Ria Lina

{{Infobox comedian

| image =

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| caption = Lina in 2020

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| birth_place = High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1980}}{{efn|name="dob"}}

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| active = 2001–present

| medium = Stand-up, television, radio

| nationality = British

| genre = Observational comedy, black comedy, satire, wit

| subject = Politics, autism, cultures, race relations, science, family, current events

| children = 3

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| notable_work ={{ubl|Pointless | Mock the Week | Xenoblade Chronicles 2}}

| signature =

| website = {{URL|https://rialina.com/|rialina.com}}

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}}

Ria Lina (born 1980){{efn|name="dob"}} is a British comedian, actress and writer. She has appeared on Yesterday, Today & The Day Before,{{cite web|title=Yesterday, Today & The Day Before |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/yesterday-today-and-the-day-before/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=British Comedy Guide}} Mock the Week,{{cite web|title=BBC Two - Mock the Week|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006t6vf|access-date=2021-06-01|website=BBC}} Steph's Packed Lunch,{{cite web|title=Steph's Packed Lunch - S2020 - Episode 123|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/nd4ww8/stephs-packed-lunch--s2020-e123-stephs-packed-lunch/|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Radio Times}} The Now Show, The News Quiz,{{cite news|title=On the Sky News Daily podcast, Dermot Murnaghan speaks to comic and virologist, Ria Lina about whether Covid has changed how the country is run|url=https://news.sky.com/story/on-the-sky-news-daily-podcast-dermot-murnaghan-speaks-to-comic-and-virologist-ria-lina-about-whether-covid-has-changed-how-the-country-is-run-mp3-12214234|access-date=2021-04-27|work=Sky News}} and Have I Got News for You. In 2003, she won an Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy award for Best Comedian.{{cite press release |title=Winners of the EMMA Awards announced |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/05_may/30/emma_awards.shtml |access-date=3 January 2021 |publisher=BBC |archive-date=24 March 2005 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050324055925/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/05_may/30/emma_awards.shtml}}

Early life

Lina's mother is from the Philippines and her father from Germany.{{cite news |last1=Mackenzie |first1=Louise |title=Who do you think I am? asks funny girl Ria Lina |url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/8738543.who-do-you-think-i-am-asks-funny-girl-ria-lina/ |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=Gazette & Essex County Standard |publisher=Newsquest Media Group Ltd |date=16 December 2010|quote=The 30-year-old comedian started doing stand-up while at St Andrews University and in 2000, aged 20, she took the show{{nbsp}}... to the National Youth Theatre and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival{{nbsp}}...}} She attended an American school in the Netherlands from the age of 14.

Career

Lina earned a BSc in pathology from the University of St Andrews, an MSc in forensic science from London South Bank University and a PhD in virology from University College London.{{cite web|date=2022-12-08 |website=Chortle |title=Ivo Graham and Ria Lina to appear on University Challenge |access-date=2023-10-27 |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2022/12/08/52235/ivo_graham_and_ria_lina_to_appear_on_university_challenge }}

Stand-up

In 2003, Lina was a runner-up at the first Funny Women Awards.{{Cite web|date=17 October 2020|orig-date=First published 18 April 2016; updated 2020|title=Funny Women Awards |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=British Comedy Guide |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/feature/funny_woman_awards/ |language=en}}

Lina has taken five shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. School of Riason{{Cite web|title=Ria Lina: School of Riason|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07j7jkl|access-date=2021-04-27|website=BBC}} was nominated for the Amused Moose Laughter Awards, and contained one of Dave's Top 10 Jokes of the Fringe, and was later broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016. Lina's Dear Daughter{{Cite news|title=Comedy review: Ria Lina: Dear Daughter |url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/comedy-review-ria-lina-dear-daughter-1469058|access-date=2021-04-27|work=The Scotsman|date=22 August 2016 }} won the Best Comedy award at the Greater Manchester Fringe. Her other shows include Taboo Raider,{{Cite web|title=Watch Ria Lina: Taboo Raider |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ria-Lina-Raider-Daniel-Berg/dp/B0771V8928|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Amazon Prime}} Thpethial{{Cite web|title=Ria Lina: Thpethial |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2013/r/21895/ria_lina:_thpethial|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Chortle}} and It's Not Easy Being Yellow.{{Cite web|last=Bennett|first=Steve|title=Brighton Fringe: Ria Lina: It's Not Easy Being Yellow |access-date=2021-04-27 |website=Chortle |url= http://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2012/05/09/28751/brighton_fringe:_ria_lina:_its_not_easy_being_yellow }}

