A moving, occasionally beautiful but down-to-earth account of family ties, creative ambition and lust for life, The Funny Thing About Death is the comic's first book and it admirably succeeds in conveying Jo's assertion that 'cancer was the least interesting thing about Annie'. In fact, I can't help but wonder if Annie might be slightly put out (if also proud) by how good a job she has made of this personal and tragic story. Jo has captured her big sister's sense of humour and humanity beautifully' -- Lenny Henry 'Laughter isn't just for the good times. You Wore It First – which will be published by Polygon next summer – is a reference to the stand-up always wearing her elder sibling’s hand-me-downs.

The title derives from the stand-up "being the younger sister, I was always wearing Annie's old clothes" she told BCG.

If you don’t know how to die, don’t worry; nature will tell you what to do on the spot, finely and adequately. Jo has performed stand-up comedy all over the world and is renowned for her sellout shows at the Edinburgh Festival. There’s a respectful accuracy in the telling of Annie’s journey with cancer that although deeply individual also offers a shared experience for any one of the rest of the 50 per cent of the population likely to be touched by it.

Without a shred of mawkishness, the book manages to move seamlessly from funny to tragic' — Jenny Eclair 'Where do you start with the death of a beloved sibling? Jo then bluntly offers some context by suggesting that her sister was probably off her head on medication at the time and it probably never happened. A lot of people have written books about comedy and comedians over the years but I don't think they were actually at the coalface. Finally, sorrow and sorority inspired Jo to go all-out for charity and profits from 'The Funny Thing.There’s a telling passage late in the book where she admits to only finding her stand-up voice in her 50s, with that voice simply being to tell people to fuck off. a reminder that laughter is what gets you through the tears' * Press and Journal * 'Warm and tender, frequently very funny and, ultimately, incredibly moving tale of siblings and cancer. Indifferent as to whether it attacks fierce, rebellious individuals like her sister or 'arseholes' like Lance Armstrong, cancer did not provoke the Caulfields to open positivity in the face of adversity. the Radio Four panel game that's not about sport, music, television, advertising, books, hats or gardening. I don't like starting the festival with a show I'm already fed up with, I want to look forward to doing it.