# Jessica Knappett
**Jessica Knappett** (also known as Jess Knappett) is an English comedy actress, writer, and producer, best known for creating and starring in the sitcom *[Drifters](https://www.edgepedia.org/drifters-tv-series)* (2013–2016) and for playing Claire in the BBC comedy *Avoidance* opposite [Romesh Ranganathan](https://www.edgepedia.org/romesh-ranganathan).[1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/) • [2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/jessica-knappett/) She was born in 1984 in Bingley, Bradford, West Yorkshire.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2198800/bio/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Bingley, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2198800/bio/) |
| Signature work | Created, wrote, produced, and starred in four series of *Drifters* (E4/Channel 4, 2013–2016), playing Meg[1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/) • [4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/qa-jessica-knappett-who-wrote-and-stars-comedy-drifters) |
| Breakthrough role | Lisa, Neil's love interest, in *The Inbetweeners Movie* (2011)[4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/qa-jessica-knappett-who-wrote-and-stars-comedy-drifters) |
| Recent lead role | Claire in BBC's *Avoidance* (2022–2024), which she also co-wrote[1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/) • [2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/jessica-knappett/) |
| Film work | Mrs. Burton in Emerald Fennell's 2026 film adaptation of *Wuthering Heights*; also *Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa*[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/jessica-knappett/) • [1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/) |
| New sitcom | *Push*, a BBC comedy about a West Yorkshire maternity ward, announced October 2025 and shooting in autumn 2026[5](https://rts.org.uk/article/jessica-knappett-celebrates-midwifery-new-sitcom-push) • [2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/jessica-knappett/) |
| Nominations | RTS Award and Broadcast Award nominations for *Drifters*[1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/) |
## Early life and Lady Garden
Knappett attended Woodhouse Grove school in Apperley Bridge, Bradford, then read English and drama at the [University of Manchester](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-manchester), graduating in 2007 after a four-year course.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2198800/bio/) • [6](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/features/drifting-with-intent-sitcom-star-jessica-knappett-8904493.html) In 2005 she co-founded Lady Garden, an all-female comedy sketch group, with five of her Manchester university friends; the group performed to acclaim at the Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals and toured for many years.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2198800/bio/) • [7](https://www.jessknappett.com/actor) She has described sketch comedy as her grounding in the business, teaching her writing, performing, and collaboration.[4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/qa-jessica-knappett-who-wrote-and-stars-comedy-drifters)
After graduating she worked a series of promotional jobs, including handing out flyers dressed as a banana or a mobile phone and working as a National Lottery vending machine assistant.[4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/qa-jessica-knappett-who-wrote-and-stars-comedy-drifters) • [6](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/features/drifting-with-intent-sitcom-star-jessica-knappett-8904493.html) These experiences later fed into her sitcom writing.[4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/qa-jessica-knappett-who-wrote-and-stars-comedy-drifters)
## The Inbetweeners Movie and Drifters
Her television acting career began with a guest role alongside [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://www.edgepedia.org/phoebe-waller-bridge) in Dan Clark's *How Not to Live Your Life*.[7](https://www.jessknappett.com/actor) In 2011 she played Lisa, the holiday romance of Neil, in *The Inbetweeners Movie*, a box-office success.[4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/qa-jessica-knappett-who-wrote-and-stars-comedy-drifters) • [7](https://www.jessknappett.com/actor) During the six-week shoot she got to know the film's writers, Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, who encouraged her to develop her own material and later script-edited and produced her sitcom.[6](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/features/drifting-with-intent-sitcom-star-jessica-knappett-8904493.html) • [4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/qa-jessica-knappett-who-wrote-and-stars-comedy-drifters)
The result was Drifters, a loosely autobiographical sitcom about three female friends in Leeds facing a post-university "quarter-life crisis", in which Knappett played the lead, Meg.[4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/qa-jessica-knappett-who-wrote-and-stars-comedy-drifters) • [8](https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/clyde/entertainment/celebrity/listen-jessica-knappett-chats-drifters) It first aired on E4 in October 2013, was quickly repeated on [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4), and ran for four series, ending in 2016.[4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/qa-jessica-knappett-who-wrote-and-stars-comedy-drifters) • [9](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/87776/jessica-knappett) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2198800/bio/) Off the Kerb describes it as E4's highest-rated comedy, and her work on the show earned her nominations for an RTS Award (Writer, Comedy, 2015) and a Broadcast Award.[1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/) • [10](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/jessica_knappett/) The series is now streaming on Netflix.[11](https://www.jessknappett.com/writer) Phoebe Waller-Bridge, a friend, wrote on three *Drifters* episodes.[12](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/oct/10/jessica-knappett-drifters-e4-comedy-interview) • [13](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/crashing-interview-phoebe-waller-bridge)
