Julia Davis, Dark Comedy and Defying Ageing Stereotypes: Analysing Older Female Stars in TV Comedy

This chapter examines Julia Davis's pivotal role in dark British comedy, focusing on how she challenges representations of older women on television. It analyses Davis's work from the late 1990s to the 2020s, specifically her series Nighty Night, Camping, and Sally4Ever, to demonstrate how she subverts expectations of femininity, sexuality, ageing, and middle-class respectability through her provocative characters and narratives. The chapter explores Davis's unique position as a female creator who, while initially collaborating with predominantly male comedians, has increasingly worked with women in the industry, including Lucy Lumsden and Vicki Pepperdine. It argues that Davis embodies a new form of "fastidiousness" through her meticulous craft and reserved public persona, contrasting with the excessive visibility often associated with the "unruly" woman archetype. By examining the relationship between Davis's on-screen work, her interactions with the media, and changing industry contexts, the chapter illuminates how she has carved out a distinct space for complex, often uncomfortable portrayals of middle-aged women. This analysis reveals how Davis's work defies ageist stereotypes, expands the boundaries of UK television comedy, and reshapes perceptions of female comic authorship.