New show for Mawaan Rizwan and Emily Lloyd-Saini

Comedians Mawaan Rizwan and Emily Lloyd-Saini are joining the BBC Asian Network.

The pair, who both performed solo shows at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, will be hosting the 9pm to midnight slot on Monday night from January.

Lloyd-Saini, who is also part of the double act Egg and improv group BattleActs, said: ‘I’m ridiculously excited to be joining BBC Asian Network, especially as I'll be co-hosting with one of my favourite people in the world, Mawaan Rizwan. 

‘I’m mostly looking forward to finding out who's listening, discovering new British Asian music and having lots of fun with Mawaan, and mostly nervous about my Indian family listening in and realising how bad my Punjabi is.’

Mawaan Rizwan, whose solo show was called Gender Neutral Concubine Pirate (review) previously presented the BBC Three documentary How Gay is Pakistan?, where he tested out an alleged 'miracle cure' for his homosexuality.

Mark Strippel, the station’s head of programmes, called the new presenters ‘brilliant new talents’.

As part of the shake-up, comedian Guz Khan has also been given a new slot, moving from Saturday mornings to the 9pm to midnight Tuesday shift. The BBC says that will mean ‘a more after-hours flavour to his show with his own brand of comedy and grime’. 

The shake-up comes as the station was given the go-ahead to drop its commitment to broadcast 20 hours in South Asian languages a week. Bosses believe that switching entirely to English will help it ‘focus on reaching a younger British Asian audience’.

Published: 17 Oct 2016