## Acting career
Knappett's screen credits span comedy series and film. She appeared in [Steve Coogan](https://www.edgepedia.org/steve-coogan)'s *Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa*, the TV movie *Irreversible* alongside [David Schwimmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-schwimmer), and the series *Twenty Twelve*, *Ideal*, *Lunch Monkeys*, and *Live at the Electric: The Van*.[1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/) • [9](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/87776/jessica-knappett) • [2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/jessica-knappett/) Later television work includes Lucy in *Ghosts* (BBC), Caroline in *Hitmen* (Sky), The Countess in *Dodger* (CBBC), and appearances in *Meet the Richardsons*.[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/jessica-knappett/) • [1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/)
**Avoidance.** She starred as Claire in the BBC comedy *Avoidance* (2022–2024) opposite Romesh Ranganathan, and co-wrote the series, receiving writer credits on its second series.[1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/) • [10](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/jessica_knappett/) In 2026 she appeared as Mrs. Burton in [Emerald Fennell](https://www.edgepedia.org/emerald-fennell)'s film adaptation of *Wuthering Heights*.[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/jessica-knappett/)
She also works as a voice-over actor for commercial brands including Walkers, Yorkshire Building Society, and SMA.[7](https://www.jessknappett.com/actor)
## Writing and producing
Beyond *Drifters* and *Avoidance*, Knappett has worked extensively as a screenwriter. She had a stint in Los Angeles working on a feature film assignment for [Universal Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/universal-pictures), her own original pilot for FX, and the drama series *[Soulmates](https://www.edgepedia.org/soulmates-tv-series)* for AMC.[11](https://www.jessknappett.com/writer) She co-executive produced the development of series 2 of Vicky Jones's HBO show *Run*, and has worked in writers' rooms including *Who Is America* for Sacha Baron Cohen/Spelthorne and *Killing Eve* 2 for Sid Gentle.[11](https://www.jessknappett.com/writer)
**Push.** In October 2025 the BBC commissioned *Push*, a sitcom set in a small maternity ward in a [West Yorkshire](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-yorkshire) hospital, created by Knappett through the BBC's Comedy Sitcom project, which pairs new writing talent with experienced showrunners.[5](https://rts.org.uk/article/jessica-knappett-celebrates-midwifery-new-sitcom-push) The series will air on [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) and iPlayer, and per her agent's CV it will shoot in autumn 2026 with Knappett as writer, producer, and star.[5](https://rts.org.uk/article/jessica-knappett-celebrates-midwifery-new-sitcom-push) • [2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/jessica-knappett/)
## Panel shows and podcasting
Knappett is a regular on British panel shows, with appearances on *[Taskmaster](https://www.edgepedia.org/taskmaster-tv-series)*, *Would I Lie to You?*, *8 Out of 10 Cats*, *The Last Leg*, *Drunk History*, *Hypothetical*, and *Outsiders*.[1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/) She was a contestant on series 7 of *Taskmaster* (Dave), alongside [James Acaster](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-acaster), Kerry Godliman, Phil Wang, and [Rhod Gilbert](https://www.edgepedia.org/rhod-gilbert).[9](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/87776/jessica-knappett) She also hosts the podcast *Perfect Day*, in which she talks with comedians and cultural figures about their ideal day.[1](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/)
## Personal life
Knappett married Dan Crane on 24 September 2016, and the couple have one child.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2198800/bio/) She lived in Los Angeles for a period before moving back to West Yorkshire.[11](https://www.jessknappett.com/writer) • [14](https://shows.acast.com/the-midpoint-with-gabby-logan-1/episodes/jessica-knappett)
## References
1. [Jessica Knappett, Off the Kerb Productions](https://www.offthekerb.com/artist/jessica-knappett/)
2. [Jessica Knappett, Independent Talent](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/jessica-knappett/)
3. [Jessica Knappett Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2198800/bio/)
4. [Q&A with Jessica Knappett, Channel 4 Press (14 October 2013)](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/qa-jessica-knappett-who-wrote-and-stars-comedy-drifters)
5. [Jessica Knappett celebrates midwifery with new sitcom Push, Royal Television Society](https://rts.org.uk/article/jessica-knappett-celebrates-midwifery-new-sitcom-push)
6. [Drifting with intent: Sitcom star Jessica Knappett, The Independent (31 October 2013)](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/features/drifting-with-intent-sitcom-star-jessica-knappett-8904493.html)
7. [Actor — Jessica Knappett, official website](https://www.jessknappett.com/actor)
8. [LISTEN: Jessica Knappett chats Drifters, Clyde 1](https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/clyde/entertainment/celebrity/listen-jessica-knappett-chats-drifters)
9. [Jessica Knappett, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/87776/jessica-knappett)
10. [Jessica Knappett, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/jessica_knappett/)
11. [Writer — Jessica Knappett, official website](https://www.jessknappett.com/writer)
12. [Drifters' Jessica Knappett on turning her wilderness years into a TV smash, The Guardian (10 October 2016)](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/oct/10/jessica-knappett-drifters-e4-comedy-interview)
13. [Crashing Interview with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Channel 4 Press](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/crashing-interview-phoebe-waller-bridge)
14. [Jessica Knappett, Life At The Midpoint with Gabby Logan, Acast](https://shows.acast.com/the-midpoint-with-gabby-logan-1/episodes/jessica-knappett)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames I to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license