We are in awe of UK Comedian and television host Sara Pascoe, who has managed to juggle a fertility journey while writing her first novel.
The 42 year old who is famous for her appearances on tv’s ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’, has been very modest not only about her struggles to conceive, but also about how well her book ‘Weirdo’ is being received by critics.
She admitted proudly on her Instagram account: “Here I am about to make sweet love to @thetimes who have made Weirdo (my book!) book of the month”.
Her friends on instagram have been equally delighted by her 18 month old son and the new book:
Loved by women & middle aged truck drivers
“An UTTERLY EXCELLENT, FUNNY novel by my beloved fellow weirdo @sara.pascoe” says one. And quick as a flash one of her fans insisted on adding an independent review, saying:
“I am a middle-aged truck driver on holiday with little to do as I’m stuck in the apartment as my good lady got covid on the 2nd day here so I am reading her books (I’m not a big one for reading), but I have to say I’m loving Weirdo! It’s not what I’d normally go for but it certainly has me hooked”.
Another added: “I got the book based on this post. I think it’s great. Makes me squirm with the cringe!!”
While its looking hopeful that the success of her book will generate the revenue to repay her costs of IVF, she has been talking to the media about how her struggle to conceive in her late thirties made her become defensive in her stand-up routines:
Her struggles to conceive made her change her comedy
“When I see my stand-up from that time, my defensiveness about others having kids is cringey. I feared honesty would make people feel sorry for me – not ideal for a comedian.’
‘What bothered me in my thirties was not knowing if I was going to have kids.
‘My worry was: my life is really great now, but I don’t want to regret [not being a mum] when I’m 50.
‘It was like making a hypothetical decision based on a sadness I hadn’t felt yet. The way society ties women’s success to marriage and babies weighed heavily on me; I think women are complicit in reinforcing it.’
Sara explained she had a miscarriage before the birth of her son, and still seeks therapy, and is determined to normalise IVF for other women through her comedy shows.
She had given up till her husband encouraged her to try IVF
Initially, Pascoe had resigned herself to not becoming a parent, setting 40 as her cut-off age, but her husband pleaded with her to explore every possible avenue.
Ultimately, Pascoe’s persistence paid off, and Sara and Steen are now proud parents not only to a little boy, but they have a sibling on the way in October, also with the help of IVF.
She admits that balancing her fertility journey and family life with a demanding career has not been easy. Her husband, comedian and actor Steen Raskopoulos, recently returned from a lengthy stint filming in Australia, leaving Pascoe as the primary carer for their son. As an award-winning comedian and writer, she also handled a stand-up tour this year, and launched a podcast.
Despite her packed schedule she has found writing therapeutic, with her new book telling the story of a woman named Sophie struggling with emotional and financial debts and a lacklustre relationship.
Sophie’s life takes a turn when a long-time crush reappears, leading her to question fate and explore her own thoughts through an inner monologue.
Pascoe admits that she can relate to Sophie
While she has had crushes, she never pursued them as intensely as Sophie does. However, she finds common ground with Sophie’s chaotic life and emotions thanks to her busy couple of years balancing work and motherhood.
Pascoe now feels that she shares a new area of experience with her audience, there’s a shared understanding between them which has added depth to her performances and enriched her comedy.
She also emphasizes the importance of taking a deep breath and counting one’s blessings during challenging times. She has realised that it is impossible to do everything she wants to, and this has been crucial for her mental well-being.
Looking ahead, Sara already has ideas for a second novel and is eager to continue writing alongside her stand-up career and family life. She finds that being creative complements her other responsibilities but encourages her to keep a healthy work-life balance.
Weirdo, published by Faber & Faber is available to buy on Amazon UK.
We have several videos of other real life ivf journeys to watch. So grab a coffee!