TUBBY funny woman Katy Brand has tackled Sports Relief in a leotard, been locked away in TV's The Bubble and is about to take on Nanny McPhee on the Big Screen.

If that wasn't enough the 31-year-old comedienne now has Canterbury's Gulbenkian Theatre in her sights.

Her Big Ass tour hits the city on Tuesday April 20.

Katy said: "I'm really looking forward to it. I love Canterbury.

"My grandmother Violet Brand was brought up there and wrote a book about Blitz over Kent.

"She was a teacher and looked after me and my younger sister Jessica in the holidays. She loved playing word games with us which is, I guess, how I developed my love for words.

"Her father was something to do with Canterbury Cathedral and would talk about the hop fields."

Katy went off to study theology at Oxford University but instead of pursuing a "proper job" decided to try her hand at stand-up comedy.

She said: "My parents were supportive. My dad is a professional musician and my mum is taking a PHD in the history of art. We are used to performers and people showing off in our family. There was no horror of the freelance world.

"The only thing I was surprised about was how quickly it all happened. My first professional gig was in January 2004 but by the end of 2005 I had a pilot for my sketch show commissioned.

"I think it was because I was no naive that I felt I had nothing to lose. Some people wait too long.

"I sold my car to get £7,000 to stage my first show at the Edinburgh Festival. I just did it to see what happened. Eddie Izzard says it is like borrowing £8,000 then setting fire to it on stage.

"I didn't sell many tickets but luckily lots of people from the industry came. I suppose it was because not many women do that."

Not many women of Katy's size take on Beyonce and dance to the pop song Single Ladies in front of millions of TV viewers, either.

But that's what Katy did next. She came second in the Let's Dance for Sports Relief final, just being pipped by comedian Rufus Hound in drag as Cheryl Cole.

Katy said: "I loved dancing as a teenager. I was pretty good at modern jazz but useless at ballet so when the BBC called I jumped at the chance.

"Initially I was just worried about learning all the steps. It was quite complicated and took five six-hour days.. Then I suddenly remembered I had to wear a leotard, too. Luckily it was made by the same team who make the costumes for Strictly Come Dancing.

"It was like a piece of engineering with iron grids pulling me together and sucking me in."

Her latest movie Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang with Emma Thompson was released in time for Easter. Katy plays the evil Miss Turvey.

Her live tour starts in Brighton on April 18 with favourite characters from her sketch show plus new ones including Super Nanny, Nigella Lawson and a Wag. Three days later she will be in Canterbury.

Katy warned: "At one stage I have 30 seconds to change from Lady Gaga to the Queen of England."

Another challenge...

* Katy Brand Big Ass Tour, Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury, Tuesday April 20. Tickets £18.50 from 01227 769075 (14 and over).