Sally-Anne Hayward: Why Ageing Isn’t a Crisis, It’s an Upgrade

The MarshyCast

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Friday, 2 October 2026 - 12 minutes

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Getting older gets a pretty terrible marketing campaign.

Grey hairs, aching knees and suddenly making noises every time you get out of a chair. But comedian Sally-Anne Hayward thinks there’s another side to it.

Ageing isn’t a crisis, it’s an upgrade.

That’s the theme of Sally-Anne’s new comedy show and, when she joined me on The MarshyCast, I wanted to know what actually gets better with age.

One of the biggest changes is becoming more comfortable in your own skin.

There can be something liberating about reaching the point where other people’s opinions don't carry quite as much weight as they once did. We talked about whether that confidence simply arrives with age or comes from years of discovering who you actually are.

But is getting older the same experience for everyone?

Sally-Anne and I discussed the differences between ageing as a man and as a woman, and whether women potentially face greater pressure around appearance and expectations as they get older.

There's another part of ageing that doesn't get discussed quite as much: friendships changing.

People who were hugely important in your twenties might no longer be part of your everyday life years later. Careers change, relationships happen, families arrive and people move in completely different directions. Sometimes there isn't an argument or dramatic falling out. Life simply changes and people drift apart.

Sally-Anne also told me that getting more experienced as a comedian doesn't mean you stop learning.

She still watches other performers and notices the little things that make them particularly good at what they do. Sometimes it's something on stage, but often it's what audiences don't see: preparation, discipline and sheer work ethic.

And after discussing all the wisdom that supposedly arrives with age, there was only one sensible way to finish.

A game of Getting Older: Upgrade or Downgrade?

Because some parts of ageing might genuinely improve your life.

Others?

Well... your knees may wish to lodge an appeal.

🎧 Hear the full conversation with Sally-Anne Hayward now on The MarshyCast, available on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Find me on all social media @paulswampymarsh

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