Omar Hamdi (comedian) – Wikipedia

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British comedian and television host

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[edit]

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]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  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. ^ a b “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. ^ a b “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.