First look at Malala in We Are Lady Parts

'She seemed like she had a lot of fun'

Here is Nobel winner Malala Yousafzai as you’ve never seen her before – in a punk music video for Channel 4 comedy We Are Lady Parts.

The education campaigner, who survived being shot in the head by the Taliban at 15, makes an appearance for a track called Malala Made Me Do It performed by the all-Muslim female bad at the heart of the show.

Creator Nida Manzoor said her prestigious guest star’s costume for the song, entitled Malala Made Me Do It, was ‘next level’.

Manzoor said she managed to persuade the Peace Prize winner to take part after briefly meeting her at a speaking event.

‘She was talking about how she loved comedy. She has a very dark sense of humour, which I didn't realise,’ Manzoor said this week.

Later she wrote her a letter to ask if she’d be in We Are Lady Parts – and she agreed.

‘She’s an icon, an inspiration,’ Manzoor added: ‘She has grace, strength and so much integrity as a person and what she's doing for women across the world is incredible – and she’s so funny.

‘To have her celebrated in a way that was fun and tongue-in-cheek – because that’s her vibe – was fantastic. I was completely over the moon when she said she was going to do it but also massively stressed out about how we were going to make sure Malala had a good time.’

Anjana Vasan, who plays band member Amina said: ‘Malala came on set and her song is my personal favourite, it’s a banger. I can’t believe Nida actually got her to be in it, but apparently, she’s a fan of the show, which is amazing.

‘She was so lovely and exactly what I’d hoped she would be, very warm. Everyone on set was very excited she was going to be theree, even our producer John was in a suit! She seemed like she had a lot of fun and I hope she did.’

Malala with band

We Are Lady Parts also stars Sarah Kameela Impey, Juliette Motamed, Faith Omole and Lucie Shorthouse,

Series two of We Are Lady Parts launches on Channel 4 with a double bill from 10pm tomorrow, with Malala in the second episode. It also launches on Peacock in the US tomorrow.

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Published: 29 May 2024