THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
ADAM BUXTON
EP.275 - KATHY BURKE
SummaryIn this episode of The Adam Buxton Podcast, host Adam Buxton welcomes back the renowned English actor, comedian, writer, and director Kathy Burke for a candid and reflective conversation. The discussion centers largely on Burke’s 2025 memoir, A Mind of My Own, which chronicles her challenging childhood in Islington, her early start in acting, and her trajectory to becoming a celebrated figure in British comedy and cinema. Burke opens up about the complexities of her upbringing, including the loss of her mother at a young age and her father’s struggles with alcoholism and physical abuse. Despite these difficulties, she shares how she found solace and identity through music—particularly the punk and two-tone movements—and how her natural wit served as a protective mask. The two also reflect on the impact of early societal commentary on her self-image, and how she navigated insecurities to build a successful career. Featuring anecdotes from her film work and her unique perspective on fame, the episode offers a warm, deeply human portrait of a beloved artist looking back at a life well-lived.
Updated Jun 16, 2026
About This Episode
Adam talks with English actor, comedian, writer and director Kathy Burke about her memoir A Mind Of My Own, including her relationship with her Dad, Punk, being a Two Tone skinhead, the comments that stoked Kathy's anxiety over her appearance and the kind words of Clash frontman Joe Strummer, the genesis of Kathy's character Perry, meeting Peter Cooke, frustrations on the set of Straight To Hell, plus thoughts on comfy trainers, painful bras and getting older.
Conversation recorded face-to-face in London on 5 June, 2026
SUBMIT QUESTIONS FOR Q&A EPISODE: Adambuxtonpodcast@gmail.com
Thanks to Diggory Waite and Claire Broughton at Hattrick and Séamus Murphy Mitchell for production support.
Podcast illustration by Helen Green
SUCCESSPOD - 2026 (Audible)
ADAM BUXTON BAND @ Hoxton Hall, London, 23 & 24 June, 2026 (Eventim)
ADAM BUXTON PODCAST LIVE WITH MAWAAN RIZWAAN @ Roundhouse, London, 5 April, 2026 (Roundhouse)
RELATED LINKS
CARE Directed by Alexander Zeldin, starring Linda Bassett - current run ends 11 July 2026 (The Young Vic)
KATHY ON ACTING AND BEAUTY - 1989 (YouTube)
JONATHAN ROSS - THE LAST RESORT featuring Kathy as Tina Bishop, a young Vic Reeves drawing portraits of guests (Keith Allen, Lysette Anthony, Roland Gift, and a heavily sedated Malcom McLaren) - 1988 (YouTube)
THE NYAH FEARTIES - Bludgeon Man on The Tube - 1986 (YouTube)
THE PROCLAIMERS - THROW THE R AWAY Debut performance on The Tube - 1987 (YouTube)
STRAIGHT TO HELL Directed by Alex Cox (Trailer) - 1987 (YouTube)
KATHY IN THE SID AND NANCY BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURETTE - 1986 (YouTube)
KATHY COMEDY AWARDS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH for Gimme Gimme Gimme - 2002 (YouTube)