Humza Arshad

Humza Arshad
Birth name Humza Mohammed Arshad
Born (1985-06-03) 3 June 1985
Streatham, London, England
Medium Web series, Video blog, Stand-up
Nationality British
Years active 2009–present
Genres Sketch comedy, Documentary, Observational comedy, Character comedy, Musical comedy, Improvisational comedy, Self-deprecation
Subject(s) Pakistani culture, Islamic humour, Arranged marriage, Parents, Family, Interpersonal relationship, Friendship, Peer pressure, Toilet humour
Influences Goodness Gracious Me, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Russell Peters
Notable works and roles Diary of a Badman
Website www.humza-productions.co.uk

Internet information

Web hosting service(s) YouTube, Twitter
Signature phrase "Let me get straight to the point yeah"

Humza Mohammed Arshad (Urdu: حمزه محمد ارشد‎; born 3 June 1985) is an English actor, comedian and writer of Pakistani descent. He is best known for his web series Diary of a Bad Man. His homemade YouTube videos have been viewed more than 60 million times and have made him one of the most popular online comedians in the UK.[1] He has also has more than 270,000 subscribers on YouTube.

Early life

Arshad was born and brought up in Streatham, London, England. His parents were born in Pakistan.[2] His father, Mohammad Arshad, is from Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan, and his mother, Noreen Arshad, is from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.[3] He has two siblings; a younger sister, Hanna, and a younger brother,[4] Hasan.[5]

Arshad studied GNVQ in Performing Arts at Croydon College and BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts at Kingston College. He then graduated from Richmond Drama School with a degree in Drama.[2][6][7][8]

Career

In September 2010, Arshad created comedy web series Diary of a Bad Man, revolving around video diaries of a young man with the "mentality of a seven-year-old".[9][10] In 2011, the fifth episode of Diary of a Bad Man was the seventh most viewed video on YouTube in the UK.[11][12]

In December 2010, Arshad was interviewed by Waqas Saeed on BBC Asian Network.[13] In March and December 2011, he featured on BBC Asian Network's Noreen Khan Drive Time Show.[4][14] In July 2011, Arshad performed on Meera Syal's Comedy Night on BBC Asian Network.[15] In July 2011, he was interviewed by Bobby Friction on BBC Asian Network's Bobby Friction's late night show.[3] In July and August 2011, he featured and reported for BBC London News.[16][17] In November 2011, he featured on Nihal's phone-in show on BBC Asian Network.[18]

In July 2011, Arshad toured four UK cities[19] in the Peace Youth and Community Trust's (PYCT) first Muslim Comedy Tour, alongside Jeff Mirza, Prince Abdi and Nabil Abdul Rashid.[6][7][8]

From November to December 2011, he toured eight UK cities, performing at nine venues,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26] with his comedy show called The Badman Comedy Tour 2011, he was accompanied by his entourage; Asif Hussain, Jaspal Kerrah, Junaid Malik, Yogesh Kalia,[27][28][29][30] and Fayaaz Kassam. The tour was sponsored by Azme Alishan, a Pakistan-based social movement.[31]

In May 2013, Arshad performed stand-up at the Shaw Theatre in London.[32] On 9 and 10 July 2013, he was involved in a live shows of Smokey's Barbers at the Pavilion Theatre, Festival Square for the Manchester International Festival.[33][34] In the same month, he was interviewed by Tommy Sandhu on BBC Asian Network.[35] From 11 to 25 August 2013, he performed 15 stand-up shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[2][12][36][37]

In March 2015, Arshad appeared at the Muslim Youth Festival, a festival on how to divert young Britons away from extremism[38] and looking at what it means to be a young British Muslim in the UK today.[39]

Awards, nominations and recognition

On 28 March 2011, Arshad was nominated in the categories for comedy and entertainment at the third annual Shorty Awards for social media at The Times Center, New York City.[40] In 2012, he was nominated for in the category of YouTube star at the fourth annual Shorty Awards.[41]