Television, radio and podcasts

Appearances include Yesterday Today and the Day Before, Mock the Week,Episode listings:

{{Cite web|title=BBC Mock The Week – Series 19, Episode 8 of 11|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000r72z|access-date= 2021-04-27|website=BBC}}
{{Cite web|title=BBC Mock The Week – Series 19, Episode 6 of 11|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pz7l|access-date= 2021-04-27|website=BBC}} Steph's Packed Lunch,{{Cite web|title=Steph's Packed Lunch |url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/stephs-packed-lunch|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Channel 4}} The Dog Ate My Homework,{{Cite web|title=CBBC The Dog Ate My Homework|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows/the-dog-ate-my-homework|access-date=2021-04-27|website=BBC}} Sky News, Talk Radio, Talk Radio Europe,{{Cite web|last=Baum|first=Julie|title=Ria Lina - the only female Filipina comedian in British stand up who headlines at major clubs in the UK and internationally...with TRE's Dave Hodgson|url=https://www.talkradioeurope.com/ria-lina-the-only-female-filipina-comedian-in-british-stand-up-who-headlines-at-major-clubs-in-the-uk-and-internationally-with-tres-dave-hodgson/|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Talk Radio Europe|date=7 December 2020 }} The Now Show,{{Cite web|title=BBC The Now Show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09d7hpq|access-date=2021-04-27|website=BBC|date=10 April 2021 }} The News Quiz,{{Cite web|title=The News Quiz|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02pc9pj/episodes/downloads|access-date=2021-04-27|website=BBC}} Richard Osman's House of Games,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00165hc|title=BBC Two - Richard Osman's House of Games, Series 5, Week 21: Wednesday|website=BBC}} Times Radio, Breaking the News,{{Cite web|title=Breaking the News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000t6x6|access-date=2021-04-27|website=BBC Scotland}} and QI{{Cite web|title=QI|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g699|access-date=2025-02-28|website=BBC Two}}

Further TV work includes Jongleurs Live,{{cite web|title= Jongleurs Live! |url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/jongleurs_live/episodes/1/7/|work=Comedy}} The World Stands Up, Sweet 'n' Sour Comedy,{{Cite web|title=Sweet 'N' Sour Comedy - BBC3 Sketch Show|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/sweet_n_sour_comedy/|access-date=2021-04-27|website=British Comedy Guide}} Meet The Blogs, Malai Monologues,{{cite web|title=RIA LINA|url=http://www.spotlight.com/8419-6751-6379|work=Spotlight}} the film short Christie,{{cite web|last=Rahman|first=Azi|title=Christie|date=2008-04-07|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1542613/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1|website=IMDb|access-date=2021-04-27}} and the documentary, A Bit of Oriental.{{Cite web|title=A Bit of Oriental|url=https://distribution.channel4.com/programme/a-bit-of-oriental|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Channel 4}}

Lina voiced the character Perun in Xenoblade Chronicles 2.{{Cite web |title=Ria Lina (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Ria-Lina/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Behind The Voice Actors |language=en-US}} She also narrated and voiced the character Zoe in the full-cast audiobook of cli-fi (climate fiction) adventure MOOJAG and the Auticode Secret{{Cite web |title=MOOJAG children's cli-fi series (audiobook) |url=https://moojag.com/moojag_audiobook.html |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Moojag |language=en-UK}} by N.E. McMorran / Spondylux Press, London 2020.

