Sophie McCartney (AKA Tired and Tested) has scooped the prestigious Funny Women Award for Best Web Series 2020 as voted for by the general public. Sophie is keen to use her success as a chance to encourage more women to get creative from home. We caught up with her to find out a little more about the woman behind the brand.
Sophie McCartney
Please tell us what inspired you to start your own Facebook channel and what did your life look like before becoming an online sensation?
When I fell pregnant I was working in PR and my employer wasn’t overly keen on the idea of flexible or part-time working so I ended up quitting and going it alone as a freelancer. When I had my second baby there was no real financial sense in sending them both to nursery, as my salary only just covered all the fees - so I decided to be a stay at home mum instead. As much as I loved motherhood, I quickly started to get a little fed up with the day-to-day ‘mumdane’ of it all and so started blogging about all the funny parenting scenarios I often found myself in. I started getting great feedback on my content so decided to try my hand at vlogging - I got 25 million views on my first video, and things just snow balled from there!
At what age did you realise you could make others laugh?
My dad always says I’ve been trying (maybe not always succeeding) to make people laugh from the moment I could talk - although that might just be the proud parent in him. When I was about eight, I remember my Uncle Dave telling me I should be a stand up comedian and thinking, ‘Absolutely not!’ I couldn’t think of anything worse! It’s funny now to think that comedy is the path I’ve inadvertently found myself down.
How has making these incredibly funny videos helped you to cope during lockdown?
Firstly, they’ve given me a reason to get dressed in the morning! Secondly - I love making people laugh, I get so much joy in hearing people say a video has brightened up their day. I put out new content every week, which is quite a mammoth task (especially while juggling work with the kids) but it also gives my week routine and structure -which stops me climbing the walls.
What advice do you have for other women who want to follow in your footsteps?
Be brave, be bold, take a punt, and don’t worry about what other people think. Comedy is subjective, not everyone will find you funny so don’t waste your time trying to people please. Once you come to terms with that, creating is much easier. It’s never nice to receive negative feedback on something you’ve poured your heart and soul into, but you have to stop fixating on the bad comments and focus on the positive ones instead.
How does it feel to win the Funny Women Award for Best Web Series 2020?
It feels amazing! I’m not a natural born achiever - so I’m going to dine out on it for a fair while. I’m not saying I’m 100% definitely going to have ‘Award Winning Comedian’ etched onto my gravestone, but there’s a strong chance.
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What does a normal day look like in your world?
A normal day for me consists of waking up late, shouting at the kids to put their shoes on and then running to school like we’re all being chased by a bear. I come home and attempt to write, film, edit but mostly procrastinate by Instagram scrolling and biscuit eating - followed by an hour of panic working before leaving to get the children. A school day is so short, six hours is not enough time to stalk the Hemsworth brothers and write a script.
Who is your go-to 'comedimum' when you need cheering up?
There are so many to choose from, but definitely Amy Schumer - her ‘Growing’ Netflix special is one of the best depictions of pregnancy I’ve ever seen. The bit with her belly button plaster is immense!
What is the first thing you are going to do once lockdown 2.0 is over?
Get horribly drunk in a sweaty nightclub with all of my mum friends. We’ll be home by 9pm and the hangover will last for three weeks, but it’ll totally be worth it.
Although most of yours videos are made to make people laugh, you have also filmed some that are very raw and in the moment, why is it important to have this balance on your channel?
I think people like my content because it shows real life, often in a humorous light but as life isn’t always funny I think it’s important to show that side too. I had a miscarriage during lockdown, which was quite a dark time for me but I wanted to talk about it online because I knew so many other women had either been through it or were experiencing it too. I knew that by talking about it, not only was I helping myself - but I was also helping them too.
What is next for you and the series?
The sky’s the limit for ‘Planet Birth’! Although, sadly, the next set of videos will have to house-based for a while...
I’m currently in the middle of writing a book (if I can lay off the Jammie Dodgers and Hemsworths), alongside creating lots of new online content - with some exciting projects in the pipeline. Prior to the first lockdown I’d started getting into the swing of stand-up comedy - so I’d love to be able to get back on a stage in the not too distant future, fingers crossed!
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