Cally Beaton is a natural storyteller full of intelligent, distinctive and punchline-rich material and one of the UK’s most sought-after acts in the worlds of both comedy and corporate. She has held senior management positions at some of the biggest media companies in the world including MTV, UKTV and Viacom. Early in her career she headed an independent television production company that was bought by ITV’s Carlton Television (where a certain David Cameron was on the board).

Cally Beaton at Viacom

She left to set up a successful creative consultancy company, and went on to do a 10 year stint as Senior Vice President at the US studio giant Viacom. There, Cally oversaw a multi-million dollar budget for channels including Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount; if you want someone to blame for bringing South Park and SpongeBob SquarePants to the world, you need look no further. She has a Masters in Neuro Linguistic Programming and has worked for many years, alongside her not inconsiderable day jobs, as an in-demand Executive Coach to the great and the good in industry, public life and politics.

Comedy Central

It was while working for Comedy Central, on the road with the late, great Joan Rivers, that Cally was nudged into the sphere of performance. Acting as an unofficial business event warm-up for Ms. Rivers, it was she (then 81) who told Cally she had what it took to be a stand-up; and so, as a 45 year old single parent, Cally first took to the stage. She has since become one of the UK’s most-booked professional comedians, with her unflinching, acerbic and intelligent brand of comedy. Cally’s TV and radio appearances include being a regular panellist on BBC’s QI as well as The Apprentice You’re Fired, Radio 4’s Museum of Curiosity, The Unbelievable Truth and Saturday Live. She is a frequent guest and commentator on BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio London and Times Radio.

Joke of the Fringe

Cally’s Edinburgh 2019 show ‘Invisible’ was a sell-out hit, receiving 4-star reviews and ‘joke of the fringe’ picks in the national press. Her debut solo show ‘Super Cally Fragile Lipstick’ in 2017 also sold out and was picked as Best of Fringe by The Arts Desk. Her 2016 show, ‘Cat Call’, with comedy partner Catherine Bohart, received a Malcolm Hardee Award.

In Spring 2021, Cally launched her podcast where the worlds of comedy, self-help and business collide. With the help of celebrity guests and experts, Cally gets to the stories you’ve never heard before – uncovering not your normal life lessons, but some big ones nonetheless.

Cally Beaton Guest Speaker

Drawing on her vast experience, eclectic life and unique wit, she is able to strike the perfect balance of smart, insightful, and entertaining. She is a gifted host and MC, with a natural ability to work a room, and gives sharp, inspirational and thought-provoking keynote and after-dinner speeches. Cally also works as a mentor and champion of gender equality across a range of industries. She has a hard-won skill set few comedians can boast and has worked with – to name a few – Deutsche Bank, Sony Pictures, IMG, Endemol, Channel 4, Hat Trick, ScreenSkills, BBC, Women in Film & Television, UCL. PWC, Aviva, Sky Television, L’Oreal, Lloyds, Wella, Capgemini and Disneyland.