Lina appeared in and won Episode 4 of the 21st series of Celebrity Mastermind, broadcast in January 2023.{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Celebrity Mastermind, 2022/23, Episode 4 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001h8q2 |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} She was one of Alexander Armstrong's co-hosts on Pointless in 2023.{{cite web|title=More stars revealed as Pointless guest hosts |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/pointless-celebrity-guest-hosts|website=BBC Media Centre|publisher=BBC|date=23 February 2023}}

Since 2022, Lina has appeared as a guest co-host of The Bugle podcast.{{cite web |url=https://shows.acast.com/thebugle/episodes/viruses-are-marvel-4229 |title=The Bugle - Viruses are Marvel! |website=acast.com |date=11 May 2022 |accessdate=13 December 2024 }}

Personal life

Lina has two sons, a daughter and a stepson{{cite web|title=Asian Network's Big Comedy Night |website=BBC Asian Network|date=9 December 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p07wrtbg/asian-networks-big-comedy-night-asian-network-comedy-highlights|access-date=2020-02-04}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slapmag.co.uk/comedy-review-ria-lina-riawakening|last=Swilgate Scuttle|title=Comedy review: Ria Lina: Riawakening|magazine=Supporting local artists and performance|location=Worcester|date=3 June 2024|accessdate=2 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=http://www.one4review.co.uk/2016/08/ria-lina-dear-daughter-4|last=Geoff|title=Ria Lina Dear Daughter|website=one4review|date=15 August 2016|accessdate=2 April 2025}} She married Steve Jones in 2002. Now divorced, Lina and her ex-husband continue to share their London household {{asof|2024|lc=y}}.{{cite news |last1=Denton |first1=Jane |title=How I Manage My Money: Comedian living with ex-husband who puts £50 in pension |url=https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/saving-and-banking/how-i-manage-my-money-comedian-living-with-ex-husband-who-puts-50-in-pension-3122559 |work=i News UK |publisher=Associated Newspapers Limited |date=28 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628052908/https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/saving-and-banking/how-i-manage-my-money-comedian-living-with-ex-husband-who-puts-50-in-pension-3122559 |archive-date=28 June 2024 |language=en |department=Money}} She is autistic,{{cite web |last=Lina |first=Ria |date=30 June 2015|title=Political correctness is the best thing that's happened to comedy|access-date=2020-02-04|website=Chortle |url= http://www.chortle.co.uk/correspondents/2015/06/30/22765/political_correctness_is_the_best_thing_thats_happened_to_comedy}} something she only became aware of in adulthood.{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Angie |title=Pointless{{'}} Ria Lina's life from autism diagnosis to impressive other jobs |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/bbc-pointless-guest-host-ria-28010395 |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=My London |date=30 October 2023 |language=en}}

Awards

Winner of the Best Comedy Award Greater Manchester Fringe 2016 for her show Dear Daughter{{cite web|url=http://vivamanchester.co.uk/greater-manchester-fringe-2016-award-winners-announced/|title=Greater Manchester Fringe 2016 Award Winners Announced|work=Viva Manchester|date=2016-08-02}}
Finalist Amused Moose Comedy Award 2014{{cite web|url=http://www.amusedmoose.com/amused-moose-comedy-awards/amused-moose-comedy-award-2014/|title=Amused Moose Comedy Award 2014|work=Amused Moose}}
Winner of the Best Comedy/Comedian Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy Award 2003{{r|bbc}}
Winner of the King of Kings Comedy Store Award 2003{{cite web|url=http://www.thecomedyclub.co.uk/comedians/ria-lina.html|title=Ria Lina – Comedians l Book Comedians|work=The Comedy Club}}
BBC New Comedy Awards 2003 semi-finalist{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/06_june/11/new_comedy_brighton.shtml|title=New Comedy Awards regional final Brighton|website=BBC}}
Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award 2002 finalist{{cite web|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2002/t/400/the_daily_telegraph_open_mic_award_final|title=The Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award Final|work=Chortle}}
Wilkinson Sword Cutting Edge of Comedy 2002 finalist{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2002/08/12/cutting-edge-of-comedy-competition-review-475629/|title=Cutting Edge of Comedy|work=Metro|date=2002-08-12}}

Notes

{{Notelist | refs=

{{efn|name="dob"|Lina's official website states her date of birth, with the year being 1987.{{cite web |title=About Ria |url=https://rialina.com/p/biog/ |website=Ria Lina Official Site |access-date=26 September 2024 |language=en}} That date is utilised by the Funny Women website, in an article on Lina.{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Kate |date=2015-04-24 |title=Ria Lina schools BBC Radio 4 |url=https://funnywomen.com/2015/04/24/ria-lina-schools-bbc-radio-4/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Funny Women |language=en-GB}} A different year of birth is indicated in one other source: The Gazette & Essex County Standard reported Lina as being aged 30 in a 2010 article, without specifying her date of birth.}}

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