Katie Phillips: The Inspiring Life, Career and Legacy of a Respected Entertainment Publicist
Katie Phillips was a British entertainment publicist, PR agency founder and podcaster who built a respected name in the UK comedy, theatre and television world. She was best known as the founder of KPPR, an entertainment PR agency that worked with major names across comedy, live performance, television and cultural projects.
Her career was shaped by professionalism, strong relationships and a deep understanding of how the entertainment industry works. Later in life, she also became known for her honest and moving podcast, Talking with Cancer, which she started after being diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer in 2022.
Katie Phillips Early Life and Education
Katie Phillips was born in May 1978 and was British by nationality. She studied at South Hampstead High School, a well-known independent girls’ school in London. Her education helped build the confidence, communication skills and intellectual curiosity that later became important in her professional life.
She later attended The Manchester Metropolitan University, where she studied Sociology with English and graduated with a 2:1 degree. This academic background gave her a strong understanding of people, culture, language and society, all of which are useful in public relations and media communication.
Counselling and Personal Development
In addition to her university education, she also completed a Foundation in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the CCPE. This detail shows another side of her personality. She was not only interested in media and entertainment but also in people, emotions and communication at a deeper level. This human understanding later became visible in her work, especially through her podcast, where she spoke openly about illness, fear, treatment and hope.
Katie Phillips Career Beginnings in Entertainment PR
Katie began her career in entertainment public relations at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, working in the Pleasance Theatre press office. The Edinburgh Fringe is one of the world’s most important platforms for comedy, theatre and live performance, so this was a strong starting point for her career.
Working in that environment gave her early experience with performers, journalists, live events and fast-moving publicity campaigns. It also introduced her to the comedy and theatre industries, where she would later become highly respected.
Work at The Sarah Mitchell Partnership
After her early experience at the Edinburgh Fringe, Katie worked for The Sarah Mitchell Partnership in Soho. She spent more than five years handling theatre and comedy tours. During this period, she worked on campaigns connected with major productions and performers, including The Reduced Shakespeare Company, The Vagina Monologues, Bill Bryson’s Notes From a Small Island, Ricky Gervais, The Jonathan Ross Show, Dara Ó Briain and Alan Carr.
This stage of her career helped her build strong contacts and gain practical experience in entertainment publicity. She worked across West End shows, Off-West End productions and national tours, giving her a broad view of the industry.
Katie Phillips at The PR Office
In 2005, Katie joined The PR Office. She was approached to develop an entertainment department for the company, and she successfully built it into a team of five. Her role involved more than basic publicity. She specialised in arts and entertainment communication, profile raising, brand awareness, reputation management, crisis and issues management, and both short-term and long-term campaign planning.
Major Campaigns and Career Highlights
During her time at The PR Office, she worked on several important projects. These included Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in London and New York, Ricky Gervais’ Extras DVD release for Universal, Tim Minchin’s Orchestra Tour, Live at the Apollo series 4 and Lead Balloon series 3.
These projects show the level of trust placed in her as a publicist. They also show that her work was not limited to one part of entertainment. She worked across comedy, television, live events, charity-linked projects and major public campaigns.
Katie Phillips and the Founding of KPPR
In 2011, Katie founded her own agency, originally known as Katie Phillips PR, which later became KPPR. This was a major step in her career because it allowed her to build a company based on her own values and professional style. KPPR was launched with clients including Ricky Gervais and Omid Djalili. The agency grew beyond comedy and theatre, eventually working across a wider entertainment sector.
What KPPR Represented
KPPR developed a reputation for being effective, efficient and good to work with. The agency described itself as truthful, collaborative and nurturing. These values reflected the way Katie approached both work and life.
The company became known for handling entertainment publicity with professionalism and warmth. It worked with performers, shows, television projects and cultural clients, helping them reach audiences and manage their public image.
Role with Reboot
Since 2017, Katie also worked as the UK coordinator for Reboot, a US-based creative and Jewish charity. This role showed her interest in cultural work beyond traditional entertainment PR.
Her involvement with Reboot connected her with creative, community-focused and cultural projects. It also reflected her ability to work across different professional spaces while maintaining strong communication and organisational skills.
