Shappi Khorsandi on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow

June 2009

More Shappi Khorsandi videos

Born in Tehran, Shappi Khorsandi was bought up in London after her family fled Iran following the Islamic Revolution as her satirist father, Hadi, criticised the Ayatollah.

She started comedy around 1997, and made her first appearance at Edinburgh in 2000 – as part of a triple-hander show with Russell Brand and Mark Felgate.

She made her solo debut in 2003, returning in 2006 and 2007 – the year she was nomianted for best breakthrough act at the Chortle Awards.

She has appeared on a number of Radio 4 programmes, including Quote... Unquote, Loose Ends, You and Yours, Midweek, Just A Minute, The Now Show and The News Quiz.

A book about her childhood experiences of growing up in London in the Seventies is due to be published in spring 2009.

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I saw her in Birmingham performing in front of an Asian/back audience and she just seemed uncomfortable. She was part of an all-female Asian stand up night but seemed to be culturally devoid. She talks about Iran and her Iranian roots like someone who has ever only known Hampstead. It could be funny, if she played up the differences but she just isn't. I think it was a bit of a misbooking, she had no idea about the audience and seemed to grin her way uncomfortably throught her act, alienating her still further. Perhaps her act, so obviously grown on the London club circuit, should stay there.

Nazreen, April 2020

Utterly charming performer with woeful, uninsightful, cliched material.

Brian Suda, April 2009

I cannot believe how she was ever considered to appear on Live At The Apollo. I saw her live a couple of weeks ago and considering how rich her background is in culture, all she could talk and make jokes about was how her family aren't "normal". Isn't that obvious in a Christian state? She talks about them being "hopeless at texting", a piece of pedestrian material by all newcomers that she's disguised and tried to fit her mould. Not clever and didn't really work to my mind. Although, she did have some neat (unexpected) gags thrown in for good measure, but others i felt were verging on the boundaries of transferred racism: 'I wanted to know what the weather in India was like, so i called my bank.' I'm not sure a white middle-class comic would have left the stage unharmed with a line like that in his or her act. Overall, I find that she just masks pedestrian material to jump on the bandwagon of the cultural comedians.

Stacey Rostram, April 2009

Material was a bit light, which is forgivable if you've got some charisma. Unfortunately Shappi doesn't, and it was just a bit uncomfortable watching her. Granted the room wasn't great, with people a bit shy to sit near the front so that must be a challenge for comedians. Rambled a bit much with nothing to say, actually said "I've run out of jokes", despite "10 years in stand-up"? Either needs to prepare more, or do something else. Unimpressive.

Gordon Jackson, September 2008

Took a while to warm up before she looked comfortable on stage. Whilst it wasn't hilarious material, it was entertaining. I'm not sure that I'd pay to see her own show, but she is well worth seeing as part of a multiple line-up.

Jo Phelan, July 2008

When your life's as fascinating as this, you could surely do more than a shy titter and a giggle about how members of your family are Pretty Silly Really. I just couldn't find much to admire here.

Michael Monkhouse, January 2008

Clearly not as good as she thinks she is. Flat, weak material and her personality isn't engaging enough to compensate. Later, I actually chuckled over her act - remembering how bad it was.

John Fernando, October 2007

Saw Shappi at the Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch last night. She was fantastic. I laughed non-stop along with the entire audience. She is an absolute gem, charming and creative. Just a tad nervous, I'd say, but then she was trying out new material. Would definitely attend her show again.

Maneesha Doig, July 2007

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