Here’s everything you need to know about Willan’s carreer achievements to date: Sophie Willan’s early life Sophie was born and raised in Bolton and had a bit of a tough upbringing. She spent many of her teen years in care as her mother was an addict. Willan later found housing accommodation through the Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme. Sophie also funded some of her arts career by working as an escort, a topic she openly discusses through her comedy work. Where have I seen Sophie Willan before? You may have heard Sophie’s voice in her BBC Radio 4 feature entitled ‘Sophie Willan’s Guide to Normality’ where she discussed about what it means to be ‘normal’.