Jo Brand’s husband is Bernie Bourke, a dedicated psychiatric nurse whom she married in 1997. The couple met in the mid-1990s through mutual friends at the Edinburgh Festival, a meeting that eventually led to a quiet, private wedding ceremony in Shropshire. Unlike his world-famous comedian wife, Bernie has largely remained out of the public spotlight, choosing to continue his career in clinical mental health care rather than pursuing a life in the media.
Who is Bernie Bourke?
Bernie Bourke is a British healthcare professional best known to the public as the long-term partner and husband of comedy icon Jo Brand. Born in the late 1950s or early 1960s, Bernie has spent the majority of his adult life working within the National Health Service (NHS) and private clinical settings. His grounded personality is often cited by Jo as the perfect counterbalance to the frantic nature of the entertainment industry.
Despite his wife’s status as a household name, Bernie is notoriously private. He does not maintain public social media accounts and rarely appears on red carpets, preferring to support Jo’s career from behind the scenes. This discretion has allowed the couple to maintain a remarkably normal family life in their home in Dulwich, London, away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.
Career in Psychiatric Nursing
Bernie Bourke’s career is defined by his long-standing commitment to psychiatric nursing. This field requires an immense amount of emotional resilience, empathy, and patience, as it involves working with patients facing complex mental health challenges and crises. Bernie’s dedication to this “coal face” of healthcare is a trait he shares with Jo, who also worked as a psychiatric nurse for ten years before her comedy career took off.
His professional life has remained a steady constant even as Jo transitioned from nursing to BAFTA-winning television success. While many celebrity spouses pivot toward talent management or public relations, Bernie has stayed true to his clinical roots. Jo has often remarked that his honest feedback is the only critique she truly trusts, as his professional background gives him a unique perspective on human behavior and “real-world” struggles.
Marriage and Secret Wedding
Jo Brand and Bernie Bourke were married in December 1997. The ceremony was a low-key affair held in Shropshire, keeping with the couple’s preference for privacy. At the time of their marriage, Jo was 40 years old and already a rising star in the “alternative comedy” scene, yet she managed to keep the details of their union largely away from the tabloid press.
Their relationship began after meeting at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the mid-1990s. Despite the pressures of Jo’s touring schedule and Bernie’s demanding shifts as a nurse, the bond grew quickly. They recently celebrated over 25 years of marriage, making them one of the most enduring couples in the British comedy circuit.
Family Life and Children
The couple shares two daughters, Maisie and Eliza. Becoming a mother later in life was something Jo has spoken about candidly, noting that she had her first child, Maisie, at age 43 and Eliza shortly after. This timing was not a “Stalin-like 20-year plan,” as Jo jokes, but rather a natural progression of her life with Bernie.
- Maisie Bourke: Born in February 2001, Maisie has stepped into the creative world herself. She is a musician and social media personality known professionally as “Maisi,” and she co-founded the musician collective Loud LDN.
- Eliza Bourke: Born in November 2002, Eliza is the younger of the two sisters. Like her father, she maintains a lower public profile than her sister and mother.
The household is famously vegetarian—at least, most of it is. While Bernie and the girls abstain from meat, Jo famously jokes that she “pursues pork pies in service stations” when the rest of the family isn’t looking. This dynamic of lighthearted domestic banter is a staple of Jo’s observational comedy.
Practical Information and FAQ
While Bernie Bourke does not have “opening hours” or “ticket prices,” fans of Jo Brand often look for ways to support the causes the couple cares about.
Residence: The family lives in Dulwich, South East London.
Public Appearances: Bernie rarely appears in public; however, he is occasionally mentioned in Jo’s memoirs, Look Back in Hunger and Can’t Stand Up For Sitting Down.
Tips for Fans: Respect for the family’s privacy is paramount. Jo is very protective of Bernie’s non-celebrity status, which has helped their marriage remain strong for decades.
Meeting and Secret Wedding
The couple met in the mid-1990s at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a hub for British comedy where Jo was already a regular performer. Despite Jo’s public persona at the time being characterized by the media as “anti-men,” she and Bernie formed a quick and deep connection based on their mutual understanding of the high-stress world of psychiatric nursing.
They were married in December 1997 in a private ceremony in Shropshire. The wedding was kept secret from the press to ensure it remained a personal family affair, a move that set the tone for how they would handle their private life for the next 25+ years.