Personal life

In June and July 2011, arranged by the Metropolitan Police, Arshad visited schools with Jaspal Kerrah and Junaid Malik to give presentations to students, discussing topics and issues encountered by teenagers living in London.[42]

In October 2014, Arshad was recruited by East Midlands Police to help prevent the radicalisation of British Muslims by holding workshops at schools in the area. He made a 15-minute film "Think for Yourself" to show teenagers the dangers of exposure to extremist messages.[43][44][45] In 2015, Arshad and the Metropolitan Police Service[46] toured around 50 schools, doing shows for students[47] holding anti-extremism discussions and workshops for 11 to 18-year-old students[48] in order to help prevent vulnerable students becoming radicalised[49] at schools and colleges across London.[48][50] Arshad is working in partnership with Scotland Yard to aid in their campaign to counter violent Islamist extremism within high school students in London.[51]

Videography

Year Title Role Season Episodes
2009 Chronicles of Tuttoo Tuttoo, Rupert Salami Season 1 5 episodes
2010–2012 Diary of a Bad Man Badman Season 1 10 episodes
2012–2013 Smokey's Barbers Season 1 6 episodes
Diary of a Bad Man Badman, Mr Bubblegum Season 2 6 episodes
Badman's Britain Badman Season 1 2 episodes
2014–2015 Bubblegum Mr Bubblegum, Rupert Salami Season 1 10 episodes
2014 Black and Brown Badman Season 1 5 episodes
Badman Blogs Season 1 2 episodes
2014-2015 Badman's World Badman, Mr Bubblegum, Rupert Salami Season 1 20 episodes
2015–2016 Badman Badman, Mr Bubblegum Season 1 4 episodes
2 Man 1 Show' Badman Season 1 3 episodes

