Omar Hamdi (comedian)

Omar Hamdi is a British comedian and television host. He is one of the presenters of the BBC Wales consumer affairs programme X-Ray.[1]

Early life

Hamdi is a native of Cardiff, Wales.[2] His parents had moved from Egypt to Wales in the 1970s.[3]

He got into comedy through an ex-girlfriend who suggested that he use comedy as an outlet for his energy.[2]

Career

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

He began performing stand-up after graduating from Leeds University. He made his TV debut in 2014, performing stand-up on Seann Walsh's late night show.[5] He also starred in the chat show "Free Speech"[6]

Hamdi has been involved in the 2017 Super Muslim Comedy Tour.[7]

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."[8]

In 2016 he guest starred in the BBC One political talk show Sunday Morning Live. In 2018 he was 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.[9]

He has conducted sometimes controversial interviews including with the former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson[10] and the politician and reality star George Galloway. 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. Hamdi was criticized for his perceived efforts to help rehabilitate Robinson's reputation and public standing.[11] Hamdi's other interviews have included actor David Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars films.[12]

He writes for newspapers and magazines, and was mentioned in Don't Panic I'm Islamic.[13] For the latter he undertook a stand-up and book tour around the UK,[14] after it was selected as Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year.[15] He has also written and presented on four series of BBC Radio 2’s award-winning show Pause for Thought.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Episode 7, Series 16, X-Ray - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Behind The Mic: Spotlight on Welsh comedians". Wales Online. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  3. ^ "UK comics: 'Arabs aren't funny'? That's a joke". english.alarabiya.net. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Fringe Q&As: Omar Hamdi on politics and the Fringe punters". HeraldScotland. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  5. ^ "2014, Seann Walsh's Late Night Comedy Spectacular - BBC Three". BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  6. ^ "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. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Have you heard the one about the Muslims making a splash on the UK comedy scene?". Arab News. 19 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Omar Hamdi: In the Valleys of the Kings : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk.
  9. ^ "The Miners Who Made Us". BBC. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "The Phony Martyrdom of Tommy Robinson". jacobinmag.com.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "Don't Panic, I'm Islamic: Extreme Comedy NOW! | Saqi Books". www.saqibooks.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  15. ^ Rudd, Reviews by Matt (26 November 2017). "Books of the year: Humour". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Comedians at the Super Muslim Comedy Tour 2017 | PennyAppeal.org". www.pennyappeal.org. Retrieved 27 December 2017.