There’s something about watching a comedian lay their life bare on stage that feels different when they do it in a book. For John Robins, the stand-up who’s been making Britain laugh for two decades, that moment came in 2024 with Thirst — a memoir built around twelve drinks that maps his journey through addiction and recovery. Between his BBC Radio 5 Live show with Elis James and a Taskmaster win in 2023, this article pieces together the relationships, the sobriety timeline, and the career moves that define him.
Age: 42 (born 4 May 1982) ·
Height: 6’3″ (1.91 m) ·
Occupation: Comedian, Radio Host, Author ·
Debut Book: Thirst: Twelve Drinks That Changed My Life (2024) ·
Notable Win: Taskmaster Series 17 Champion ·
Podcast: Elis James and John Robins (BBC Radio 5 Live)
Quick snapshot
- Exact date or trigger for the end of his relationship with Sara Pascoe
- Current romantic relationship status post-Coco Fennell
- Specific future career plans beyond the radio show and book touring
- 1982: Born in Edmonton, London
- 2014: Starts co-hosting with Elis James on BBC Radio 5 Live
- 2021: Splits from Sara Pascoe
- 2022: Last drink; sobriety begins
- 2023: Wins Taskmaster Series 17
- 2024: Publishes Thirst
- Continued BBC Radio 5 Live show with Elis James
- Book tour and media appearances for Thirst
- Potential future stand-up tours or TV work
Six key facts across his biography and career, one pattern: Robins has been remarkably open about turning points that others keep private.
The table below distills the core biographical data for reference.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Michael David Robins |
| Date of Birth | 4 May 1982 |
| Place of Birth | Edmonton, London, England |
| Occupation | Comedian, Radio Presenter, Author |
| Known For | Elis James and John Robins, Taskmaster, Thirst |
| Education | Studied English at Oxford (The Times) |
| Height | 6’3″ (1.91 m) |
| Debut Book | Thirst: Twelve Drinks That Changed My Life (Penguin, 2024) |
| Podcast/Show | Elis James and John Robins (BBC Radio 5 Live) |
| Sobriety Start | November 2022 (BBC News) |
| Father of Sara Pascoe’s Children | Steen Raskopoulos (Wikipedia) |
What Happened With John Robins’ Relationships?
Why did John Robins and Sara Pascoe break up?
John Robins and comedian Sara Pascoe were in a long-term relationship that ended around 2021. The split was publicly acknowledged and covered in the press, though neither party detailed the exact reasons. Sara Pascoe is now in a relationship with comedian Steen Raskopoulos, with whom she has children (Wikipedia). Robins has spoken in interviews about the aftermath of the breakup, including on his BBC Radio 5 Live show.
Who is Coco Fennell?
Coco Fennell is a fashion stylist and creative director who dated John Robins from around 2022. Their relationship ended in
Freddie Clarke is Senior Reporter at WordPatch.co.uk, covering writing, language, publishing, books, digital culture and entertainment stories for UK audiences.