See also

References

  1. ↑ Witte, Griff (2 April 2015). "Meet the anti-Jihadi John - Muslim comedian Humza Arshad is slaying them in the aisles". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Interview: Humza Arshad brings Diary of a Badman to 2013 Edinburgh Festival Fringe". The List. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  3. 1 2 Friction, Bobby (July 2011). "When Humza Arshad AKA Diary of a Badman met Bobby Friction!". BBC Asian Network (SoundCloud). Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Diary of a Bad Man – Humza Arshad's Interview with Noreen Khan". BBC Asian Network. DJNoreen. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "Croydon 'safe havens' aimed at helping people in danger". Croydon: The Croydon Advertiser. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  6. 1 2 Dakin, Melanie (14 July 2011). "Humza Arshad and Jeff Mirza head up charity comedy tour". Croydon: Croydon Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  7. 1 2 Dakin, Melanie (14 July 2011). "Humza Arshad and Jeff Mirza head up charity comedy tour". Watford: Watford Observer. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  8. 1 2 Dakin, Melanie (14 July 2011). "Humza Arshad and Jeff Mirza head up charity comedy tour". Harrow: Harrow Times. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  9. ↑ Hooda, Samreen (27 June 2012). "Humza Arshad's Diary of a Badman Show on YouTube Has Fans And Critics". New York: The Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  10. ↑ Shahid, Omar (10 June 2012). "Diary of a Badman: 'I'm not a model Muslim, but I make people think'". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  11. ↑ "Talking dog's top YouTube hit". Sky News. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  12. 1 2 Hawkins, Si (24 August 2013). "Diary of a funny man: the comedian Humza Arshad on love and hate on the web". Abu Dhabi: The National. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  13. ↑ "Wax is joined by Internet Superstar 'Bad Man'". BBC Asian Network. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Diary of a Bad Man – Humza Arshad Interview with Noreen Khan". BBC Asian Network. DJNoreen. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "Meera Syal's Asian Comedy Story". BBC Asian Network. July 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  16. ↑ "Muslim comedian Humza Arshad becomes internet sensation". BBC News. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  17. ↑ "How do London's Muslims celebrate Eid?". BBC News. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  18. ↑ "Muslim students walking out of lectures about evolution". BBC Asian Network. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  19. ↑ "British Muslim Comedy Tour in Your City, "Innit Bruv"". Muslimness. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  20. ↑ "What's going on Bladrins?! Big up to the West Yorkshire fans!". Bradford: Awaaz News. 11 December 2011. p. 13. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  21. ↑ Marya, Yasin (22 November 2011). "YouTube sensation Humza Arshad gets ready to take his 'Bad Man' show on the road". Manchester: Mancunian Matters. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  22. ↑ "PREVIEW: Badman at John Moores University". Liverpool: Liverpool Echo. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  23. ↑ "Live: Badman Kicks Off Nationwide Tour In Bradford To A Packed House". Bradford: The Bradford Student. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  24. ↑ Atiq, Iyma (6 December 2011). "YouTube sensation kicks of nationwide tour". Birmingham: The Asian World. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  25. ↑ Owens, David (8 December 2011). "Preview: Humza Arshad – Badman, Cardiff University". Wales: South Wales Echo. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  26. ↑ "A 'Badman' in London". Asian Lite. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  27. ↑ "British Pakistani comedian, Humza 'Badman' Arshad, kicks off nation-wide comedy tour!". Ethnic Now. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  28. ↑ "Brit Asian 'Badman' comedy star announces tour". The Asian Today. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  29. ↑ "Brit Asian 'Badman' comedy star announces tour". Desi Xpress. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  30. ↑ "'Diary of a Badman' Humza Kicks off comedy tour". Desi-Box. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  31. ↑ "BadMan in UK". Asian Voice. 14 December 2011. p. 6. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  32. ↑ "HUMZA ARSHAD: Diary of a Bad Man Live Comedy Stand Up". Shaw Theatre. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  33. ↑ Yates, Kieran (24 May 2013). "Smokey's Barbers are a cut above". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  34. ↑ Dawood, Sarah (9 July 2013). "Smokey's Barbers – Manchester International Festival review". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  35. ↑ "Humza Arshad". BBC Asian Network. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  36. ↑ "Humza Arshad presents Diary of a Badman". Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  37. ↑ "Humza Arshad presents Diary of a Badman". The List. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  38. ↑ "Naughty Boy and Humza Arshad at Youth Festival". Leicester: Asian Image. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  39. ↑ "Naughty Boy and Humza Arshad at Youth Festival". Leicester: ITV News. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  40. ↑ "Humza Arshad (@HumzaProduction on Twitter) was nominated for a Shorty Award". The Shorty Awards. February 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  41. ↑ "Humza Arshad (@HumzaProduction on Twitter) was nominated for a Shorty Award". The Shorty Awards. February 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  42. ↑ "YouTube 'Diary of a Badman' star visits school". Metropolitan Police. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  43. ↑ "Comedian Humza Arshad fronts anti-extremism school campaign". Leicester: BBC News. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  44. ↑ "Rising YouTube star Humza Arshad has made a video to help promote awareness about views expressed in social groups and online.". Leicester: ITV News. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  45. ↑ Fagan, Ciaran (14 October 2014). "Diary of a Badman star Humza Arshad teams up with police to film anti-extremism message". Leicester: Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  46. ↑ Bryant, Miranda (7 April 2015). "YouTube star Humza Arshad: Syria schoolgirls' families support my efforts to deter pupils from extremism". London: London Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  47. ↑ Tennet, James (24 April 2015). "Meet Humza Arshad: The YouTube Badman Helping the Police Tackle Radicalisation in London Schools". ,: Complex. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  48. 1 2 Onyanga-Omara, Jane (7 April 2015). "British YouTube star keeps kids off the extremist path". Religion News Service. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  49. ↑ Kesvani, Hussein (1 April 2015). "This Muslim YouTube Star Wants To Use Comedy To Turn Young People Away From Extremism". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  50. ↑ Onyanga-Omara, Jane (3 April 2015). ""Badman" Humza Arshad's comedic response to ISIS". CBS News. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  51. ↑ Witte, Griff (1 April 2015). "Muslim comedian’s anti-extremist message a big hit with British teens". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 June 2015.

External links

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