Spalding nurse turned comedy performer Zeph Churchill to feature in Jude advertising campaign promoting women’s bladder and incontinence health
A former nurse-turned-comic performer will be the face of a national advert to promote incontinence products.
Spalding’s Zeph Churchill – and her enormous knitted boobs prop – will feature in the campaign for Jude, a company that creates science-based bladder care essentials for women.
Having worked for more than 30 years as a women’s healthcare practitioner Zeph is on a one-woman mission to educate audiences about menopause and incontinence – having sold out the South Holland Centre with her Edu-Com Is It Me Or Is It Hot In Here?
Zeph, who is the music conductor for Spalding Community Choir, said: “They (Jude) saw the video of the show and really liked it and asked if I would go down and do an advert in London.
“They had provided goody bags and prizes for the show and I really like their ethos. They don’t just give people pads but have developed a product – capsules – that help strengthen the pelvic floor and improve the vaginal wall.
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“There is a community of 5,000 women who support each other and they (Jude) also produce The Leaky Times – so I was really happy to do it as I really like that ethos of women supporting themselves.”
Incontinence affects one in three women in the UK and Zeph, a Licensed Menopause Champion, said: “If I laugh I wee myself.
“I have a saying: “I laughed so much I didn’t think my knickers were ever going to dry!”
“But one in three is a big number.”
Travelling up to London she took her infamous prop – enormous knitted breasts – which she uses in the stage show to highlight breast cancer awareness.
For the advert she said: “I had to wear my boobs.
“I demonstrated ‘key-in-door’ incontinence – when you are absolutely fine but as soon as you put the key in the door you desperately need a wee.
“I try and advise women in stopping the ‘just-in-case wees’ where we are conditioning the bladder in a negative way.”
So how does the musical comedy performer feel about being the face of an incontinence advert?
She said: “It could have been chocolate but I’m happy with incontinence.
“We have to talk about it – just don’t make me laugh.
“All I can say is that if you come to my show you will need two pads!”
Bringing awareness and taking the shame away from menopause and incontinence as women get older is an important message for the Miriam Margolyes look-alike – and particularly when it comes to addressing it in the workplace.
Perimenopausal and menopausal women make up a large demographic in workplaces, are an asset and usually at the height of their career – however symptoms such as brain fog, heavy bleeding, hormonal changes and incontinence will affect their working lives.
She said: “It’s life-changing for women – and my show in particular fits with the whole ethos of education.
“Education through comedy about menopause and bladder health is a great way for women to educate themselves.”
Speaking to managers at work and discussing some of the symptoms is an important conversation – and her show is also an opportunity for men to get informed about what their wives, mothers, sisters, daughters experience.
She said: “I spoke to at least one woman a week who had to stop work due to menopausal symptoms.
Zeph will be taking her show Is It Me Or Is It Hot In Here? to the following venues:
Stamford Arts Centre, March 7
Lincoln New Theatre Royal, April 18
Barnstable Queen’s Theatre, March 14
Peterborough Key Theatre, May 24
What are your experiences or incontinence, peri-menopause or menopause? Post your comments below.
