Why Germans love Muslim comic

Muslim stand-up, Shazia Mirza says she goes down well with German audiences - because she reminds them of Hitler.

"I'm massive in Germany," she said. "I'm not sure they understand what I am saying, but they don't seem to mind.

"They said to me, 'We love your because you remind us of Hitler.' Really. It's because I'm deadpan, I suppose.

"That's the weirdest thing that's happened so far"

In the past year, Mirza has played across Europe, featured on the front page of the New York Times, appeared on Have I Got News For You and the Oprah Winfrey show.

But her best moment was being on Richard and Judy.

"I loved being on," she told London's Evening Standard. "I had no idea they were so funny."

Next, Mirza is to appear in a South Bank Show on female Asian comedy - and has a stint in the Vagina Monologues lined up for April.

Published: 14 Mar 2002