Talking with Cancer Podcast
In 2022, Katie was diagnosed with a rare type of thyroid cancer known as Hobnail thyroid cancer. After her diagnosis, she started the podcast Talking with Cancer. At first, the podcast was a way for her to update close friends and family about her diagnosis and treatment. Over time, it developed into a wider series where she spoke with different guests about cancer and its impact.
Purpose of the Podcast
The aim of Talking with Cancer was to make conversations about cancer more open and less frightening. Katie used the podcast to discuss treatment, emotions, uncertainty and the reality of living with a serious illness. She also used the platform to support fundraising for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and Maggie’s, two causes that were important to her during her illness.
Working with Clair Whitefield
The podcast also included promotional press shots with Clair Whitefield, who was connected with the series. The project became a meaningful part of Katie’s later life and helped many listeners feel less alone in their own cancer experiences.
Personal Life
Katie was married to Dinc Memis. Public tributes after her death also mentioned her step-daughter, family and loved ones. Her personal life was mostly kept private, which is why respectful writing about her should avoid guessing or adding unverified family details. What is publicly clear is that she was deeply loved by those close to her. Tributes described her as brave, kind, funny, generous and positive, even during difficult periods of illness.
Death of Katie Phillips
Katie died on 27 November 2024, after spending time back in hospital following her thyroid cancer diagnosis. She was 46 years old. Her passing was announced by KPPR with a moving tribute. The agency described her as an incredible founder, a brilliant publicist and a boss who was assertive and uncompromising while also kind, funny and empathetic.
Industry Tributes
Many people from the comedy, entertainment and PR industries shared their sadness after her death. Former colleagues, clients and industry figures remembered her as one of the best in her field. Several tributes described her as generous, joyful, talented and supportive. Others highlighted her professionalism, her humour and her ability to make people feel valued.
Connection with Have I Got News for You
Katie was also remembered by Have I Got News for You. The programme dedicated an episode to her memory in December 2024. This connection reflected her professional link to the entertainment and television publicity world. She was not known as an on-screen cast member. Her connection was through her behind-the-scenes work as a publicist, where she helped support entertainment projects and industry talent.
Legacy of Katie Phillips
Katie’s legacy is built on three important areas: her PR career, her agency and her podcast. Through KPPR, she helped shape publicity campaigns for comedians, television personalities, live shows and cultural projects.
Through Talking with Cancer, she turned a personal diagnosis into a public conversation that helped others understand the emotional and human side of cancer. This made her impact wider than the entertainment industry alone.
Why She Is Remembered
Katie Phillips is remembered because she combined professional strength with personal warmth. She was ambitious, clear and highly skilled, but she was also described as caring, funny and deeply human. Her name remains closely connected with KPPR, the agency she founded and shaped. Her work, values and attitude continue to influence those who worked with her and learned from her.
Conclusion
Katie Phillips was more than a successful entertainment publicist. She was a founder, communicator, campaigner, podcaster and respected figure in the UK entertainment industry. From her early days at the Edinburgh Fringe to building KPPR, she created a career based on trust, talent and determination.
Her later work through Talking with Cancer showed great courage and honesty. By speaking openly about her illness, she helped make difficult conversations more human. Her life and career left a lasting mark on comedy, theatre, television PR and the people who knew her.
FAQs
Who is Katie Phillips?
Katie Phillips was a British entertainment publicist, PR agency founder and podcaster. She was best known as the founder of KPPR, an entertainment PR agency that worked across comedy, television, theatre and live entertainment. She also created the podcast Talking with Cancer after being diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer in 2022.
Was Katie Phillips married?
Yes, Katie Phillips was married to Dinc Memis. Public tributes after her death also mentioned her husband, step-daughter, family and loved ones. Her private family life was mostly kept away from the public, so only limited confirmed personal information is available.
What is Katie Phillips’ connection with Have I Got News for You?
Katie Phillips was connected with Have I Got News for You through her work in entertainment PR, not as an on-screen presenter or regular panellist. In December 2024, an episode of Have I Got News for You was dedicated to her memory, showing the respect she had earned in the UK comedy and television industry.