Career in Mental Health
Bernie Bourke’s career is defined by his long-term tenure as a psychiatric nurse. This role involves the assessment, treatment, and support of individuals with complex mental health conditions, often in acute or crisis settings. Jo has frequently joked that having a psychiatric nurse for a husband is “handy” should she ever “lose her marbles,” but she speaks with genuine respect for the emotional labor his job entails.
Interestingly, Bernie eventually shifted his focus within the nursing field. While he began in mental health—much like Jo’s own ten-year stint at the Maudsley Hospital—he later branched into other areas of nursing care. This professional evolution mirrors the couple’s shared values of public service and clinical excellence.
Family and Children
Jo and Bernie are parents to two daughters, both of whom have grown up in the family’s home in Dulwich, South London. Jo has been candid about the challenges and joys of becoming a mother in her 40s, noting that Bernie’s support was instrumental during her pregnancies, which included the heartbreak of two miscarriages before their first daughter was born.
- Maisie Harriet Bourke (born 2001): Known professionally as Maisi, she is a successful electropop musician and social media personality. She co-founded the musician collective Loud LDN.
- Eliza Mary Bourke (born 2002): The couple’s second daughter, Eliza, also maintains a creative presence but generally keeps a more private profile than her sister.
The family is famously “divided” by diet; Bernie and the daughters are strictly vegetarian. Jo remains a meat-eater, often joking about her secret “pork pie runs” to service stations to avoid the “judgmental eyes” of her vegetarian household.
Practical Information for Fans
While Bernie Bourke does not have a public office or visiting hours, those interested in the family’s work and causes can look to the following:
How to Follow Their Work
Jo Brand: Catch her on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice or her frequent appearances on QI and Have I Got News For You.
Maisi (Maisie Bourke): Follow her music on Spotify or TikTok, where she frequently posts under her artist name.
Location: The family resides in the Dulwich area of South London, a neighborhood they have called home for decades.
Charitable Support
Jo and Bernie are vocal supporters of several causes, many of which relate to their nursing backgrounds:
Alzheimer’s Society: Jo is a long-standing ambassador.
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust: Jo serves as President.
National Self Harm Network: A cause close to their professional roots in psychiatric care.
FAQs
Is Bernie Bourke still a nurse?
Yes, Bernie has maintained his career in nursing for over 30 years, though he has moved between mental health and other clinical nursing sectors.
What is the age difference between Jo Brand and her husband?
Bernie is approximately six years younger than Jo. Jo was born in 1957, making her 68 in 2026, while Bernie is in his early 60s.
Is Jo Brand’s husband in the public eye?
No, Bernie Bourke rarely appears on television or at red carpet events. He prefers a private life centered on his family and career.
How many children do Jo Brand and Bernie Bourke have?
They have two daughters: Maisie, born in February 2001, and Eliza, born in November 2002.
Does Bernie Bourke perform comedy?
Bernie is not a comedian, though Jo credits him with having a great sense of humor and acting as a sounding board for her material.
What is Bernie Bourke’s nationality?
He is British.
Does Bernie Bourke have social media?
No, Bernie does not have any public-facing social media profiles.
Is Jo Brand’s daughter famous?
Yes, their eldest daughter Maisie is a well-known TikTok personality and a rising singer-songwriter in the London music scene.
What does Bernie think of Jo’s jokes about him?
Jo has stated in interviews that Bernie is very relaxed about her comedy and often gives her honest feedback on which jokes work and which don’t.
Is Bernie Bourke a comedian?
No, Bernie Bourke is a psychiatric nurse. While he has a great sense of humor and provides feedback on Jo’s material, he does not perform comedy professionally.
How did Jo Brand meet her husband?
They met through a mutual friend at the Edinburgh Festival in the mid-1990s.
What is Bernie Bourke’s age?
While his exact birth date is not public, he is estimated to be in his mid-60s, close in age to Jo Brand (born 1957).
Does Bernie Bourke have social media?
No, Bernie does not have any verified public social media accounts on Instagram, X, or TikTok.
Are Jo Brand and Bernie Bourke still married?
Yes, they have been married since 1997 and live together in London.
What does Bernie Bourke think of Jo’s jokes about him?
Jo has stated that Bernie is a “truth-teller” who will tell her if a joke is “crap.” He generally takes her observational humor about their marriage in his stride.
Where was Bernie Bourke born?
He was born in the United Kingdom, though specific details about his hometown remain private.
Does Bernie Bourke work for the NHS?
He has spent a significant portion of his career working in psychiatric care within the UK healthcare system.
Is Bernie Bourke’s daughter a singer?
Yes, their eldest daughter Maisie performs under the name “Maisi” and is a rising electropop artist.
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