The comedy world has lost one of its brightest sparks. Jo Fletcher-Cross, comedian, journalist, and beloved Funny Women non-executive director.
Jo passed away on 14th April 2026. She was a woman who lived her life by the philosophy that “everybody deserves a bit of glitter,” and leaves behind a legacy that has helped us to continue our work to change the landscape for women in comedy.
In 2022, Jo was on the precipice of her debut Edinburgh Fringe run when she was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma. Rather than retreat, Jo leaned into the community she loved. Her diagnosis became the catalyst for The Glitter Project, an initiative born from her desire to make the daunting world of comedy ‘A Safe Place” for others.
What began as a response to personal tragedy blossomed into a nationwide movement. Under Jo’s inspiration, phase one of The Glitter Project established hubs in London, Brighton, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Medway, providing mentoring and open mic nights for female and non-binary creators. Jo’s vision was simple: to lower the barriers to creativity and ensure that no one had to navigate the “overwhelming” comedy circuit alone.
Beyond her work with Funny Women, Jo was a formidable journalist for National Geographic and was dedicated to her family, Tim and Rowan. She was known for her sharp wit, her refusal to be defined by her illness, and her uncanny ability to find humour in the grim reality of her diagnosis.
Rachel Creeger was a close friend of Jo’s and has been visiting her regularly with fellow comedian Pauline Eyre since she became ill. She says:
“Jo Fletcher-Cross was a talented writer, excellent comedian, the warmest of comperes and a huge supporter of women in the industry. She was always ready with encouragement and to lift other people up. The world is less sparkly today without our funny friend and colleague, but we will maintain her legacy through The Glitter Project and help as many people as we can to shine in her name.”
Funny Women founder, Lynne Parker, says:
“When Jo first became ill, we discussed the idea of a creating a legacy while she was still alive to be a part of it. Apart from losing a dear friend and a valued member of Funny Women’s non-executive board, I am comforted that The Glitter Project gave her the most enormous amount of pleasure and pride. She told me a few weeks ago that it was ‘all very special’ and hard to express what it meant to her. We will miss her smiling face on boardroom Zooms and her witty contributions to our advisory group. “
Jo often said her proudest achievement was spreading joy and laughter. Through the hundreds of performers, writers and creators who have already found their voices through The Glitter Project, that laughter will continue to flow. Jo Fletcher-Cross didn’t just leave us a legacy; she left us a movement. The world is a little less sparkly today, but we carry her glitter forward.
Last words from Jo herself:
“All I have ever wanted to do is find joy, laughter and a bit of sparkle along the way in life. I’m thrilled The Glitter Project will help fabulous funny women keep the laughter going for many years to come.”
We will announce details of a special London Glitter Project event to commemorate Jo in the next few weeks.
