeHerselfSeries 1, Episodes 1–3
2021HypotheticalHerselfSeries 3, Episode 2
2021Paul Sinha's TV ShowdownHerselfSeries 1, Episode 4
2021HitmenCarolineSeries 2, Episode 2: "Sniper"
2021GhostsLucySeries 3, Episodes 2, 4 & 6
2020Richard Osman's House of GamesHerselfSeries 4, Episodes 41–45
2020Don't Hate the PlayazHerselfSeries 3, Episode 7
20208 Out of 10 CatsHerselfSeries 22, Episode 6
2020Channel Hopping with Jon RichardsonHerselfSeries 1, Episode 4
2020GuessableHerselfSeries 1, Episode 2: "Alan and Lincoln's Wooden Teeth"
2020Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of FunEnglish Lady at BarSeries 1, Episode 5: "Night-Time!"
2019Zone of ChampionsNicky BrimbleSeries 1, Episodes 1–6
2019Judge RomeshCourt ClerkSeries 2, Episodes 1–12
2019HypotheticalHerselfSeries 1, Episode 1
2019The Russell Howard HourHerselfSeries 2, Episode 8
2019Dave Gorman: Terms and Conditions ApplyHerselfSeries 1, Episode: "Udder Fudge"
2019The Inbetweeners: Fwends ReunitedHerselfTelevision Special
2019The Last LegHerselfSeries 18, Episode 8
2018The Last LegHerselfSeries 16, Episode 11: "The Last Leg of the Year 2018"
2018TaskmasterHerselfSeries 7, Episodes 1–10
2018Travel ManHerselfSeries 7, Episode 2: "48 Hours in Ibiza"
2018Sunday BrunchHerselfSeries 7, Episode 30
20188 Out of 10 Cats Does CountdownHerselfSeries 15, Episode 1, and Series 16, Episode 6
2018Go 8 BitHerselfSeries 3, Episode 3
2017Alan Davies: As Yet UntitledHerselfSeries 5, Episode 4: "Frank Bruno Was the Original Bus Driver"
2017Halloween Comedy ShortsKellySeries 2, Episode 3: "It Should Have Been Me"
2017Drunk History: UKDrunken StorytellerSeries 3, Episode 2: "Billy the Kid / Elizabeth I"
2017The EducatororCharlotte BainesMini-series, Episodes 1–3
20178 Out of 10 CatsHerselfSeries 20, Episodes 3 & 5
20168 Out of 10 CatsHerselfSeries 19, Episode 4
2016Celebrity Advice BureauHerselfMini-series, Episodes 1–3
2016My Worst JobHerselfMini-series, Episodes 1 & 2
2016Drunk History: UKDrunken StorytellerSeries 2, Episode 4: "Richard III / Mary Shelley's Frankenstein"
2016Mid Morning Matters with Alan PartridgeCaller Series 2, Episode 6: "Grundy + Snow"
2015Drunk History: UKFlorence NightingaleSeries 1, Episode 8: "Baden Powell / Florence Nightingale / Worst Zoo Ever"
2014IrreversibleSarahTelevision film
2014Daily Brunch with OcadoHerself – GuestSeries 1, Episode 21
2013–2016DriftersMegSeries 1–4, 24 episodes. Main role and creator
2013Alan Partridge: Alpha PapaWPC RuthFilm
2012Comedy ShowcasePC Kelly MinkSeries 3, Episode 6: "The Function Room"
2012Twenty TwelveCarey TaylorSeries 2, Episode 6: "Inclusivity Day"
2012Live at the ElectricAddition cast Series 1, Episodes 1–4
2011The Inbetweeners MovieLisaFilm
2011Dick and Dom's Funny BusinessHerself – GuestSeries 1, Episode 2: "The Rider with Gordon Kennedy"
2011Coming of AgeAliceSeries 3, Episode 8: "Fear Itself"
2011Lunch MonkeysBeckySeries 2, Episode 4: "Dream a Little Dream"
2011Meet the ParentsSister / Russian CleanerSeries 1, Episodes 1–5
2010How Not to Live Your LifeHarrietSeries 3, Episode 3: "Don's Posh Weekend"