Omar Hamdi (comedian)

Omar Hamdi is a British comedian and television host. His parents, who are from Egypt, moved to the UK in the 1970s.[1] He is best-known as one of the presenters of the BBC Wales consumer affairs programme X-Ray.[2]

Early life

Hamdi is a native of Cardiff, Wales.[3] He initially got into comedy through his ex-girlfriend who suggested that he use comedy as an outlet for his energy.[3]

Career

He is a comic, appearing at major comedy clubs in the UK[4] including The Comedy Store.[5] His stand-up comedy is autobiographical, including varying perspectives on nationality, gender and love,[6] as well as a satirical take on the big issues facing the world.[7]

He began performing stand-up shortly after graduating from Leeds University.[8] He made his national TV debut in 2014, performing stand-up on Seann Walsh's late night show.[9] He also starred in the chat show "Free Speech"[10]

Hamdi has been heavily involved in the Muslim comedy circuit, including the 2015 HaLOL Christmas Comedy Special [11] and the 2017 Super Muslim Comedy Tour, that played 11 British cities.[12]

In 2015, Hamdi performed his routine, In the Valley of Kings, at the Edinburgh Fringe. Reviews stated he "delivers with vigour, but he's neither funny nor subtle enough to make an impact."[13]

In 2016 he guest starred in the BBC One political talk show Sunday Morning Live. His appearance led to a public disagreement between him and Lily Allen.[14]

In 2018 he starred in the BBC One special "The Miners Who Made Us", where he was challenged to perform a stand up show in front of an audience of former coal miners.[15]

On 16 July 2019, Hamdi co-founded Pathos Communications, Ltd.,[16] a personal branding and PR company, based in London, UK.[17]

He has conducted sometimes controversial celebrity interviews with personalities such as former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson,[18] politician and reality star George Galloway,[19] and the original Darth Vader, actor David Prowse.[20] In his 2016 interview with Hamdi, George Galloway revealed for the first time details of the sexual abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of an army officer.[19] Hamdi received criticism for his perceived efforts to help rehabilitate Robinson's reputation and public standing.[21]

Writing career

As well as TV hosting and stand-up, he writes for newspapers and magazines, and has been published in two books, Pause for Thought[22] and Don't Panic I'm Islamic.[23] For the latter he undertook a stand-up and book tour around the UK,[24] after it was selected as Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year.[25] He has also written and presented on four series of BBC Radio 2’s award-winning show Pause for Thought.[26] He claims to rarely watch stand-up on television,[27] or any television at all.[28]

References
  1. "UK comics: 'Arabs aren't funny'? That's a joke". english.alarabiya.net. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. "Episode 7, Series 16, X-Ray - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  3. "Behind The Mic: Spotlight on Welsh comedians". Wales Online. Wales Online. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  4. "Omar Hamdi - Glee". Glee. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  5. Hamdi, Omar (10 May 2015), Omar Hamdi Comedy Store January 2015, retrieved 27 December 2017
  6. Episode 68: Omar Hamdi, retrieved 27 December 2017
  7. "Fringe Q&As: Omar Hamdi on politics and the Fringe punters". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  8. "Omar Hamdi". IMDb. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  9. "2014, Seann Walsh's Late Night Comedy Spectacular - BBC Three". BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  10. "How is it right to have a lower minimum wage for young adults age 18-21?, Episode 6, Series 3, Free Speech - BBC Three". BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  11. "No to Donald Trump". 19 December 2015.
  12. "Have you heard the one about the Muslims making a splash on the UK comedy scene?". Arab News. 19 November 2019.
  13. "Omar Hamdi: In the Valleys of the Kings : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk.
  14. Lily (16 October 2016). "@Omar_Hamdi_Com lol at you, a comedian saying 'celebrities' shouldn't talk about politics, on a political tv show this morning. pic.twitter.com/jCScieim0G". @lilyallen. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  15. "The Miners Who Made Us". BBC. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  16. "Omar Essam El-Din Saleh HAMDI personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
  17. "Home | Guarantee PR and Pay On Results PR | London". www.pathoscommunications.co.uk.
  18. "When a Muslim comedian had dinner with ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson". The Independent. 23 December 2015. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  19. "Who is George Galloway really? Perhaps London's next Mayor?". New Internationalist. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  20. "The force is strong with @Omar_Hamdi_Com and @isDARTHVADER at Film & Comic Con Cardiff. @BBCXRay strikes back 7.30pm FRIDAY @BBCOne Walespic.twitter.com/pbDQlKuc1s". @BBCXRay. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  21. "The Phony Martyrdom of Tommy Robinson". jacobinmag.com.
  22. Pause for Thought: Foreword by Chris Evans and Vanessa Feltz. Watkins Media. 2016. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-78678-009-6. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  23. Gaspard, L.; Duffy, C.A.; Riddell, C.; Wheatle, A.; Manguel, A.; Farhi, M.; Aboulela, L.; Mahfouz, S. (2017). Don't Panic, I'm Islamic: Words and Pictures on How to Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Alien Next Door. Saqi. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-86356-993-7. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  24. "Don't Panic, I'm Islamic: Extreme Comedy NOW! | Saqi Books". www.saqibooks.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  25. Rudd, Reviews by Matt (26 November 2017). "Books of the year: Humour". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  26. "Comedians at the Super Muslim Comedy Tour 2017 | PennyAppeal.org". www.pennyappeal.org. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  27. Owens, David (19 June 2014). "Behind The Mic: Spotlight on Welsh comedians". walesonline. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  28. ""It was a brilliant bill, such a mixed bill" - Omar Hamdi on his Asian Network Comedy show appearance, Harpz's Love Friday mix!, The Asian Network Breakfast Show - BBC Asian Network". BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.