...as a Muslim-Jewish cabbie

In The Infidel he will play a Muslim cab driver called Mahmud from London’s East End who is shocked to discover he is adopted – and Jewish.

The film will also star Art Malik and Richard Schiff, who plays Toby Ziegler on The West Wing.

Writing on his blog, Djalili said: ‘It's a very exciting project born out of my performances at The Palladium and The Apollo, which moved Mr Baddiel to pitch the idea to me

‘Two years in development and finally we can say it’s going to happen, with an outing at the Sundance festival, hopefully in January 2010.’

And in an interview with The Independent, he joked: ‘This year I'm playing Fagin and the world's first Muslim Jew. If I'm not embraced by the Jewish community now, I never will be. I've done everything I can!’

Both Djalili and Baddiel are producing the movie, which will be filmed in London in May and June.

Meanwhile Baddiel says he is considering a return to stand-up after a rare appearance on Frank Skinner’s Credit Crunch Cabaret in the West End.

His former flatmate – and Fantasy Football co-presenter – persuaded him to take part in the show on Monday, and after his appearance, 44-year-old Baddiel posted the Twitter update: ‘Just got back from Credit Crunch Cabaret. Went well. Might have to think about doing stand-up again.’

Published: 23 Apr 2009